Friday January 21, 2005

Legislative Reports for the Wyoming State Legislature 58^th Session 

Week 2 

1.  Committee Meetings: 

House Labor:            

HB 94 – Environmental Health Study

Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/17

Placed on General File 1/17

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/18

Passed second reading 1/19

Laid back without prejudice 1/20

HB 108 - Medical Injury Expenses –expert witnesses

Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Action:  Received and referred to House Labor Committee 1/11

Committee do pass recommendation 1/19

Placed on General File 1/19

Failed Committee of the Whole- indefinitely postponed 1/20

House Minerals:       

HB 53 - Air Services Enhancement

Sponsored by Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee

Action: Committee do pass recommendation 1/17

Placed on General File 1/17

Re-referred to House Appropriations 1/18

-Supported by WBA- President Bill Schilling testified in support of bill.

 HB 113 - Government Reorganization-Department of Tourism and Recreation.

Sponsored by Rep. Zwonitzer. 

Analysis:  A bill to move the Tourism Division away from the Wyoming Business Council. 

Action:  Defeated in Committee.

WBA opposes.

HB 157 - Renewable Energy

Sponsored by:  Representatives Warren, and Zwonitzer and Senators Decaria, Jennings, Massie and Ross.

Analysis:  A commission to explore possible resources of renewable energy possibilities in Wyoming.  Committee testimony focused on advantages of renewable energy; Legislators responded with concerns and comments regarding the now de-funct Wyoming Energy Commission which studied renewables at length.  Public testimony also discussed non-competitive economics and government subsidies. 

Action:  Defeated in Committee 8-1. 

WBA present at hearing.

House Revenue:       

HB 24 - Sales and Use Tax Exemption Aircraft

Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee

Action: Committee do pass recommendation 1/14

Placed on General File 1/14

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/18

Laid back without prejudice 1/20 

Senate Agriculture:   

SF 19 – State Lands Trust Responsibilities

Sponsored by Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources  Interim Committee

Action:   Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee 1/14

Committee do pass recommendation 1/14

Placed on General File 1/19

SF 69 – Water Development Account III

Sponsored by Select Water Committee

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/14

Referred to Senate Appropriations 1/14 

Senate Appropriations: 

SF 15 – State Lands Preservation Account

Sponsored by Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/19

Placed on General File 1/19

Senate Education:      

SF 102 – Student Grant Assistance Program

Sponsored by Senators Boggs, Coe, Decaria, Job and Peck and Representatives Luthi, Warren and Wasserburger

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation with amendment 1/17

Re-referred to Appropriations 1/17

Senate Labor:

SF 78 - Medical Malpractice Insurance: 

Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee 

Analysis:  Requires pubic hearing for some non-competitive premium rate increases for medical mal practice insurance.  Applies to rate increases of 30% or more. 

Action:  Passed Labor Health and Social Services Committee unanimously.

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/18

Passed Second Reading 1/19

Passed Third Reading 1/20

WBA supports and monitoring closely 

Senate Minerals:       

SF 4 - Wyoming Technology Business Center

Sponsored by Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/12

Placed on General File 1/12

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/13

Passed second reading 1/14

Passed third reading 30 yes - 0 nayes - - 1/17

 SF 31 - Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority

Sponsored by Senator Hawks and Representative Lockhart

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/14

Placed on General File 1/14

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/17

Passed Second Reading 1/18

Passed Third Reading 1/19

Received in House for introduction 1/19

SF 60 - Split Estates – Procedures for Oil and Gas Operations 

Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.

Action:  Committee unanimously approved the bill on Tuesday.

Passed Committee of the Whole 1/20

Supported by agriculture, mineral and environmental industry after months of discussion and compromise during the interim. 

Analysis:  The bill allows people who own subsurface minerals to develop their minerals; provides legal protection for surface land owners; and establishes guidelines to mitigate conflicts and provide compensation. 

WBA supports bill as written; would oppose unacceptable amendments.                                

SF 78 - Medical Malpractice Insurance

Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Action:  Received and referred to Senate Labor Committee 1/12

Committee do pass recommendation 1/18

Passed Committee of the Whole with amendments 1/18

Passed second reading 1/19

SF 126 - Large Vehicle Speed Limit: 

Sponsored by Sen. Larson and Rep. Bucholz. 

Analysis:  Bill would reduce speed limit of large trucks to 65 miles per hour and maintain 75 miles per hour by cars. 

Opposed by Wyoming Trucking Association.

Action:  Passed committee 5-0

Placed on General File 1/20

Senate Revenue:       

SF 9 – Intangible Property Taxation Study

Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee

Action:  Committee do pass recommendation 1/18

Placed on General File 1/18

Re-referred to Senate Revenue 1/19

SF 127 - Four Lane Highway Funding 

Sponsored by Rep. Von Flatern.

Analysis:  Provides $36 million a year for construction of four lane highways in Wyoming .  $27 million would be to design and construct highways and $9 million would be for maintenance.

Action: Introduced and referred to Senate Revenue 1/17

Passed Committee 4-0

WBA Supports 

Senate Travel:                       

SF 41 - Wildlife and Natural Resources Funding Act 

Sponsored by Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee.

Analysis:  Purpose is to fund projects that develop and enhance Wyoming habitat.  Intent is to create a $200 million endowment, beginning with $75 million.  Presentations and news conferences were held Monday and Tuesday by former Governor Sullivan and former Representative Clarene Law in Casper and Cheyenne.  Referred to Senate Cultural Resources Committee.

Concerns exist regarding private property rights and the make up of the

Governor appointed board.

Action:  Introduced and referred to Senate Travel Committee 1/11

WBA monitoring closely

Other:                        

HB 285 - Wyoming Tuition Opportunity Program 

Sponsored by Representatives Bucholz, Childers, Hammons, Harshman, Hinckley and Luthi and Senators Boggs and Jennings      

Analysis:  Provides tuition assistance to high school graduates who “earn” tuition for post-secondary education by achieving higher academic standards.  $18 million dollar cost in year five based on the assumption that yearly costs would be approximately $4.5 million.

The Taylor Plan was presented at the Wyoming Heritage Foundation “How Are the Children?” Forum in November.  As the Legislative session approached, five legislative bills were being drafted to achieve these goals.

Dr. James Callier, who spoke at the forum representing the Louisiana based Taylor Foundation, was invited by Governor Freudenthal to come back to Wyoming.  He was in Cheyenne Monday through Wednesday.  During that time he met with the Governor, 46 legislators, 25 business people, seven trade associations, and 18 educators (K-12, community colleges and the University of Wyoming).  Dr. Callier also presented the Taylor Plan to a Joint Education Committee on Tuesday.

The Wyoming Business Alliance facilitated and introduced Dr. Callier at two dinners, two breakfast meetings, two receptions as well as a legislative committee introduction (the Meth Capitol 101 briefing).  House Majority Leader Roy Cohee (Management Committee member of Wyoming Business Alliance) arranged a meeting for Dr. Callier with the Speaker of the House and the Majority Whip. 

Concept supported by the Wyoming Business Alliance, Wyoming Bankers Association, WEA, community colleges and the University of Wyoming.  Consensus as to merit-based vs. need-based has been achieved.  Already strong legislative support is growing.   

The bill has been introduced and is waiting for referral.