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Legislative Update
Week 3
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Friday January 28, 2005 Legislative Reports for the Wyoming State Legislature 58th Session Week 3 1. Committee Meetings: House Appropriations: HJ 007 - Children’s Trust Fund. Sponsored by Representatives Osborn, Childers, Cohee, Edwards, Harshman, Harvey, Hinckley, Jackson, Martin, McOmie, Reese, Thompson, Wasserburger and Zwonitzer and Senators Anderson, J. and Sessions. Action: Killed in House Appropriations Committee Thursday News Conference held Thursday morning. Business Council CEO Tucker Fagan and WBA President Bill Schilling testified at request of Department of Family Services and legislators. Both talked about the economic realities of having a strong workforce and the cost to society and business regarding children’s issues - - school drop outs, drugs, teen pregnancy, etc. Schilling additionally talked about the Taylor Plan.
House Education: HB 282, 307, Sponsored by Rep. Harshman. HB 285, 323 Sponsored by Rep. Childers. All bills relate to the Taylor Plan program - - a merit based tuition program whereby students must achieve better grades and ACT scores in order to receive the scholarship. Action: HB 285 was withdrawn by Rep. Childers as HB 323 was an elaboration of that original bill. All three remaining bills HB 282, 307 and 323 were laid back without prejudice by Chairman Wasserberger in order to have interim study. WBA President Bill Schilling gave extensive testimony, presentation and review to Committee and responded to Legislator questions from Representatives Bucholz, Hammons, Hinckley, McOmie, Semlek and Chair Wasserberger, WBA Steering Committee member Harriet Hagemen testified on Casper College’s quality of education, that it should be an important part of the Taylor Plan and encouraged uniform application to all post secondary institutions in Wyoming. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship spoke on the bills noting he supports the concept, but would be very interested if there were some amendments made.
House Judiciary : HB 306 - Medical Review panel. Action: Passed Judiciary Committee Friday. Provides for two doctors, two attorneys and one citizen on review panel. Testimony presented can be admissible in court by the presiding judge. -Medical community principal concerns include: 1)findings of panel should be admissible in any subsequent legal proceeding; 2) Standard of evidence should be uniform and a higher standard for those contained in existing statutes; and 3) the panel’s composition should be weighted towards healthcare providers and lay members.
House Minerals: HB 053 - Air Services Enhancement. Sponsored by Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee. Action: Passed third reading in House Friday. Supported by WBA HB 232 - Economic Development Excise Tax. Sponsored by Representatives Buchanan, Bagby, Childers, Hageman, Latta, Martin, Olsen, Petersen, Powers and Walsh and Senators Decaria, Meier and Townsend. Local economic funding in line with Constitutional Amendment B passed last November. Provides options for funding of local economic development. WBA Supports.
House Revenue: HB 007 - Removal of 4th cent tax. Sponsored by Senators Miller and Case. A bill to reduce taxes as promised by Legislature should revenues allow. Action: Passed Revenue Committee on Wednesday. Rereferred to House Revenue Friday. WBA opposes based on importance of broadening the tax base. HB 013 - Sponsored by Rep. Cohee - - Oil and Gas valuation received testimony on both Monday and Wednesday in House Revenue Committee. Action: Passed committee. Issue relates to disputes over valuation. An issue subject to litigation for 14 years. HB 049 - Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee Action: Did not pass committee. HB 160 - Sales Tax Food Exemption Sponsored by Representatives Robinson, Bagby, Berger, Brechtel, Esquibel, Gay, Gilmore, Hastert, Landon, Martin, McOmie, Morgan, Reese, Thompson, Walsh, Warren and Watt and Senators Boggs, Decaria, Jennings, Job, Massie, Meier, Mockler, Scott, Sessions and Vasey A bill to remove sales tax on food.
Senate Agriculture: SF 019 – State Lands Trust Responsibilities. Sponsored by Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee. Action: Passed third reading Wednesday. Received by the House Friday. SF 069 - Water Development Account III Sponsored by Senate Select Water Committee. Action: Passed Senate Agriculture Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations.
Senate Appropriations: HB 001/SF 001 - General Government Appropriations/Support Business Council funding. Sponsored by Joint Appropriations Interim Committee. -$11.6 million to fund Business Ready Community Grand and Loan Program; -$3 million to fund Air Enhancements Program; -$1.6 million for high capacity internet connectivity service to the Wyoming Technology Center; and -$95,600 for market research center for personnel and data license fees. -$40,000 to reprint 60,000 recreation maps for summer 2005 season. WBA Supports.
SF 015 – State Lands Preservation Account Sponsored by Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee Action: Passed third reading Wednesday. Received by House Friday
Senate Education: SF 122 - University Endowment The package includes $105 million for endowed chairs and $5 million for scholarships. $75 million for energy institute stricken. Passed senate education committee Tuesday. WBA President Bill Schilling testified. Action: Rereferred to Senate Appropriations Committee.
Senate Judiciary: SF 060 - Split Estates Action: Passed third reading in Senate 25 ayes 3 nayes 2 conflicts. House received for introduction Monday. WBA Supports Current Form.
Senate Minerals: SF 078 - Medical Malpractice Insurance. Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee Bill mandates additional advance notice of policy cancellation or premium increase and limits the premium for "tail" requiring a public hearing for certain noncompetitive premium rate proceedings. Action: Passed third reading 1/20 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: Failed third reading Friday. Reconsidered Friday: 15 ayes 15 nayes
Senate Revenue: SF 009 – Intangible Property Taxation Study Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee Action: Passed Committee Passed third reading Friday
HB 024 - Sales and Use Tax Exemption – Aircraft. Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee. Action: House Passed third reading Monday. Introduced to Senate and referred to Senate Revenue Friday.
SF 127 - Four Lane Highway Funding. Senators Von Flatern, Boggs, Geis, Jennings and Johnson and Representatives Berger, Cohee, Edwards, Illoway, Latta and McOmie Purpose of bill is to improve highway safety by converting two-lane to four- lane highways Action: Passed Senate on Second Reading Friday. WBA Supports.
Senate Travel: SF 041 - Wildlife Trust fund. $75 million Fund. Sponsored by Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee Approved by Senate Natural Resources committee Tuesday Amendments included expanding the board from 7-9 members Requiring wildlife, tourism, energy, agriculture and sportsman interests to be on the board. Action: Rereferred to Senate Appropriations Committee.
SF 152 - Cultural Trust Fund Endowment. Sponsored by Senators Nicholas, Anderson, J., Hines and Job and Representatives Berger, Jorgensen and Simpson. Action: Heard by Senate Travel Committee Thursday. |