With the second round of three-day virtual committee of reference hearings, the stage is set for the final month of a very unusual Regular Session. The session now turns to a hybrid model allowing both virtual and in-person participation. The Governor's Office however, has indicated that the administration's participation will be virtual as no lobbyists and many legislators have not received COVID vaccinations. The Governor does not want to expose already short staff members to the disease. Legislators will also have the option but it commonly felt most will attend in person. While this condition has given hope to lobbyists, all legislature activity will be virtual, even for those attending in person. Accordingly and with no ability to pass notes to legislators physically because legislative staff is only at 1/3rd capacity, reliance on online technology will definitely hamper communications with legislators. A common theme being heard around the lobbyists is that legislators are overwhelmed with email and most communications are not being acknowledged or replied to. Regardless, session reconvenes on Monday, March 1st and nobody can predict process or product at this point.
Bills of Interest Forwarded Out of Committee Last Week:
SF-0046 "Air ambulance memberships - regulation and disclosures." and HB-0007 "Air ambulance membership organizations - regulation." Both bills passed out of committee and will be debated on the floor. Testimony in committees indicated a preference for SF-0046 due to its brevity. HB-0007 was thought to be overly prescriptive and "clunky." The focus of both bills is disclosure and assuring consumers understand that a membership is not insurance. WPMA supports both bills believing air ambulance service is critical.
SJ-0001 "Taxes to voters." This resolution to be referred to the voters would have required a vote of the public before any tax could be increased. It failed in committee on a 2-3 vote. Unlike Colorado's TABOR, this bill has many procedural unintended consequences. Watch for another version to resurface by March 8th or next year.
HB-0026 "Fuel tax." The original $.09 per gallon increase was amended to be implemented over three years at $.03 per year. While the bill passed committee, it faces a challenge on the House floor....like all tax measures in the House.
SF-0003 "Automated vehicle identification systems." aka the "Photo radar" bill. The bill was amended to be allowed only on Teton Pass in specific areas and on any WYDOT construction zone. The bill requires 1 FTE in WYDOT for administration of the program that is anticipated to be operated by a vendor. Many concerns remain to be worked out on the floor.
SF-0007 "Autonomous vehicles." The bill was re-referred back to the Senate Transportation Committee for work regarding definitions and other structure amendments. The bill seeks to authorize autonomous, self-driven vehicles in Wyoming and lays out the necessary framework of statutes that authorize rulemaking and moving forward on autonomous vehicles to be utilized in the state.
Summary: The week off before the three days of virtual committee hearings allowed for much work to be done with legislators. WPMA's leadership and members reached out to legislators in their districts seeking to secure a "no" vote on the cigarette and moist snuff tobacco tax increase. Maverik, Red Horse Oil, Big Horn Coop., Gasamat/Smoker Friendly, Dooley Oil and non-members solicited by staff, reached out to several House members. Bailey Oil met with three Fremont County legislators and also secured support for the statewide stamping (taxing) of tobacco products on the reservation issue from Rep. Ember Oakley. Grassroots connecting with legislators works!! Without members helping in assuring legislators understand the impact of their actions, legislators that have no clue about the retail industry or convenience store operations and they must be "educated."
The remainder of the bills heard during the virtual sessions focused on reigning in public health orders and the authority of the State Public Health officer, substantially working on education funding and recalibration rendered good progress, taxation issues regarding property taxes and exemptions were heavily debated and other interim bills addressed. An updated version of the Bill Tracking Report is attached below.
BILL TRACKING
