Week three of the 2019 Wyoming Legislature has come and gone! Several new bills were introduced this week. I’ve updated the status. As bills fail, I’ll report them that week, and then after that, they’ll be taken off the list. The cutoff for new bills to the LSO for drafting is next week, and we anticipate at least a few more bills of interest to be filed. To read the full text of the bill, please click on the bill number. If you have additional questions, please text me at (307) 851-1191 or email me at L@wyoming.com. My phone is on silent while at the Capitol, so calling me will get you straight to voice mail.
Sponsored By: AGRICULTURE
AN ACT relating to fences and cattle guards; preempting county regulation of lawful fence standards; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction; referred to the Agriculture Committee, the first hearing was Thursday, January 24th, but they ran out of time, it has been continued until January 29th.
Sponsored By: REVENUE
AN ACT relating to sales and use tax; providing that the sales tax shall apply to sales of specified services; reducing the sales and use tax rates; repealing the sales and use tax exemption on food for domestic home consumption; repealing additional sales and use tax exemptions; making conforming changes; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: STRONGLY OPPOSE
STATUS: Received for introduction, and referred to the Appropriations committee. This is odd as it was an interim Revenue committee bill. Hmmmm… wonder what’s up! I don’t think it’s a good sign when the committee that spends the money is sent a bill to raise more money. The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, January 22ndupon adjournment. That afternoon, the bill was laid back by the Chairman until further notice. The rumor mill has it that all of the sales tax on services plus a couple of other exemption repeals will be stripped from the bill (good news for us) and that it will come out as a bill to remove the exemption on groceries. No hearing date has been set.
Sponsored By: REVENUE
AN ACT relating to school finance; providing additional mills for school funding as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: STRONGLY OPPOSE; increases property taxes by 13% over the next three years.
STATUS: Received for introduction and has NOT been read in or assigned. This again is odd, as it was an interim committee bill. Again, rumor mill has it that it will not be heard. Good news yet again!
Sponsored By: Zwonitzer
AN ACT relating to counties, cities and towns; authorizing the establishment of tourism improvement districts as specified; specifying requirements; providing definitions; specifying duties and powers of tourism improvement districts; authorizing assessments; providing for a limitation on actions; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to the Corporations Committee, received a do pass recommendation, placed on General File.
Sponsored By: Clem
AN ACT relating to the tax on production of energy from wind resources; increasing the tax rate; providing for distribution of the tax; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction; not referred to a Committee yet. Probably DEAD
Sponsored By: Blackburn
AN ACT relating to municipal services; prohibiting municipalities from recovering past due payments for municipal services as specified; requiring adoption of related policies by municipalities; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Corporations Committee. Hearing set for January 28thupon noon recess.
Sponsored by: Hallinan
AN ACT relating to taxation and revenue; amending eligibility criteria for the tax refund to the elderly and disabled program; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Revenue Committee which recommended a do pass. Placed on General File.
Sponsored by: Tass
AN ACT relating to ad valorem taxation; providing a tax exemption for a portion of property owned by citizens aged sixty-five years of age and older; providing for application for the exemption; providing for calculation of the exemptions; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Revenue Committee which recommended a do pass. FAILED General File 20-37-3
Sponsored by: Harshman
AN ACT relating to administration of government; clarifying that the build Wyoming loan program is a revolving, continuing loan program; clarifying the amount of funds that may be loaned to political subdivisions for infrastructure projects and road or street projects; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Minerals Committee, received a Do Pass recommendation and has been placed on General File
Sponsored By: Furphy
AN ACT relating to cities and towns; providing a tax credit for expenditures to improve abandoned buildings; providing for designation of abandoned buildings; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to the Corporation Committee; hearing set for January 28thupon noon adjournment.
Sponsored By: Flitner
AN ACT relating to private roads; amending private road provisions to create private road easements; revising private road establishment processes and standards; requiring imposition of a bond; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Agriculture Committee.
Sponsored By: Hunt
AN ACT relating to zoning; modifying requirements for protesting changes in city or town regulations, restrictions or district boundaries; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Received for introduction. Referred to the Agriculture Committee.
Sponsored By: Duncan
AN ACT relating to real estate subdivisions; amending exemptions for subdivisions; limiting the power of county commissioners regarding subdivision exemptions; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction. Referred to the Corporations Committee, received a 9-0 Do Pass recommendation. Placed on General File. A STATEWIDE CALL FOR ACTION HAS BEEN SENT! PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AND RESPOND!
Sponsored by: MacGuire
AN ACT relating to real estate brokers; decreasing the length of time licensed real estate brokers must keep and maintain records of real estate transactions; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Corporations Committee
Sponsored By: Zwonitzer
A JOINT RESOLUTION urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment ensuring free and fair elections.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction. Referred to the Corporations Committee.
Sponsored By: CORPORATIONS
AN ACT relating to corporations, partnerships and associations; altering licensing fees as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Referred to the Corporation Committee
Sponsored By: CORPORATIONS
AN ACT relating to cities and towns; authorizing municipalities to create community development districts as specified; specifying requirements; providing definitions; specifying duties and powers of community development districts and district boards of directors; authorizing assessments; specifying duties of municipalities; amending definitions; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed the Senate 23-6-1 On to the House.
Sponsored By: CORPORATIONS
AN ACT relating to elections; modifying restriction on contribution of funds to political candidates for the general election as specified; modifying requirements for filing campaign reports as specified; requiring the filing of campaign reports relating to electioneering communications; amending campaign advertising provisions; repealing provisions relating to political speech by certain organizations; repealing archaic language; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Passed the Senate 23-7
Sponsored By: LABOR
AN ACT relating to insurance; establishing licensing and fee requirements for multiple employer welfare arrangements as specified; providing rulemaking authority; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Referred to the Labor Committee; passed the Senate 22-4. On to the House.
Sponsored By: Bebout
AN ACT relating to counties; exempting private schools from county zoning authority as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: MONITOR
STATUS: Heavily amended but passed the Senate 24-5-1 abstention
Sponsored By: Driskill
AN ACT relating to recreation liability; specifying that a landowner is not liable for damages or injuries to a third party caused by a person using the land for recreational purposes; specifying conditions under which a state lands lessee is not liable to users of improvements on those lands; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed the Senate 28-0-2
Sponsored By: Pappas
AN ACT relating to real estate appraisers; creating new definitions; authorizing the certified real estate appraiser board to allow temporary permits; modifying exam prerequisites and experience requirements; modifying provisions relating to management company registration and regulation; updating grounds for disciplinary proceedings; and providing for an effective date.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: STRONGLY SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Committee of the whole on 1/24 and 2nd reading on 1/25. Final reading in the Senate will be 1/28.
Sponsored By: Wasserburger
A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to call a convention to amend the United States Constitution for the purpose of restoring free and fair elections.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Minerals Committee, received a Do Pass; on General File 1/28
Sponsored By: Bouchard
A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution to require voter approval before any mill levy, property tax assessment percentage, tax on real estate transactions or tax on real estate services can be imposed or increased.
WYOMING REALTOR®POSITION: STRONGLY SUPPORT
STATUS: Received for introduction, referred to the Revenue Committee. Died in Committee on a 2-2 vote. DEAD
