Legislative Update

Greetings from Cheyenne!

The 2020 Budget Session kicks off tomorrow. Fortunately, the legislature is now back in the newly renovated Wyoming State Capitol! For pictures of the refurbished House and Senate Chambers, you can visit the Wyoming Capitol Square Project Facebook page.

The primary purpose of this session, which will last between 20 and 24 days, is to approve and implement a budget for the 2021-2022 biennium. This budget includes operating expenses for all executive, legislative and judicial branch agencies, including the University of Wyoming, community colleges and K-12 education.

Members of the Joint Appropriations Committee have been working on the budget for many months and as representatives, we’ll have a chance to weigh in and vote on the final package. If you are interested in learning more about Wyoming’s Budget process, I encourage you to visit https://wyoleg.gov/StateFinances/StateBudgeting.

In addition to the budget, there have been more than 240 bills filed for our consideration. Lawmakers have until Friday, February 14 to file bills, so expect this number to climb. Since this is a budget session, any legislation not pertinent to the budget will require a 2/3 majority of both bodies to be introduced and debated.

I’m the principal sponsor of four bills this session, with one more to be numbered. Details on each are as follows:

HB 28, Firearm Regulation: This bill would prohibit governmental entities from operating firearm buyback programs – with your tax dollars!

HB 56, Good Neighbor Authority: This bill would create the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account to support restoration efforts across private and public lands that is funded through a partnership with the Forest Service and BLM.

HB 72, Vehicle Titles – Transfers and Receipts: This bill would modify provisions related to the issuance and transfer of certificates of title and require county treasurers to issue an excise tax receipt.

HB 98, Defend the Guard Act: This bill would bar Wyoming guard troops from being deployed to active combat without a declaration of war from Congress. It is past time we hold Congress accountable for abdicating their war powers as prescribed in the US Constitution, Article 1 Section 8, Clause 15.

I’m proud to report that U.S. Senator Rand Paul will be the featured guest at a rally in Cheyenne this Friday, February 14 at 9 a.m. in support of the Defend the Guard Act. Senator Paul has been a fierce advocate for our nation’s soldiers and a rational voice in the quest to end the longest war in U.S. history.

We’re proud to welcome him to our State Capitol. The rally is free and open to the public. Details can be found at facebook.com/events/783621528791180/.

House and Senate Committees will be working bills and forwarding them to their respective chambers for consideration. The Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, of which I serve as Chairman, is working on a number of important measures that address energy facilities and electricity generation, insurance and Blockchain technology among other issues.

I also continue to serve on the House Rules Committee and as a member of the House Leadership as Majority Whip.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 307-282-0968 or email me at [email protected]. You can also find updates about my work on my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/Tyler4HD1.

Sincerely,

Representative Tyler Lindholm

House District #1