Two constitutional issues to appear on election ballot

Voters at this year’s general election ballot will be asked to consider two constitutional matters, one allowing counties and cities to invest in equities and the other to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court justices.

Constitutional Amendment A is the result of House Enrolled Joint Resolution 2, passed last year. If approved by voters, it will amend Wyoming’s constitution to allow local governments to invest in stocks and equities upon a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature.

The change would allow the legislature to provide by law for any county, city, township, town, school district or other political subdivision to invest its funds in capital stock of any association or corporation and designate which of these funds may be invested. The legislature may also prescribe different investment conditions for each type and class of political subdivision and type of funds.

Any legislation that establishes or increases the percentage of any fund that may be invested must pass with a two-thirds vote of each of the two houses.

Constitutional Amendment B meanwhile increases the age at which Wyoming Supreme Court justices and District Court judges are required to retire from 70 to 75.

House Enrolled Joint Resolution 1, passed during this year’s budget session, created the proposal.