The budget session of the 67th Wyoming Legislature has reached its last week and it is coming down to the wire to get everything across the finish line, including the 25/26 biennial budget.
AGC has been tracking several bills throughout the session, testifying on those that we support and working with legislative members to make appropriate amendments and changes that improve the legislation. At the beginning of the session, there was a total of 365 bills filed. That number has been whittled down by legislative votes and deadlines.
AGC ended up with 79 bills on our tracker at the beginning of the session through the bill filing deadline on Wednesday, 2/14. Since then, many have died along the way, and we are currently tracking 33 bills.
The 25/26 biennial budget has gone through the arduous process of two rounds of amendments in both chambers. After both 2nd and 3rd reading, the positions of the chambers had a difference of $1.1 billion dollars. A conference committee has been assigned by both chambers to try to iron out the differences.
One of the biggest topics of this session has been, unsurprisingly, property tax relief. Both chambers have heard many bills related to the topic. Those that have been successful so far include a bill making changes to the property tax refund program, the creation of a property tax deferral program, some new exemptions including for tangible personal property and for veterans, and some different approaches to homestead exemptions. As these bills continue to work through the process, we will see if the two chambers coalesce around a united package of relief for homeowners.
Other bills we have been tracking include changes to penalties for light and high-profile vehicle road closure violations, changes to charter schools, educational savings accounts for alternative education, and efforts to protect Wyoming’s interest in federal land use decision making.
One bill that was a surprise and we are cautiously supporting with some changes made is SF0114 Contractor licenses-reciprocal recognition requirements. This bill would allow reciprocity between local governments in contractor licensing. One concern has been the difference in the minimum level of required competency and making sure that entities have the authority to verify that a licensed contractor has ICC certification for the licensing to be reciprocal. This bill is headed to the House floor.
We’re also supporting and working on two bills that were sponsored by Joint Minerals related to non-coal mining. These bills include updates to the LMO statutes and a bill specifying standards for blasting in non-coal mines.
To follow all of the happenings at the Capitol and to see the legislation that AGC of Wyoming is tracking, please visit the Advocacy page on the AGC of Wyoming website: Advocacy – AGC of Wyoming. As always, please feel free to contact me with any concerns at kelli@agcwyo.org or 307-760-6926
