LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Leaping from Week 3 of the Legislative Session
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Last Monday, WYWF staff attended the 15th Annual Leap into Leadership hosted by the Wyoming Women's Legislative Caucus (WyWLC). It was wonderful to hear from and connect with inspiring Wyoming women about how we can all benefit our communities by getting involved in leadership roles.
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“We know that diverse voices are essential to achieving balanced solutions that serve everyone in our state,” said Representative Cathy Connolly, WyWLC Vice-Chair. “It is our hope that the efforts of the WyWLC will continue to encourage Wyoming women to be part of the conversation and take on leadership roles for many years to come.”
The event also gave us the chance to put our boots on the ground at the State Capitol Building during an important week of the 2022 Legislative Session!
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Senate Chambers within the Wyoming State Capitol Building, 2022. |
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Here's what we learned last week:
- The Senate budget amendment to eliminate funding for the UW Gender & Women's Studies was altered to require UW to report on online, non-opinionated educational courses like AlcoholEdu Primary and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (SAPU).
- Click here to read more
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SF0045, which includes the addition of tracking sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints in the military, has passed and and been signed by the House Speaker!
- Two other bills regarding the military - HB0053 addressing sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints within the military, as well as HB0016 that would allow members of the national guard to use funds for childcare - are all on track to pass the Senate!
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Bills that would make higher education more affordable and accessible, HB0029 & HB0031 are still up for consideration.
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HB0033, which would help more youth in need access mental health services, has passed the Senate and has been received for House Concurrence.
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SF0051, a bill that is not necessary to, or effective at, its purpose to protect women and girls has passed the Senate and received for introduction to the House! As of Friday, it appears to have missed the deadline to be introduced and referred to a committee on the House side.
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HB0085, a punitive policy that would push women away from healthcare that they need to have a healthy pregnancy, is still being considered in the Senate!
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Please read below for how to weigh in on each of these bills!
Scroll to the bottom of the email for additional legislative engagement resources.
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Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to defense forces and affairs; expanding authorized uses of the military assistance trust fund; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This bill would allow guardsmen and women to use funds for childcare, which is essential for the success of working parents.
LAST ACTION 3/4 Passed Senate Second Reading
NEXT ACTION THURSDAY 3/10 is the LAST DAY to pass Senate 3rd Reading!
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Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to Hathaway scholarship program; merging the reserve and expenditure accounts; increasing the available balance in the expenditure account; modifying investment of funds; increasing scholarship awards as specified; making conforming amendments; transferring funds.
LAST ACTION 3/4 Passed Senate COW/1st Reading
NEXT ACTION WEDNESDAY 3/9 is the LAST DAY to pass Senate 2rd Reading!
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Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to higher education; creating the Wyoming's tomorrow scholarship program; providing eligibility requirements; authorizing administration and rulemaking; creating an account and a permanent fund; requiring reports; providing for a continuous appropriation; amending a provision regarding permanent funds of the state; making conforming amendments; providing for a transfer of funds; specifying applicability.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: The new scholarship fund this bill would create would expand financial aid options to a demographic of Wyomingites seeking a Bachelor's degree that were not previously eligible for scholarships. We know that with more education, women's wages increase and their chances of reaching self-sufficiency are greater.
LAST ACTION 3/4 Senate Placed on General File
NEXT ACTION TUESDAY 3/8 is the LAST DAY to be introduced and pass Senate COW!
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Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to public health and safety; modifying prior legislation that amended provisions related to community health services; modifying definitions; delaying the effective date for the community health services redesign; requiring reports; providing a legislative finding; making conforming amendments.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This bill updates criteria related to youth referrals to behavioral health centers to be inclusive of education, healthcare and service providers that surround the youth on a regular basis and updates the definition of indigent to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. These changes would help more youth in need access mental health services, which in turn would be beneficial to parents.
LAST ACTION 3/4 House Received for Concurrence
NEXT ACTION House will either approve amendments made by Senate or send the bill to a conference committee comprised of both houses.
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Sponsored by: Joint Transportation
AN ACT relating to discrimination and harassment grievances involving the Wyoming national guard or military department; providing the Wyoming military department processes for reporting discrimination and sexual harassment; requiring agreements between the military department and the department of workforce services; etc.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This bill aims to addresses mishandled sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints by bringing more outside oversight to the state military department. The US Army has concluded that while men and women both face forms of harassment, women are more likely to face “serious” or “persistent” harassment. More than one-third of women reported repeated attempts by other soldiers to establish an unwanted romantic or sexual relationship, compared to 9 percent of men.
NEXT ACTION TUESDAY 3/8 is the LAST DAY to pass Senate Appropriations Committee, be introduced to and then pass Senate COW!
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Sponsored by: Representative(s) Oakley, Baker, Barlow, Crago, Flitner, Larsen, Romero-Martinez, Sommers and Winter and Senator(s) Baldwin, Driskill, Hutchings and Kolb
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating a new endangering children felony; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: Punitive policies push women away from healthcare that they need to have a healthy pregnancy. According to research by Dr. Laura Faherty, “more infants were born with drug withdrawal symptoms in states with policies that punish pregnant women for substance use. This was the case both immediately after the policy was enacted, and in the longer term.” Pushing pregnant women away from healthcare has detrimental effects for children. Read more about why prenatal care is essential
LAST ACTION 3/4 Senate Placed on General File. As of Friday, it appears to have missed the deadline to be introduced and referred to a committee on the House side!!
NEXT ACTION TUESDAY 3/8 is the last day for HB85 to be introduced to and pass Senate COW before going on to 2nd reading. But, HB85 doesn't need to be introduced and should stop now!
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Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to state legislative districts; providing definitions; providing a plan for state legislative districts based upon the 2020 census; providing for election of the senate; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: Redistricting will have an impact on districts for the next decade. Several systems that confer equal advantages to all candidates, including women, have been identified and should be considered when creating redistricting plans such as multi-member districts and ranked choice voting.
LAST ACTION 3/3 House Received for Concurrence
NEXT ACTION House will either approve amendments made by Senate or send the bill to a conference committee comprised of both houses.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Stay tuned to learn more about how redistricting impacts you!
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Sponsored by: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs
AN ACT relating to defense forces and affairs; requiring an annual report as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This bill would require the Wyoming military to debrief legislators and the governor’s office on its harassment, assault and discrimination cases every year. The US Army has concluded that while men and women both face forms of harassment, women are more likely to face “serious” or “persistent” harassment. More than one-third of women reported repeated attempts by other soldiers to establish an unwanted romantic or sexual relationship, compared to 9 percent of men.
LAST ACTION 3/4 Signed by House Speaker!
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Sponsored by: Senator(s) Schuler, French, Salazar and Steinmetz and Representative(s) Gray, Haroldson and Jennings
AN ACT relating to school sports; prohibiting biological males from athletic teams and sports designated for females in public schools; establishing related causes of action and protections for individuals and educational institutions; requiring rulemaking.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This legislation is not necessary to, or effective at, its purpose to protect women and girls. Both the association overseeing Wyoming high school athletics and the collegiate athletics association have processes in place to determine competing eligibility for transgender athletes that consider the individual wishing to compete. The one-size-fits-all policy laid out in this bill would deny some Wyoming women and girls important out-of-classroom learning and personal development opportunities through athletics. Read more about why it matters
LAST ACTION 3/2 House received for introduction, NOT yet introduced or referred to House committee.
NEXT ACTION MONDAY 3/7 is the LAST DAY for SF51 to be introduced and both referred and reported out of a House Committee. But, SF51 doesn't need to be heard by a House Committee and should stop now!
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Sponsored by: Joint Appropriations Committee
AN ACT relating to the Wyoming council for women's issues; placing the council for women's issues within the department of workforce services; transferring authority, positions, property, equipment and funding for the council for women's issues from the Wyoming business council; etc.
LAST ACTION 3/4 Signed by House Speaker!
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SF0085 Child care facility certification exemption
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Perkins, Boner, Case, Kinskey, Kost, Nethercott and Salazar and Representative(s) Flitner, Harshman, Larsen, Sweeney and Walters
AN ACT relating to the emergency expenses of government; providing definitions; providing for appropriations; specifying conditions on the appropriation and expenditure of COVID-19 relief funds; authorizing emergency government programs; etc.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: This bill opens up more opportunities for afterschool care, which is essential for the success of working mother.
LAST ACTION 3/2 Placed on Senate General File
NEXT ACTION TUESDAY 3/8 is the last day for SF85 to be introduced to and pass Senate COW before going on to 2nd reading!
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reach out to your legislators to express interest in this bill before TUESDAY/LAST DAY for Committee of Whole on bills in second house!!
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ADDITIONAL BILLS TO WATCH |
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LAST ACTION 3/4 Signed by Senate President!
NEXT ACTION MONDAY 3/7 is the LAST DAY to be reported out of Labor Committee
LAST ACTION 3/4 House Appointed JCC01 Members
LAST ACTION 3/2 House Received for Introduction
NEXT ACTION MONDAY 3/7 is the LAST DAY to be reported out of committee
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
FOR THE LAST WEEK OF THE 2022 SESSION
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All floor proceedings and committee meetings during the 2022 Budget Session will be broadcast live via the Wyoming Legislature’s YouTube channel. Gallery seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Overflow seating will also be available in Capitol Room W113.
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Monday, March 7 is the last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in second house. Second house refers to the chamber the bill did not originate in. For instance, a House Bill would now need to be reported out of a Senate Committee and placed on Senate General File. And Senate Files need to be reported out of a House Committee and placed on House General File.
Tuesday, March 8 is the last day for bills to be introduced to and pass Committee of Whole (COW) in second house. COW refers to an entire chamber body. Second house refers to the chamber the bill did not originate in. Introduction to the COW in the second house is the first time all Representatives hear Senate Files and all Senators hear House Bills. After discussion, bills are voted on and either pass or fail COW in the second house.
Wednesday, March 9 is the last day for bills to pass 2nd Reading in the second house.
COW in the second house continues discussion and considering amendments, as well as hopefully constituent comments they've received since. Votes determine is bills either pass or fail 2nd reading in the second house.
Thursday, March 10 is the last day for bills to pass 3rd Reading in the second house.
Last chance for COW in the second house to discuss and consider amendments. If the house of origin does not approve, or concur, the amendments passed in the second house a conference committee comprised of both houses tries to resolve the differences. The resulting compromise bill is debated & voted on again by both houses. If passed, the bill is then sent to Governor Gordon who either approves or vetoes.
Legislature set to adjourn by midnight Friday, March 11.
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"How a bill becomes a law" courtesy of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. |
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About the Wyoming Women's Foundation
The Wyoming Women’s Foundation is a priority fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation, which granted out over $11 million to nonprofits across the state in 2019, and over $85 million since its inception in 1989. The Women’s Foundation builds on a permanent endowment that will ensure funding to enhance the lives of women and girls in Wyoming for generations to come. It makes grants to organizations that help Wyoming women and girls attain economic self-sufficiency, creates statewide awareness of the barriers to economic self-sufficiency, and supports systems change to eliminate those barriers. Learn more at wywf.org.
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