LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
What happened during week 2 and next steps
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It was another whirlwind week in the Wyoming Legislature! Tomorrow, Monday February 28, is the last day for 2nd Readings in House of Origin. Tuesday, March 1, is the last day for 3rd Readings of bills in House of Origin.
Here's what happened last week:
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A mirror amendment to the budget proposed to eliminate funding for gender and women's studies and all extracurricular programs was ruled not germane to the budget and withdrawn in the House but adopted by a 16-14 vote in the Senate.
- Click here to read more
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Three bills to do with the military - HB0053 addressing sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints within the military, SF0045 which includes the addition of tracking sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints in the military, as well as HB0016 that would allow members of the national guard to use funds for childcare - have all passed their perspective houses of origin and are continuing on!
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Bills that would make higher education more affordable and accessible, HB0029 & HB0031, are still up for consideration, with discussion happening tomorrow.
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HB0033, which would help more youth in need access mental health services, has passed the House!
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SF0051, a bill that is not necessary to, or effective at, its purpose to protect women and girls has been placed on Senate General File!
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SF0089 failed in committee, but a similarly punitive policy that would push women away from healthcare that they need to have a healthy pregnancy, HB0085, is still being considered in the House!
Here's what you can do to help Wyoming women & girls
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The one-size-fits-all policy laid out in SF0051 would deny some Wyoming women and girls important out-of-classroom learning and personal development opportunities through athletics.
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According to research by Dr. Laura Faherty, “more infants were born with drug withdrawal symptoms in states with policies [like HB0085] that punish pregnant women for substance use".
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What you need to know for 2022:
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Please 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.
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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.
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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 2/25 Passed House 2nd Reading
NEXT ACTION TOMORROW AFTER 10AM House will discuss bills up for 3rd reading
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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.
NEXT ACTION TOMORROW 2/28 @ 8AM Senate Labor Committee to hear testimony and discuss
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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.
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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 2/23 Passed House and Placed on Senate General File
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
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Sponsored by: Joint Transportation
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 2/25 House Placed on General File
NEXT ACTION TOMORROW House will hear bills on general file
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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 2/23 Senate Placed on General File
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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 2/25 House Placed on General File
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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 2/25 Passed House 2nd Reading
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ADDITIONAL BILLS TO WATCH |
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LAST ACTION 2/25 Laid Back on House 2nd Reading
LAST ACTION 2/25 Placed on House General File
LAST ACTION 2/23 Placed on Senate General File
LAST ACTION 2/25 Passed Senate 2nd Reading
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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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