LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
THE 2022 BUDGET SESSION ENDS TODAY!
The Wyoming Women’s Foundation would like to take a moment to thank anyone and everyone who followed along with our Legislative Update! It was a quick, but busy, session. Thank YOU for using our Legislative Watch to access resources to understand the legislative process and make your voice heard!

We are so grateful for everyone reaching out to your legislators on bills that impact the economic self-sufficiency of women and girls in Wyoming! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this year’s Legislative Watch. You can share your feedback by clicking here.
The 66th Wyoming Legislature just wrapped up the Budget Session, which started on February 14th! The legislative focus was approving a budget for the state's spending priorities over the next two years. Two other legislative priorities for the 66th: Passing a budget for American Rescue Plan Act funds and drawing the Constitutionally-mandated, once-a-decade legislative redistricting map.
Wyoming State Capitol Building, 2022
The 2022 Budget Session also sought bills to expand healthcare through Medicaid expansion, telehealth services, and access to community health services. There were many bills touching on maternal health and perinatal care topics. Other bills attempted to modify our political process that could have impacted women disproportionately in instances of runoff elections and redistricting. We are happy to report military department updates included: discrimination and harassment policies; funds for childcare; and discrimination and harassment reporting to the governor. Lastly, there were many bills that focused on access to education, especially in regards to scholarships for higher education. Details on the status of the bills tracked by WYWF this year can be found below.
The most important thing to remember is that your voice is being heard and is important to our good legislators. Because of YOUR voices and input, bills that would have negatively impacted women’s economic self-sufficiency were stopped. Thank you!
ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE FAR FROM OVER!
The session has ended, but advocacy efforts are far from over! YOU can still affect change in Wyoming for women & girls.
The time between legislative sessions is referred to as the interim and is when legislative committees study key issues to prepare for the upcoming session. The committees can prioritize what should be studied over the interim period with input gathered from committee members and the public.

WYWF has submitted an interim topic request reviewing the maternal health and perinatal care policies in the state. We asked the Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee to consider a “Review of Maternal Health Policies” for the State of Wyoming. The Wyoming Women’s Network’s Jen Simon and Representative Cathy Connolly also submitted similar topic requests, and the committee’s leadership sounded interested at their meeting reviewing topic requests this week! 
"A New Beginning", 2022,
 Daniel Galbreath.
For more information on maternal health and perinatal care in Wyoming, read our op-ed. Information on the status of interim topic will be available on April 8th.
Let's commemorate the WORST annual holiday - National Equal Pay Day - the date that symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year!

Join us TUESDAY MARCH 15 at 12:30 pm as we partner with the Wyoming Council for Women, Wyoming Women's Action Network, and some special guests for a conversation on pay equity in Wyoming.
On Wednesday, March 9, WYWF Director Rebekah Smith, Casper College History Instructor Tanis Lovercheck-Saunders, and Composer Stephanie Ann Boyd discussed the composition, Julia Louisa Esther.

Watch the recording below to hear how the historical legacy of Women’s Suffrage is reflected in the piece and the socio-political challenges Wyoming Women face today.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING WEEK 4
  • Three bills regarding the military - HB0016 that would allow members of the national guard to use funds for childcare, as well as HB0053 & SF0045 addressing sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints within the military - have all passed!
  • HB0029, a bill that would make higher education more affordable and accessible - has failed. But another education investment bill HB0031 - has passed!
  • HB0033, which would help more youth in need access mental health services, has passed concurrence and has been signed into law by the House Speaker!
  • SF0051, a bill that is not necessary to, or effective at, its purpose to protect women and girls - was not introduced, failing in the House!
  • HB0085, a punitive policy that would push women away from healthcare that they need to have a healthy pregnancy - has failed in the Senate!
Please read below for more information on each of these bills!
Scroll to the bottom of the email for additional legislative engagement resources.
HOUSE BILLS
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 3/7 Signed by Senate President!
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 3/8 Failed Senate 3rd Reading
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Thank Senator(s) Baldwin, Cooper, Driskill, Ellis, Furphy, Gierau, Kost, Landen, Nethercott, Pappas, Perkins, Rothfuss, Schuler, Scott, Wasserburger for their Aye votes!
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 3/10 Signed by Senate President!
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reach out to the Education Committee to thank them for their work on this bill!
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 3/7 Signed by Senate President!
Sponsored by: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee
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.
LAST ACTION 3/10 Passed House Concurrence
NEXT ACTION 3/11 Bill to be sent to Governor Gordon
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 3/7 Failed House COW
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reach out to Senator(s) Anderson, Baldwin, Boner, Bouchard, Case, Ellis, Furphy, Gierau, James, Kost, Mckeown, Nethercott, Pappas, Rothfuss, Schuler, Scott, Wasserburger for their NAY votes!
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 3/7 Senate Appointed JCC01 Members
NEXT ACTION 3/11 @ 8:30 am a conference committee comprised of both houses was called to resolve the differences. If a compromise is found, the resulting bill is debated & voted on again by both houses before midnight. If passed, the bill is then sent to Governor Gordon who either approves or vetoes.
Stay tuned to learn more about how redistricting impacts you!
SENATE FILES
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 3/8 Signed by Governor Gordon!
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reach out to the Joint Transportation, Highways & Affairs Committee to thank them for their work on this bill!
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 3/8 House did not receive for introduction. HB51 was not pulled out of the drawer due to the House of Representatives adhering to the procedures of the State of Wyoming! We appreciate Speaker of the House, Representative Barlow, who stood staunchly with the process and relayed the importance of the other bills that were already introduced.
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 Governor Gordon!
Reach out to the Appropriations Committee to thank them for their work on this bill!
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 3/10 Signed by House Speaker!
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reach out to Senator(s) Perkins, Boner, Case, Kinskey, Kost, Nethercott and Salazar and Representative(s) Flitner, Harshman, Larsen, Sweeney and Walters to thank them for sponsoring this bill!
ADDITIONAL BILLS TO WATCH
LAST ACTION 3/7 Signed by Governor Gordon

LAST ACTION 3/10 Passed House Concurrence
NEXT ACTION 3/11 Bill to be sent to Governor Gordon

LAST ACTION 3/7 Signed by House Speaker

LAST ACTION 3/8 House Did not Consider for Introduction

LAST ACTION 3/10 Signed by House Speaker 
STAY ENGAGED
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"How a bill becomes a law" courtesy of the Wyoming Outdoor Council.
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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