Special Session Scheduled for October 26-28, 2021
What Happened This Week in Cheyenne?
A total of 41 legislative proposals, 20 mirrors of each other, were drafted for consideration in the 2021 Special Session. After four days of debate and difficult votes, three bills (HB1001, HB1002, and SF1019), only two of which relate to COVID-19 vaccines, remain active.

Tuesday kicked off with both the House and Senate rejecting the proposed special session rules which would have allowed, among many other things, for an expedited mirror bill process. Most argued against their adoption on the grounds that under their rule the opportunity for public input would be severely diminished.

After deciding the rules for Special Session, both chambers recessed to begin committee debate. WMS was represented by physician leaders April Kranz, MD, Ken Kranz, MD, and Jeff Storey, MD. Their testimony made all the difference and resulted in several amendments in bills that ultimately moved forward this week. WMS owes deep gratitude to these three physicians and their leadership. THANK YOU!

Most of the floor debate this week focused on the overall safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, alternative treatment and testing methods, valuing natural immunity, and attempting to strike a balance between individual and business rights. Childhood vaccine requirements were unnecessarily interjected into some of the debate but, thankfully, were ultimately left out of the final versions of both surviving bills.

The WMS Bill Tracker was updated in real-time as much as possible through the week and is current as of sending this communication. Staff will continue to prioritize keeping it updated as next week's debate unfolds.

Next Week's Schedule
The Senate will begin work at 7 am Monday, November 1. They will introduce engrossed versions of House Bills 1001 and 1002 and assign them to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration and approval. If approved, both bills will come to the full Senate for debate in Committee of the Whole, also known as First Reading.

The House will not convene until Wednesday, November 3, since the Senate did not successfully pass any COVID-19 related bills for their consideration. The House will wait for the Senate to take action on House Bills 1001 and 1002. If the Senate amends either bill and gives it final approval, appointed members of each chamber will then be required to meet to reconcile differences in the bill versions in what they refer to as a conference committee.

If a majority of members in the House and Senate are successful in agreeing on one version of either, or both, of the bills it is then sent to the Governor for signature which initiates a time period in which the Governor can veto the bill(s). If a bill is vetoed, the legislature has the opportunity to override that veto with a 2/3 majority vote.

Prohibits employers with 100+ employees and/or any employer with one employee or more who contracts with Medicare and/or Medicaid from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment, unless the employer meets all of the following criteria.

The employer provides written evidence to the Dept of Workforce Services that requiring the vaccine is critical to ensuring the health, safety & welfare of the workplace.

The employer accepts all religious exemptions and medical exemptions, including written evidence of the employee previously testing positive for COVID-19.

The employer provides reasonable alternative measures for any employee refusing vaccination or who will not disclose their vaccine status. These alternative measures must include reassignment of work duties or workstations so long as it does not impose undue burden on the employer.

The employer offers testing of unvaccinated employees in a frequency and form that meets with current public health guidelines and shall include testing by means other than use of nasopharyngeal swabs when available.

HB1001 also prohibits any vaccine requirement from going into effect earlier than 60 days after this bill becomes law. The state mandates outlined within the bill are also not in effect when/if the federal mandates become law in order to not create contradicting laws with which Wyoming employers must comply. However, there is confusion about what happens if no federal mandate is enacted with the weight of law.

Prohibits any public entity not receiving federal funding from enforcing any mandate or standard of the federal government that requires an employer to ensure or mandate COVID-19 vaccination.

Prohibits any public entity from requiring a person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or show proof of vaccine status to receive or qualify for any public benefit to which the person is entitled.

Authorizes the state's attorney general to initiate or participate in litigation to challenge and resist the federal government actions related to COVID-19 vaccination mandates that are contrary to WY law.

Appropriates $250K from WY general fund to the governor's office to fund litigation actions.

Provides that this law shall not be enforced after the federal law, regulation, rule, standard or order takes legal effect that requires WY employers to comply with a federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement or mandate.
Take Action!

WMS encourages any member with concerns in the legislative proposals outlined above to reach out to their State Senator. WMS supports policies that enable our healthcare providers and facilities to create safe environments of healing for patients. Policies that remove the ability for healthcare to respond to current environments and lack the flexibility to ensure patient and workplace safety threaten the health of all Wyomingites.

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who will be debating both of these bills in Committee Monday morning, include:

Senator Mike Gierau (D - Jackson) Mike.Gierau@wyoleg.gov 307-413-0109
Senator Larry Hicks (R - Baggs) Larry.Hicks@wyoleg.gov 307-383-7192
Senator Dave Kinskey (R - Sheridan) Dave.Kinskey@wyoleg.gov 307-751-6428
Senator Drew Perkins (R - Casper) Drew.Perkins@wyoleg.gov 307-234-1274
Senator Cheri Steinmetz (R - Lingle) Cheri.Steinmetz@wyoleg.gov 307-534-5342
2021 Special Session Details
How To Connect and Stay Engaged

Use wyoleg.gov to learn more about the Special Session legislative process. Below are quick links to important information.




As always, Executive Director Sheila Bush welcomes and invites any and all communication. If you have questions about the status of a bill, want to provide feedback or input on legislation, or want to share your thoughts on any other aspect of the WMS advocacy work, please email her at sheila@wyomed.org or call her cell phone at 307-630-8602.