LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Next steps on healthcare access
and other wins and losses in week 1
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We started the week on Valentine’s Day by attending the Healthy Wyoming rally at the capitol where we heard compelling stories from our Wyoming neighbors who fall in the insurance coverage gap.
We attended to show legislators how important access to healthcare is for women, and because we know that so many low-income women would benefit from expanding Medicaid.
Unfortunately, the bill did not get the 40 votes needed for introduction in the House.
Read on for next steps on healthcare access and other wins and losses in week 1.
Bad news first:
The good news is:
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Other bills aimed at expanding financial aid options, HB0029 & HB0031, are still up for consideration.
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HB0033, which would help more youth in need access mental health services, is also still being considered.
- Two bills addressing mishandled sexual misconduct and gender discrimination complaints within the military, HB0053 & SF0045, have passed their perspective houses of origin.
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YOU have the power to influence positive change for women and girls in Wyoming right now. YOU can shape legislation that benefits those in your community by reaching out to your legislators about the issues you care about right now. YOUR voice matters!
Here's what we're expecting Monday:
Additional information on bills relating to economic self-sufficiency for women and opportunities for girls and what you can do can be found below.
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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 Revenue Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to Medicaid; providing for the expansion of Medicaid eligibility; limiting the continued expansion of Medicaid eligibility as specified.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: The Wyoming Department of Health estimates that women between the ages of 18 and 29 who work full-time would be nearly three times as likely as men to enroll in an expanded Medicaid program. That’s likely because the rate of Wyoming women working in low- and minimum-wage jobs is almost three times higher than that of Wyoming men. Working women under 35 make up the largest group of people in Wyoming’s coverage gap.
LAST ACTION 2/18 House Did not Consider for Introduction
During a “budget session” like this year’s, non-budget bills such as HB-20 require 40 votes to be introduced in that chamber. So House leadership, which nearly unanimously supports Medicaid expansion, held the bill back rather than putting it up for a vote it could not win.
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Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to the Hathaway scholarship program; amending award timing for the Hathaway scholarship program; amending eligibility requirements as specified; amending the calculation of unmet financial need; amending the calculation of scholarship amounts; deleting obsolete language; specifying applicability.
LAST ACTION 2/18 Failed House Introduction
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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 2/18 Passed House 2nd 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.
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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 2/18 Passed House 3rd Reading & Received for Senate Introduction
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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.
LAST ACTION 2/18 Passed House 3rd Reading
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Sponsored by: Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology
AN ACT relating to the support of broadband internet and telehealth access; appropriating federal funds for broadband access projects and telehealth access projects as specified; providing requirements for projects funded; etc.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: Women and girls in rural Wyoming communities, who may otherwise have to travel prohibitively far for services, would have better access to healthcare with broadband and telehealth.
LAST ACTION 2/18 House Did not Consider for Introduction
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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.
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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 2/18 Passed House 3rd Reading
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Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to community college funding; creating accounts and a permanent fund; requiring reports; providing for the transfer of funds; amending a provision regarding permanent funds of the state; providing an appropriation.
LAST ACTION 2/15 Failed Senate Introduction
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 2/17 Passed Senate 3rd Reading & Received for House Introduction
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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.
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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 2/17 Passed Senate 3rd Reading & Received for House Introduction
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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.
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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 crimes and offenses; creating a new offense for child abuse; providing a penalty; amending requirements for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse; 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.
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ADDITIONAL BILLS TO WATCH |
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LAST ACTION House 2nd Reading: Passed 2/18
NEXT ACTION 2/21 Up for 3rd reading in the House
LAST ACTION 2/18 Passed Senate 3rd Reading
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FAILED BILLS TO KEEP IN MIND |
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Sponsored by: Representative(s) Neiman, Bear, Gray, Haroldson, Jennings, Rodriguez-Williams and Williams and Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Driskill, French, Salazar and Steinmetz
AN ACT relating to elections; requiring a runoff election after a primary election for specified offices when no candidate receives a majority of the vote; providing the format of the runoff ballot; changing the date for primary elections; amending related dates; making conforming changes; amending election contribution laws; providing that the act is contingent on adoption of a constitutional amendment.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: If constitutional amendment outlined in HJ0003 (below) was adopted and this bill has passed, then the bill would foreclose instant runoff voting. Instant run-offs happen under a ranked choice voting system when the election is for a single position. Ranked choice voting results in more women elected than winner takes all systems.
LAST ACTION 2/18 House Did not Consider for Introduction
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Sponsored by: Representative(s) Neiman, Bear, Gray, Haroldson, Jennings, Rodriguez-Williams and Williams and Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Driskill, French, Salazar and Steinmetz
A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the time and process for the legislature to reapportion its members in order to accommodate holding primary elections in May and subsequent runoff elections as necessary.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS: If the amendment was adopted, and HB0074 (above) passed as drafted, then instant runoffs used in ranked choice voting would not be permitted.
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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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