Wyoming's 2021 General Legislative Session has now ended. Let's Recap!
First, the Wyoming Women's Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you for following along with us during the 2021 General Session!

Thank you for using the information in our legislative watch to get to know the issues and reach out to your legislators on bills that matter to you! And thank you making your voice heard on issues impacting 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 feedback with us directly by using the Power Advocate Poll & Legislative Watch Feedback Form.
Thank you to the House of Representatives for prioritizing a healthy Wyoming by passing HB0162!
Wyoming State Capitol Building March 31, 2021. Photo by Alex Shannon.
The 66th Wyoming Legislature convened for 34 days this year. The Legislative Service Office managed 441 bills and lawmakers passed 174 bills into law. 
 
Those following along watched as lawmakers brought forth bills to offset the economic impact of COVID-19, protect workers across the state and improve the overall wellbeing of Wyoming residents, including women and girls. There were also bills meant to help with the budget issues and lessen the financial burden on the state. Some of these will, unfortunately, reduce services for women and families. Details on each of the bills tracked by WYWF this year can be found below.
Many advocates were on the edge of their seats as a bill to expand Medicaid moved through the House signaling that 24,000 Wyomingites were closer than ever to receiving the affordable healthcare care they so desperately need. Although both MedEx bills failed, supporters are still energized by the progress that's been made and excited to continue the Healthy Wyoming Movement!

The biggest take away from this session is that YOUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD! The progress that has been made on issues like affordable healthcare and inclusive ballot language is all thanks to advocates like YOU. Thank you!
The 66th Wyoming Legislature has come to an end, but that doesn't mean the work of WYWF Power Advocates is done!

Legislators have begun working on interim committee topics and drafting bills for the next session. So, now is still a great time to reach out to legislators to express your thoughts on issues impacting the economic self-sufficiency of women and girls! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions.

WYWF also has a few exciting projects coming up just for Power Advocates that will help us all get connected. Follow us on social media for sneak peaks and stay tuned for more details!

Additional civic engagement resources are available at wywf.org/legislative-watch. Please scroll to the bottom of this email for additional legislative engagement resources and direct actions you can take to support women and girls in Wyoming right now!
WYWF Legislative Watch Key
LAST ACTION in green have passed
Bills with LAST ACTION in red on grey backgrounds have failed
House Bills
Sponsored by Joint Appropriations Committee
AN ACT relating to community juvenile services; subjecting administration of the community juvenile services block grant program to the availability of funds; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS This bill removes the requirement for the state to administer programs for at-risk youth. These programs are important for providing resources and systems to keep at-risk girls on track for graduation that will help them be more ready for opportunities that will set them up for economic self-sufficiency in adulthood.
LATEST ACTION 2/08/2021 Assigned Chapter Number 7 (Passed Senate: 24-4-2-0-0)
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill.
Sponsored by Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration
AN ACT relating to school finance; implementing recalibration modifications to the Wyoming education resource block grant model; codifying previously uncodified law; providing for additional sales and use taxes in amounts, if any, determined necessary to fulfill constitutional requirements; amending related provisions; repealing conflicting provisions; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS This bill would cut funding to Wyoming education. To date, Wyoming schools and teachers have mostly been able to “protect the classroom” from previous budget reductions without severely impacting student learning. The prospect of an additional $250 million or more in cuts could result in lower quality education, especially in low-income communities, and the elimination of jobs.1  Women hold nearly 73% of the education positions across the state.2 This complex issue will benefit from community engagement, so we encourage you to follow the legislative discussion and weigh in on what aspects of public education are important to you.
LATEST ACTION 3/22/2021 Failed in House Education Committee: Procedural Death, no report prior to Committee of the Whole Deadline.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to the Education Committee to let them know you are concerned about funding K-12 education across the state!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Yin, Clifford, Duncan and Zwonitzer & Senator(s) Case
AN ACT relating to elections; amending the use of pronouns on the ballot; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS This bill changes the language on election ballots from "his name" to "the person's name" increasing representation of women in elected roles.
LATEST ACTION 4/6/2021 Passed! Senate President Signed HEA No. 0081
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? GET CONNECTED!
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work!
Reach out to your legislators to encourage additional legislation that makes elected roles more accessible to women!
Click here to review the new report "Wyoming Women in Elected Roles" which looks at structural barriers faced by women and describes policy changes and best practices.
Consider running for office! And please encourage and connect other women you know who have the potential to serve in office to local, state, and national politicians to increase their exposure and expand their socio-political networks!
Thinking about a run in the future? Working on someone’s campaign? Just curious about how to run a great campaign? Join the next session of RUN Wyoming hosted by ESPC
Get connected to women seasoned in political leadership with Cowgirl Run Fund!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Harshman, Connolly, MacGuire, Walters, Washut and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Furphy, Landen and Wasserburger
AN ACT relating to medical education; creating an inviolate health care education endowment fund; providing for investment of monies in the fund; providing for distribution of monies; providing for the use of earnings for the support of certain medical education programs at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges; authorizing the use of earnings for student support payments and administrative costs.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Women form 70% of workers in the health and social sector nationwide.3 In Wyoming, many healthcare workers earn self-sufficient wages, making medical education programs an effective path to self-sufficiency for women. This bill would provide support for those programs, which would primarily benefit women.
LATEST ACTION 4/1/2021 Failed in Senate Education Committee: Procedural Death, no report prior to Committee of the Whole deadline.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Romero-Martinez, Clifford, Connolly, Harshman, Provenza and Zwonitzer
AN ACT relating to Medicaid; requiring collaboration concerning the expansion of Medicaid eligibility; authorizing the expansion of Medicaid eligibility as specified; requiring reports and notice as specified; repealing prior authorizations; providing a sunset provision; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Women with children are the most likely population to be living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard and are over-represented in low-wage jobs that do not provide health insurance.4 Data shows that women between the ages of 18 and 29 who work full-time would be nearly three times as likely as their male counterparts to enroll in an expanded Medicaid program. If passed, the population that would become eligible for access to healthcare was estimated to include about 36% younger working women.5
LATEST ACTION 3/31/2021 Failed in Senate Labor/Health Committee: 2-3-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? JOIN THE HEALTHY WYOMING MOVEMENT!
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "Medicaid expansion is right for Wyoming, women"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
Want to do more to support affordable healthcare? Click here to read our recent Medicaid Expansion Update email. Click here to read Healthy Wyoming's FAQs.
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Harshman, Connolly and Sommers and Senator(s) Rothfuss, Schuler and Wasserburger
AN ACT relating to higher education; creating the Wyoming's tomorrow scholarship program; providing eligibility requirements; providing for administration, including rulemaking authority; creating accounts and a permanent fund; requiring reports; providing for a continuous appropriation; amending a provision governing the Hathaway scholarship reserve account; amending a provision regarding permanent funds of the state; providing for a transfer of funds; providing when scholarships may first be awarded; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Women with children are the most likely population to be living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard and are over-represented in low-wage jobs that do not provide health insurance. This bill increases access to postsecondary education, not only leading to wages well above the Self-Sufficiency level, but jobs that also provide benefits, increased stability, and have promotion and salary increase potential.4
LATEST ACTION 4/7/2021 Failed in Senate Education Committee: Procedural Death, no report prior to Committee of the Whole deadline.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
Sponsored by Representative(s) Henderson, Duncan and Provenza
AN ACT relating to the youthful offender program; clarifying that male and female inmates are eligible for the youthful offender program.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Wyoming state statute still demands that the only acceptable pronoun is the masculine pronoun, obscuring who the law is intended to protect or serve. This bill clarifies that women are eligible to access the youthful offender program. For the past 30 years, numerous women who would have been admitted into the boot camp program and released from prison after six months spent many years longer in prison due solely to their gender.6
LATEST ACTION 3/23/2021 Failed in the House Judiciary Committee: Procedural Death, no report prior to Committee of the Whole deadline.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "Women deserve to be equally recognized in our state statutes"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Connolly, Duncan, Hallinan, Sherwood and Sweeney and Senator(s) Gierau and Salazar
AN ACT relating to labor and employment; specifying employer actions which constitute an unfair employment practice; prohibiting an employer from barring an employee from disclosing wage information; prohibiting an employer from requiring an employee to waive wage disclosure rights; prohibiting an employer from discriminating against an employee as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
Wage transparency has proven benefits for both employers and employees, but it is especially important for women. Opening discussion of salaries among peers and co-workers, experts say, is a powerful tool to fight pay inequity.
LATEST ACTION 3/17/2021 Failed in the House Mineral Committee: 4-5-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "House Committee Turns Down Wage Transparency Law"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Provenza, Clifford, Connolly, Sherwood and Yin and Senator(s) Gierau and Rothfuss
AN ACT relating to labor and employment; increasing the minimum hourly wage; repealing the minimum hourly wage exceptions for tipped employees and youth; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
Wyoming’s minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. However, a single adult working in Wyoming needs to earn at least $10.24/hr in order to be economically self-sufficient anywhere is the state.4 Currently, nearly 75% of Wyoming’s minimum wage workers are women.7
LATEST ACTION 3/8/2021 Failed in the House: Procedural Death, Not Considered for Introduction.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "Our dismal minimum wage disproportionately hurts women"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Bear, Andrew, Barlow, Brown, Burt, Connolly, Duncan, Fortner, Hallinan, Haroldson, Jennings, Knapp, Laursen, Neiman and Ottman and Senator(s) Biteman, French and McKeown
AN ACT relating to human trafficking; prohibiting a minor who engages in any commercial sex act from being criminally charged; specifying that a minor who engages in any commercial sex act is a victim of human trafficking and is an abused child; amending a definition; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
This bill provides the opportunity for victims of sex trafficking, who are overwhelmingly women and girls, to rebuild their lives and attain economic self-sufficiency in the future.
LATEST ACTION 3/31/2021 Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee: 1-4-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? GET INVOLVED!
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
Want to do more to support victims & survivors? Click here to sign up for action alerts from the Wyoming Coalition of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (WCADVSA) Questions? Email WCADVSA Public Policy Director, Tara Muir, JD
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Styvar, Provenza and Wharff and Senator(s) Rothfuss
AN ACT relating to children; amending the juvenile justice act to eliminate fines, fees and costs imposed on juveniles or their parents in juvenile delinquency and criminal court proceedings; requiring the appointment of an attorney as specified; removing the term child from contempt of court and contempt of court from the definition of delinquent act; eliminating civil actions for support as specified; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
This bill reduces the costs associated with juvenile court, providing the opportunity for caretakers, who are overwhelmingly women, to use limited funds to provide for their families and maintain or attain economic self-sufficiency.
LATEST ACTION 3/8/2021 Failed in the House Judiciary Committee: 4-5-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Representative(s) Sweeney, Clifford, Connolly, Harshman, Henderson, Yin and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Furphy, Gierau and Rothfuss
A JOINT RESOLUTION to expand Medicaid coverage to eligible low income adults.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Women with children are the most likely population to be living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard and are over-represented in low-wage jobs that do not provide health insurance.4 Data shows that women between the ages of 18 and 29 who work full-time would be nearly three times as likely as their male counterparts to enroll in an expanded Medicaid program. If passed, the population that would become eligible for access to healthcare was estimated to include about 36% younger working women.5
LATEST ACTION 3/8/2021 Failed in the House: Procedural Death, Not Considered for Introduction.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? JOIN THE HEALTHY WYOMING MOVEMENT!
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session! Refer to HB0162 Medical treatment opportunity act for specific actions you can take now.
Senate Files
Sponsored by Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; amending professional licensing requirements for military spouses; providing for the issuance of professional and occupational licenses to qualified applicants from other states; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS This bill increases the time available (from 120 days to 3 years) for spouses of military personnel who work in licensed professions that are licensed in other states to acquire additional qualifications needed for licensure in Wyoming. It also waives the fee for the 3-year temporary license.
Nearly 30% of workers in the U.S. need a license to perform their job.9 Female-dominated and professions with self-sufficient wages, including teachers, cosmetologists, real estate brokers and school bus drivers to name a few, require a license.10 Additionally, 92% of active-duty military spouses are female and move locations on average once every three years.11 Reducing the time and cost burdens related to occupational licensing would expand opportunities for low and middle-income workers to have access to careers providing self-sufficient wages.4
LATEST ACTION 2/9/2021 Passed! Assigned Chapter Number 31
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work!
Sponsored by Joint Revenue Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to sales and use taxes; establishing a tax exemption for feminine hygiene products and diapers; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS The cost of essentials such as feminine hygiene products and diapers for babies disproportionately fall to women to cover. However, all parents and seniors on a fixed income would benefit from tax relief on adult and infant diapers. Diapers are not covered by food stamps or WIC, the federal assistance program for new mothers and infants.12 For low-income women and families, the cost of these products makes an already tight budget even tighter. A tax exemption would help reduce this cost for Wyoming women, who also earn about 30% less annually, on average, than their male counterparts. 
LATEST ACTION 1/27/2021 Failed in Senate Revenue Committee: 2-3-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "Tampon tax bill's failure further proof we're not The Equality State"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
Sponsored by Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to public health; creating the pandemic response review task force; specifying duties of the task force; requiring a report; providing a termination date for the task force; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
The early economic and mental health impacts of COVID-19 on women have been substantial, according to a survey conducted by The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC).13 Women make important contributions to Wyoming’s economy. More data (disaggregated by sex) and analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 are needed to ensure an economic recovery that includes all Wyoming citizens and to increase Wyoming’s preparedness for future public health crises.
LATEST ACTION 3/26/2021 Failed House 3rd Reading: 25-35-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "The Impacts of COVID-19 on Wyoming Women"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
Sponsored by Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to public health and safety; authorizing grants to community health centers and rural health clinics as specified; repealing a sunset date; providing for rulemaking authority; providing an appropriation as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Grants to community health centers and rural health clinics help provide essential services for low-income women and families who may not otherwise receive needed healthcare. Maintaining good health is important to Wyoming’s workforce, and investing in healthcare for people of low-income in Wyoming provides support for their ability to work and maintain self-sufficiency. 
LATEST ACTION 1/27/2021 Failed in Senate Labor/Health Committee: 2-3-0-0-0
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Click here to read "The Impacts of COVID-19 on Wyoming Women"
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
AN ACT relating to insurance; mandating equivalent benefits and reimbursement related to mental health and substance use services delivered remotely; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS Data shows that COVID-19 has negatively affected the mental health of women in Wyoming.13 This bill would require insurance companies to cover telehealth (at home) services equally to in-person visits, helping to ensure access to affordable mental health care during the pandemic. Beyond the pandemic, this bill would help keep mental health services more accessible to women without the childcare or transportation needed to receive in-person mental health care.
LATEST ACTION 4/5/2021 Passed! Assigned Chapter Number 83
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Click here to read "The Impacts of COVID-19 on Wyoming Women"
Reach out to your legislators to encourage additional legislation benefiting the economic self-sufficiency of women & girls in Wyoming!
AN ACT relating to administration of the government; providing funding for the Wyoming investment in nursing program from CARES Act funds; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN 90% of registered nurses in the U.S. are women.14 In Wyoming, registered nurses earn self-sufficient wages, making nursing programs an effective path to self-sufficiency for women. This bill would provide support for those programs, which would primarily benefit women.
LATEST ACTION 4/6/2021 Passed! Assigned Chapter Number 134
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to the Joint Education Interim Committee to thank them for their work!
Reach out to your legislators to encourage additional legislation benefiting the economic self-sufficiency of women & girls in Wyoming!
SPONSORED BY Senator(s) Salazar and Representative(s) Barlow, Connolly, Duncan, Provenza, Rodriguez-Williams and Sweeney
AN ACT relating to labor and employment; specifying employer actions which constitute an unfair employment practice; prohibiting an employer from barring an employee from disclosing wage information; prohibiting an employer from requiring an employee to waive wage disclosure rights; prohibiting an employer from seeking or relying on salary history information of a prospective employee as specified; prohibiting an employer from discriminating against an employee as specified; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
Wage transparency has proven benefits for both employers and employees, but it is especially important for women. Opening discussion of salaries among peers and co-workers, experts say, is a powerful tool to fight pay inequity.
LATEST ACTION 3/19/2021 Failed in the Senate Labor/Health Committee: Procedural Death, no report prior to Committee of the Whole deadline.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session!
SPONSORED BY Senator(s) Rothfuss, Case, Furphy, Gierau, Pappas and Schuler and Representative(s) Brown, Connolly, Harshman, Schwartz, Sweeney, Yin and Zwonitzer
AN ACT relating to Medicaid; providing for expansion of coverage to low income persons as specified; imposing restrictions on continued waiver authorization; repealing a prior Medicaid expansion limitation; and providing for an effective date.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
Women with children are the most likely population to be living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard and are over-represented in low-wage jobs that do not provide health insurance.4 Data shows that women between the ages of 18 and 29 who work full-time would be nearly three times as likely as their male counterparts to enroll in an expanded Medicaid program. If passed, the population that would become eligible for access to healthcare was estimated to include about 36% younger working women.5
LATEST ACTION 3/22/2021 Failed in the Senate: Procedural Death, did not Consider for Committee of the Whole.
WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? JOIN THE HEALTHY WYOMING MOVEMENT!
Reach out to sponsoring Representatives and Senators to thank them for their work.
Reach out to your legislators to make your voice heard on this bill and ask them to bring it back next session! Refer to HB0162 Medical treatment opportunity act for specific actions you can take now.
  1. Media, O. Wyoming school districts clap back at proposed education budget cuts (2021) Retrieved from https://betterwyo.org/2021/01/28/wyoming-school-districts-clap-back-at-proposed-education-budget-cuts/
  2. Stat 2 – School District Enrollment and Staffing Data. (2008 to present). Retrieved from https://edu.wyoming.gov/data/statisticalreportseries-2/
  3. Bonio, M et al. (2019, March). Gender equity in the health workforce: Analysis of 104 countries. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/311314/WHO-HIS-HWF-Gender-WP1-2019.1-eng.pdf
  4. Pearce, D. M., PhD. (2020, May). The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Wyoming 2020. Retrieved from https://wywf.org/economic-self-sufficiency-standard/
  5. Simon, J.(2020, February 5). Medicaid expansion is right for Wyoming, women. Retrieved from https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/opinion/columnists/equity_state/medicaid-expansion-is-right-for-wyoming-women/article_c25c3037-5646-509b-ad31-9d473805a8c6.html
  6. Simon, J., & Burlingame, S. (2021, February 02). Women deserve to be EQUALLY recognized in our state statutes. Retrieved from https://trib.com/opinion/columns/simon-women-deserve-to-be-equally-recognized-in-our-state-statutes/article_26cfa7fc-58ed-51f0-a0bf-411bc072dcfb.html
  7. A Study of the Disparity in Wages and Benefits Between Men and Women in Wyoming: Update 2018. Retrieved from https://www.wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2018/09-2018112914-01GenderWageDWSUpdate_2018.pdf
  8. Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (2020). The Impacts of COVID-19 on Wyoming Women. Retrieved from https://wywf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Women-Covid-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  9. Hershbein, B., Boddy, D., & Kearney, M. (2016, August 31). It Is Time to Examine Occupational Licensing Practices. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2015/01/27/nearly-30-percent-of-workers-in-the-u-s-need-a-license-to-perform-their-job-it-is-time-to-examine-occupational-licensing-practices/
  10. Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Research & Planning (2019, September). Directory of Licensed Occupations in Wyoming 2019. Retrieved from https://doe.state.wy.us/lmi/dir_lic/lic-occs-2019.pdf
  11. The NCSL Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/blog/2019/03/01/occupational-licensing-and-military-spouses-states-consider-new-solutions.aspx
  12. Hygiene Equity Goes Beyond Tampon Taxes. Retrieved from https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-tampon-tax-diaper-subsidies.html
  13. Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (2020). The Impacts of COVID-19 on Wyoming Women. Retrieved from https://wywf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Women-Covid-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  14. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019). Household Data Annual Averages: Employed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf
Additional Bills to Watch
LATEST ACTION 3/22/2021 Failed: House did not Consider for Committee of the Whole
LATEST ACTION 4/5/2021 Passed: Assigned Chapter Number 87
Reach out to Representative Greear to say thanks for his work on this bill!
LATEST ACTION 4/2/2021 Senate President Signed HEA No. 0072 (House Concur Amendments: Passed 51-8-1-0-0)
Click here to read "Voter ID bill passes Wyoming Legislature"
LATEST ACTION 4/2/2021 Passed: Assigned Chapter Number 70 (House Concur Amendments: Passed 60-0-0-0-0)
Reach out to Representative Duncan to say thanks for her work on this bill!
Click here to read "Bill addresses racist covenants"
Click here to listen to "Racial Covenants in Cheyenne, Wyoming Real Estate"
LATEST ACTION 3/22/2021 Failed: House did not Consider for Committee of the Whole
LATEST ACTION 3/22/2021 Failed: House did not Consider for Committee of the Whole
LATEST ACTION 4/1/2021 Failed: Senate Did not consider for Committee of the Whole
LATEST ACTION 3/8/2021 Failed: House Did Not Consider for Introduction
LATEST ACTION 4/7/2021 Failed in the House: Died a Procedural Death in Committee
LATEST ACTION 4/6/2021 Assigned Chapter Number 135 (Passed House: 48-11-1-0-0)
Click here to read "Born Alive abortion bill moves forward in the Wyoming Legislature"
LATEST ACTION 4/6/2021 Passed: Assigned Chapter Number 117
Reach out to Senator Cooper to say thanks for his work on this bill!
LATEST ACTION 4/7/2021 Passed: Assigned Chapter Number 141
Reach out to Senator Kost to say thanks for his work on this bill!
LATEST ACTION 4/6/2021 Assigned Chapter Number 116 (Senate Concur Amendments: Passed 27-3-0-0-0)
Click here to read "Legislature takes aim at foundation of Wyo’s abortion law"
LATEST ACTION 3/11/2021 Senate Committee of the Whole: Failed 10-19-1-0-0
LATEST ACTION 4/5/2021 Passed: Assigned Chapter Number 101
Reach out to Senator Pappas to say thanks for his work on this bill!
LATEST ACTION 4/7/2021 Failed: Senate postponed indefinitely
LATEST ACTION 3/31/2021 Failed: House Did Not Consider for Introduction
Click here to read "Wyoming Senate Passes Bill To Outlaw Chemically-Induced Abortions"
How can the public participate in
Wyoming's Legislative Process?
Remember, your voice matters! 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.
Members of the public are encouraged to view recordings of 2021 legislative proceedings on the Legislature’s YouTube channel. The public may also contact members directly using legislator contact information available on the Legislature’s website here.

Additional civic engagement resources are available at wywf.org/legislative-watch.
Would you like more frequent emails about when to make your voice heard in the legislature about women's economic self-sufficiency? Join WYWF's Power Advocates!
Wyoming Women in the News
Proposal to expand Medicaid dies in Wyoming Legislature, despite apparent momentum The stars had seemed to align for Medicaid expansion in Wyoming this year, advocates said. Despite the apparent momentum, however, the bill to expand the federal insurance program beyond its currently limited eligibility never made it to the Senate floor.

How the Wyoming Senate killed Medicaid expansion, again The Wyoming Senate Committee on Labor, Health and Social Services voted Wednesday to kill a House-sponsored effort at Medicaid expansion. The 3-2 vote, which came after more than three hours of public testimony and debate, likely ends this year’s effort to close Wyoming’s “Medicaid gap.”

Wyoming Legislature advances voter identification bill The Wyoming Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would require residents to present valid forms of identification when voting in person, whether its during early voting or on Election Day.

Megan McClure, a research analyst with NCSL, sat down with Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis (R) while recording part of the podcast miniseries “Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures.” She asked Ellis why it’s important for women to be in elective office and what made her decide to run.

"A Whirlwind:" Freshman Democrat On Her First Session In Wyoming Legislature The Wyoming Legislature's 2021 general session is wrapping up. It's been the first session for freshman Democrat Representative Karlee Provenza. Provenza represents Laramie and ran on her background with community organizing and her experience with criminal justice reform.

‘We Need More.’ Wyoming Women Far from Equal Political Representation in the Equality State A new report found that structural barriers, including financial challenges, underlie women’s underrepresentation in elected roles across Wyoming.

Lawmakers leave dozens of bills to wither on the vine Dead bills are a fact of life in the Wyoming Legislature.
About the Wyoming Women's Foundation
The Wyoming Women’s Foundation is a priority fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation, which granted out over $6 million to nonprofits across the state in 2020, and nearly $100 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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