Lawley listens to constituents regarding education bills

State Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) said due to constituent concerns she voted against some education bills during the Wyoming Legislative session.

Lawley indicated that education-related bills have drawn significant feedback from her constituents. She mentioned specific bills such as HB 199, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, and HB 200, the Parent Rights Amendments, which have sparked concerns regarding their impact on public education and teachers.

Based on this community feedback, Lawley voted against both bills, although they have already passed the House and are headed to the Senate.

HB 199 modifies the education savings account program by renaming it the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act. This bill adjusts the amount of funding that goes to the public school foundation program and the amount to the now named Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Program account.

During the Washakie County School District No. 1 Board meeting Jan. 27, Board Chair Don Bryant said, “That Freedom Scholarship Act [House Bill 199] really worries me … That diverts 47.2% of the $200,000,000 they want to allocate for education to go to school voucher programs, and then it also gives $7,000 to anybody that wants to take their kids out of school.”

Regarding other legislation, Lawley said she voted in favor of HB 0046, known as the Homeschool Freedom Act. This act aims to change educational requirements by eliminating the obligation for home-based educational programs to submit their curriculum to local school

boards and removing provisions related to non-compliance. The bill was received by the Senate Jan. 23.

Another piece of legislation discussed was HB207, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. As a co-sponsor of the bill, Lawley emphasized its importance in safeguarding citizen’s religious freedoms by ensuring courts apply strict scrutiny to any governmental actions that may infringe upon these rights. This bill has been received for introduction by the Senate on Jan. 30.

Lawley also noted strong support for the county clerk’s office, with residents praising the effective administration of elections. However, there has been significant pushback regarding HB 237, which grants the Wyoming Department of Transportation authority over license plate issuance, diminishing the role of county treasurers in this process. Lawley expressed her opposition to this bill. The bill was placed on General File Jan. 30.

SPONSORED BILLS

Lawley said she was pleased with the successful passage of House Bills 41, 42 and 43, which have all been received by the Senate for introduction, and of which she is a sponsor.

House Bill 41 clarifies the financial institutions from which operators may obtain irrevocable letters of credit. The bill states, “For noncoal mining operations that take place on land that is not owned or operated by the United States or a federal agency, in lieu of a bond, the operator or the operator’s principal may deposit federally insured certificates of deposit payable to the Wyoming department of environmental quality, or cash, or government securities, or irrevocable letters of credit issued by a bank or credit union organized to do business in the United States,or all four.”

In an earlier interview, Lawley said, “This bill addresses the confusion surrounding what types of letters are acceptable, and I’m hopeful it will help both our local credit unions and operators,”

Lawley explained, adding that she sponsored the bill at the request of a local federal credit union that had experienced confusion from the DEQ on whether credit union letters were acceptable.

House Bill 42, regulation of surgical abortions, is in response to a court ruling that deemed the existing Wyoming ban on abortion unconstitutional. Lawley’s bill seeks to require surgical abortion facilities as licensed ambulatory surgical facilities.”

House Bill 43, age verification for websites with harmful material. The bill would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from visiting sites harmful to minors, including pornographic sites.

Additionally, Lawley mentioned that HB 60, which pertains to student eligibility in sports, has successfully passed its third reading in the House, 51-6 with 5 excused, on Monday. The bill restricts any person of the male sex from participating in an athletic activity as a female, with male and female definitions included.

HB 72, aimed at protecting women’s privacy, was placed on General File Jan. 24, awaiting discussion in the Committee of the Whole (COW). HB 72 ensures that women and girls are safe and respected in places where privacy is essential — bathrooms, locker rooms, showers,

overnight accommodations and correctional facilities.

“My bill sets a clear standard that men cannot access women’s intimate spaces, like showers, restrooms and housing facilities,” Lawley stated. “It also gives women a way to hold institutions accountable when those protections are violated.”

HB 170, introduced by Lawley concerning nonprofit organizations and trust entities for various documents, has been referred to the House Corporations Committee. The bill would amend the time in which documents filed for nonprofit corporations and statutory trusts may be effective, using the date received for filing rather the date it was filed. As the legislature approaches the crossover deadline, expected next week, Lawley is focused on ensuring her pending bills receives due consideration. 

She expressed particular concern over HB 72, the Protecting Women’s Privacy in Public Spaces Act, which remains on General File.

Lawley concluded by stating that the House Appropriations Committee has begun reviewing the Governor’s Supplemental Budget Request, with discussions regarding the budget request scheduled for Monday and amendments on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Deadline for bills to be introduced in the House was Monday, Feb. 3. Friday is the last day for bills to report out of committee in the “house of origin.” Friday is also the deadline for third reading of the supplemental budget bill.

As the session progresses, Lawley said she remains committed to addressing constituent’s concerns and advancing legislation that supports the community’s needs.