Lawley provides update on key legislation
Lawley provides update on key legislation
By Barbara Anne Greene
Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, reflected on the first two weeks of the 2025 legislative session. She said they have been at a very fast pace for her. “I’ve had a lot of work to do because six bills were introduced over the first two weeks,” she said. “Five of those have come out of committee.
One — HB0276-State agreements to perform immigration functions — failed by a single vote Friday in the Appropriations Committee. She was not present when the bill was voted on as she was presenting two bills on education at that time.
She explained that the bill “required counties to enter into agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for cooperation and reimbursements.” She talked to the Wyoming Sheriffs Association. They initially said they didn’t have a problem with it, but once they looked at it, concerns were raised. They at first made some changes, but then set it aside.
“It really brought to focus how we work together with the current administration (federal) concerning immigration policy,” said Lawley. “It was a good discussion and very helpful. It started the conversation about what Wyoming as a whole should be doing. Issues such as sanctuary cities have been brought up so I wanted to have a warm-up conversation about what we do to help counties in particular in their interaction with ICE. This bill didn’t hit the mark but we will have to continue the conversation.”
HB0041
HB0041-Environmental quality irrevocable letters of credit clarifies the financial institutions from which operators may obtain irrevocable letters of credit to deposit with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in lieu of a bond. This bill was a constituent request. “A credit union in my community had a business member of the credit union that wanted to use his credit union to provide irrevocable letters of credit in lieu of a bond according to the DEQ rules,” said Lawley.
There was some confusion in the statute whether a credit union could issue such letters. The bill clarified this and it is a benefit for credit unions, she said.
HB0042
HB0042-Regulation on surgical abortions requires the licensure of surgical abortion facilities as specified; providing criminal penalties for violations.
The bill was recommended by the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee and was placed on general file Friday. Lawley said HB 42 is similar to the abortion regulation bill that was vetoed by the governor last session. It will be heard in Committee of the Whole this week.
“I am hopeful it will pass the House,” said Lawley.
HB0043
HB0043-Age verification for websites with harmful material, reads in part “AN ACT relating to child protection; requiring age verification for visiting websites with material harmful to minors.”
HB 43 is a bill to protect children from online pornography. It passed the Judiciary Committee and will be heard in the Committee of the Whole this week.
HB0060
HB0060-Student eligibility in sports amendments, amends student eligibility requirements in interscholastic activities. The bill specifies requirements for the University of Wyoming and community colleges for eligibility; prohibiting participation in athletic activities as specified.
The bill passed out of Education and was placed on general file on Jan. 24. This bill passed the House Education Committee unanimously. It will be heard in Committee of the Whole this week
HB0072
HB0072-Protecting women’s privacy in public spaces act, specifies requirements for the use of sex-designated restrooms, showers, sleeping quarters and locker room facilities at public facilities. It passed through Education and was placed on general file Jan. 24.
Lawley explained HB 72 is a bill to require people to use the restroom of their biological sex as well as locker rooms, changing rooms, overnight stays, dorm rooms and women’s prisons. This bill unanimously passed the House Education Committee and should be heard in Committee of the Whole by the end of the week.
CHALLENGES
Lawley said it is challenging to find the rhythm to work together. “People raise issues to have some honest discussion about them and debate on the floor. We will continue to work through that. The one most significant to me over the last two weeks is HB0080-Stop ESG-State funds fiduciary duty act. The bill says in part: ‘AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; specifying requirements for the hiring and retention of investment manager, trustees and fiduciaries who invest state funds as specified.’”
The bill came through the Minerals Committee, which Lawley serves on. “The language of that bill in my view was unworkable. It was too broad and subjective. I understood that they were trying to do but again how they were doing it could have created a lot of chaos in the state investments area. Which covers not only the accounts we have in our savings. The earning on those pay 30% of our revenue needs in Wyoming. It could also affect retirement funds. The Wyoming Retirement System, firefighters, etc. It could put this at risk for language that was not workable.”
She and others spoke on the floor how significant some of these issues were. They were finally able to get the result she thinks is right for Wyoming. It showed what can happen when legislators work together and listen to their constituents in Wyoming. It was a win. “It was a very significant issue for our government revenue and for these retirement funds. We owe to these people to have. it was very challenging.”