Legislative Update

Hello from the fourth week of the 2019 General Session. Most of the debate this week surrounded SF0001 – General government appropriations, also known as the Budget Bill.

In the Senate, there were 79 amendments to the Budget Bill – of which 47 were adopted, 27 failed and five were withdrawn. I offered five amendments to the budget. Two of my amendments were agreed to by the Senate, two were not and I withdrew one.

Today is the last day for legislation to come out of Committee in the originating body and Monday will be the last day for first reading in the Committee of the Whole in both the House and Senate. With nearly 500 pieces of legislation to consider this year, it is possible that many good ideas go by the wayside due to lack of time. I am working hard to make sure issues of importance to SD-01 are heard.

Four of my Senate Files have passed the Senate and will be considered by the House. These are important issues and I will follow them through the process.

This week we also saw a great deal of movement on a couple of blockchain related bills. HB0070 – Commercial filing system, allows the Wyoming Secretary of State to set up a blockchain backed business filing system. HB0074 – Special purpose depository institutions, creates a special purpose bank for businesses that cannot utilize the traditional banking systems like cryptocurrency companies. I am pleased these bills passed out of the House and I look forward to them getting their due diligence in the Senate.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact me at 307-282-0968 or at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Senator Ogden Driskill

Senate District 1

Sponsored Bills:

SF0061 – Cooperative utilities – bylaws

Passed the Senate and received by the House for Introduction

SF0069 – Water development program

Passed the Senate and received by the House for Introduction

SF0070 – Landowner and lessee liability limitations

Passed the Senate and received by the House for Introduction

SF0082 – Do not resuscitate directives

Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

SF0116 – State parks – vendor contracts

Passed the Senate and received by the House for Introduction

SF0117 – University of Wyoming car and truck license plates

Placed on the Senate General File

SF0118 – Tax liability mineral production

Placed on the Senate General File