Legislative Update

n the nation, and in like fashion the Wyoming Legislature met for two days to begin the job of taking our State back. I traveled to Cheyenne for this special session, even though we could participate from home.

Much like many of you, I feel that these times are too important to stay home and hope that I would be as effective remotely. In doing so, I also felt it was important to stay away from people, social distance and constantly wash my hands.

Both days were filled with debate, it almost seemed that no one was willing to give an inch, except to admit that we all had a single focus and love, our great State and her people. Neither day was quick, nor short, but it is my belief that we were able to appropriately disburse funds from the federal government and set out a road map for the next special session.

Did I say next? This session was all about 1st things 1st; emergency appropriations that need attention immediately. As this situation shakes out and we learn more, this will provide us with the opportunity to react accordingly throughout the summer.

Unfortunately, this will most likely be the case this summer as we work to plug in funds where needed and handle regulations and laws that proved to be ineffective during these times.

The Legislature passed three pieces of legislation in two days. All three bills went through the process under modified rules. Those rules drew criticism for fear of limiting debate during this important time.

In the end I voted for the rules to ensure an expedited process and my gut proved to be right on this. No one was limited in debate, and no one saw an amendment die without debate.

The biggest bill of the session (HB1004) has $325 million in CARES Act money for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has $50 million for businesses that were required to close.

Another part of the bill includes money for small businesses for a quick $20,000 stipend if the business can show interruption losses. A small business can also apply for an additional stipend up to $300,000 but with additional reporting and other strings attached.

The original version of the bill had half of these funds being distributed through a loan versus a grant. I felt, and ultimately most of the legislature all felt, that loans, even if they were forgivable, were not an appropriate direction at this time.

The Wyoming Business Council will be preparing a one-page application and should have that available by June 1 for these grants. As more information becomes available, I will be sure to forward that on to newspapers and community leaders.

HB1001 was our roadmap legislation that has laid out a nine-month plan on how to spend these funds and will direct a lot of our work this summer. It is also important to note that we have built-in failsafe guards in this legislation that will appropriate all unspent funds to the Governor’s office in case the Legislature fails to act in a timely manner.

The final piece that passed provides for a holiday to businesses for workers compensation payments and unemployment insurance to the State. Thankfully both funds can handle this level of stress as businesses get their feet under them again, and the funds will remain solvent.

This legislation will also offer mortgage and renter relief for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislature also added an immunity provision for businesses if someone suspected they contracted COVID-19 at their establishment, so long as that business is acting in good faith.

For now, that is it! As the summer progresses, I will be visiting all our communities in northeast Wyoming to ensure your voice is heard and to monitor how these programs work out. If you have any issues, please contact me and if I can help, I will.