Legislature Section 2016
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Feb. 6 - 7 63rd Wyoming Legislature - Budget session Page 2 Legislature Guide 2016 February 6-7, 2016 We welcome your feedback Welcome to our annual guide to the Wyoming WHAT’S INSIDE Legislature. Each year, we strive to provide information that you, our readers, need to participate as active citizens in the lawmaking 4-7 BILLS TO WATCH process. If you have feedback on this guide, including ways we can improve it next 8 HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW year, please contact me at 307-633-3118 or [email protected]. Index WANT TO ATTEND A MEETING? 9 – Brian Martin, section editor MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD 9 By Trevor Brown 10-11 Staff credits LEGISLATURE WEBSITE GUIDE Wyoming Tribune Eagle This section was produced by the Wyoming SEATING CHARTS, MAP, SCHEDULE 12-13 Tribune Eagle under the direction of Managing Spend enough time Editor Brian Martin, bmartin@wyoming around some of Wyo- 14-23 ISSUES, LAWMAKERS IN YOUR AREA news.com, and designed by Kiah Staley. Cover ming’s senior legislators photo by Hugh Carey. Reporting was done by the 14-17 and you are bound to CHEYENNE/LARAMIE COUNTY staffs of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Laramie hear about the energy Boomerang, Rawlins Daily Times and Rock Springs ROCK SPRINGS 18-20 bust of the 1980s and the Rocket-Miner. lean years that followed in the 1990s. RAWLINS 21 ©2016 APG Media of the Rockies. Printed and published by Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “The last time we had a bust, we didn’t do any- LARAMIE 22-23 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001 thing for years,” said Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Commit- tee. “There was no capital construction, Proud to be a continuing supporter & contributor to this community & its economy. major maintenance or anything. We’re proud of our people & proud to be part of Wyoming. “That lasted for years. And, boy, did we have to play catch up afterward.” Our mission is to be the premier U.S. petroleum refining and logistics company. Fast forward a couple decades and Wyoming is staring at another poten- tially long and painful economic downturn. Natural gas prices – when adjusted for infla- tion – have been at historically low prices for the past several months. And oil markets continue to flounder as new drilling activity largely has stalled throughout the state. Meanwhile, the coal industry, once the foun- dation of the state’s reve- nue base, is battling against the headwinds of Wyoming looming environmental regulations and changes in the nation’s energy strategy. hollyfrontier.com • 307-634-3551 • Cheyenne It’s hard to overstate the importance of energy February 6-7, 2016 Legislature Guide 2016 Page 3 BUDGETING DURING A BUST Lawmakers prepare spending plan as energy sector slumps Intro By Trevor Brown to the state’s revenue governor’s 2017-18 bud- are prompted by warn- and infrastructure proj- Wyoming Tribune Eagle picture. get recommendations is ings that the state’s ects throughout the state Wyoming gets almost his plan to use about $450 school foundation ac- are all at risk of getting Spend enough time three-fourths of its reve- million from the rainy- count will face a multi- fewer funds than normal. around some of Wyo- nues from mineral taxes, day fund to pay for a hundred million dollar But one thing Mead ming’s senior legislators giving it one of the most range of projects. These shortfall in the 2019-20 and many top lawmakers and you are bound to volatile revenue bases in include providing aid to budget cycle. agree on is that Wyoming hear about the energy the country. local governments and And then there will be can’t afford to panic or address. bust of the 1980s and the This is shown clearly funding road and build- competition and debate shut down over the bud- “We are can- lean years that followed in the state’s latest reve- ing projects. over where to spend the get fears. in the 1990s. nue projections. But Mead says he limited money that is “The journey to build do folks, no matter the “The last time we had a For the upcoming two- wants to just “borrow” available. for the future must con- circumstances, and I am bust, we didn’t do any- year budget period, the the rainy-day funds. He Wyoming’s cities, tinue – that’s the Wyo- confident we can do the thing for years,” said general fund and reserve would backfill that towns and counties, the ming way,” Mead said at right budget for right Rep. Steve Harshman, account revenues – money by changing a law University of Wyoming the close of his budget now.” R-Casper, who co-chairs known collectively as the that requires 1 percent of the Legislature’s Joint state’s “traditional mineral tax revenues to Appropriations Commit- funds” – are expected to flow into the state’s Per- tee. “There was no be more than half a billion manent Mineral Trust capital construction, dollars less than the cur- Fund. major maintenance or rent 2015-16 biennium. Still, the question will anything. But as Gov. Matt Mead be how much lawmakers “That lasted for and lawmakers prepare want to cut, save and QUESTIONS ON years. And, boy, did we to tackle the state’s spend. have to play catch up spending plan for the Those questions are afterward.” next two years, they say likely to dominate this LEGISLATIVE ISSUES? Fast forward a couple the situation is much dif- year’s 20-day budget ses- decades and Wyoming is ferent than previous sion that is set to run until staring at another poten- downturns. the first week of March. Our policy sta is here to help tially long and painful “It has been bad news Mead’s budget largely economic downturn. since October,” Harsh- avoids cuts to state agen- you understand the biggest issues Natural gas prices – man said. “But the key cies or other programs. when adjusted for infla- thing is we have saved “I do not believe that tion – have been at and we have options.” across-the-board cuts Wyoming legislators face now historically low prices The biggest difference can deliver the meaning- for the past several between now and the ful savings or that they and in the future. months. And oil markets past is the Legislative are prudent,” Mead said continue to flounder as Stabilization Reserve in his budget address. “If new drilling activity Account, more common- we are to reduce stan- Call 307-632-7020 largely has stalled ly known as the LSRA, or dard budget expendi- throughout the state. just the rainy-day fund. tures, we need to You can follow our work at Meanwhile, the coal The Legislature has evaluate agency pro- www.wyliberty.org industry, once the foun- continuously socked grams and eliminate Subscribe to our weekly supporter dation of the state’s reve- away money into the ac- those that are a lower nue base, is battling count since it was creat- priority.” update on our website. against the headwinds of ed in the mid-2000s. And But some lawmakers – Listen LIVE on the following stations: looming environmental it largely has been un- eyeing the potential for regulations and changes touched as it has grown more economic woes in Cheyenne KGAB 650am - Every other Fri at 8am in the nation’s energy to more than $1.8 billion. the coming years – are Founding Principles Casper KVOC 1230am - Tues—urs at 4pm strategy. But that could change likely to push for greater Guiding Innovative Solutions It’s hard to overstate this year. cuts. Bold Republic Radio - Every urs at 2pm the importance of energy A cornerstone of the Many of those fears Page 4 Legislature Guide 2016 February 6-7, 2016 ASSET FORFEITURE K-12 FUNDING TOBACCO One of the more contentious issues Looming funding problems for Wyo- SETTLEMENT CUTS from last year’s legislative session will ming’s K-12 education system will be a return this year. hot topic this legislative session. Several health and corrections pro- The Joint Judiciary Interim Com- A recent University of Wyoming re- grams could see their budgets slashed as mittee is sponsoring a bill that would port estimates the School Facilities De- the state faces a shortfall in its tobacco reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws. partment, which is in charge of K-12 settlement funds. Unlike a bill that was vetoed by Gov. major maintenance and new construc- A trust fund set up after a 1999 settle- Bills to Matt Mead last year, the proposal tion, will face a $771.3 million spending ment with tobacco companies helps watch would not end the state’s civil forfei- gap between 2017 and 2022. fund a number of state programs that ture policy. This comes as coal-lease bonus pay- focus on substance abuse, health issues This allows police and prosecutors to ments, which largely pay for these proj- and tobacco cessation. confiscate property, including vehi- ects, are drying up. The account has historically generat- cles or cash, as long as law enforce- Meanwhile, the downturn in the ed about $50 million per biennium. But ment reasonably believes it is linked to state’s energy sector is expected to im- the state is only projected to receive a drug crime. pact property tax revenues, which are a about $37.8 million for the upcoming But the legislation would place addi- key K-12 funding source, in the coming two-year cycle. tional hurdles for law enforcement to years. To address the shortfall, Gov.