House Bill Digest
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JOURNAL of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the SIXTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE OF WYOMING GENERAL SESSION JANUARY 10, 2017 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2017 IN MEMORY OF FORMER HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS HONORABLE James L. Applegate Senator Laramie County 1989-1996 HONORABLE Dick Erb Representative Campbell County 1993-1996 Senator Campbell County 1997-2004 HONORABLE John G. Fanos Senator Uinta County 1985-1992 HONORABLE Richard R. Larson Representative Laramie County 1978 Senator Laramie County 1981-1988 HONORABLE Kelly F. Mader Representative Campbell County 1983-1984 Senator Campbell County 1985-1991 HONORABLE Troy R. Mader Representative Campbell County 2014 HONORABLE George B. McMurtrey Representative Campbell County 1995-2004 HONORABLE Carol P. Orrison Representative Laramie County 1975-1980 HONORABLE John W. Pattno Senator Laramie County 1971-1973 HONORABLE Elizabeth Phelan Representative Laramie County 1973-1984 HONORABLE Delaine Roberts Senator Lincoln County 1997-2004 OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER ......................................................... Steve Harshman HD37 Natrona County MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER ............................................. David Miller HD55 Fremont County SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE ....................................... Donald Burkhart, Jr. HD15 Carbon County MAJORITY WHIP ................................................... Albert Sommers HD20 Sublette County MINORITY FLOOR LEADER ....................................... Catherine Connolly HD13 Albany County MINORITY WHIP ................................................... Charles Pelkey HD45 Albany County MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIRMAN .......................................... John Freeman HD60 Sweetwater County CHIEF CLERK HOUSE ............................................................ Wendy Harding Cheyenne – Laramie County H O U S E J O U R N A L SIXTY-FOURTH STATE LEGISLATURE TABLE OF CONTENTS 2017 GENERAL SESSION January 10, 2017 through March 3, 2017 Opening Proceedings...................................................... 1 State of the State Address............................................... 17 State of the Judiciary Address........................................... 28 Adoption of Rules........................................................ 34 House Files, Numerical Listing........................................... 36 Joint House Resolutions, Numerical Listing............................... 424 Adjournment Proceedings.................................................. 433 APPENDIX Members of the House..................................................... A-1 House Standing Committees................................................ A-6 Alphabetical List of House Files and Resolution Catch Titles............. A-8 Alphabetical List of House Files and Resolutions by Sponsor.............. A-15 Subject Cross Index...................................................... A-22 Final Action Sheet....................................................... A-28 FIRST DAY GENERAL SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTY-FOURTH STATE LEGISLATURE JANUARY 10, 2017 House Chamber The Joint Session of the Sixty-Fourth Wyoming Legislature, General Session was called to order by the House Sergeant-at-Arms at 12:00 p.m. The Honorable Karen Wheeler, Deputy Secretary of State, escorted by Representatives Baker and Kirkbride. The Honorable Ed Murray, Secretary of State, escorted by Representatives Olsen and Pownall. Secretary of State, Ed Murray called the house to order and the Sergeant-of- Arms announced the Honorable William Hill, Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, escorted by Representatives Walters and Loucks. The Natrona County High School Jr. ROTC posted the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by the body. The prayer was given by Father August Koenue, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming. OPENING ADDRESS BY SECRETARY OF STATE EDWARD F. MURRAY, III Good Afternoon. It is a great privilege to welcome you all to the opening of the 64th Wyoming Legislature, House of Representatives General Session. To you, the esteemed elected, soon to be sworn in as members of the 64th, and to your family members and your friends, to Justice Hill, Father August, and other distinguished guests, to my wife, Caren, and to all citizens of Wyoming here present or watching or listening from across this Great State - I extend to you all a warm Wyoming welcome. How blessed we are to live in Wyoming, the greatest State in the Nation! We are the l0th largest State in total area, but the least populated. Our population makes us unique, in fact, remarkable. And all of you know what it's like to meet someone when you're outside Wyoming who says to you: "You're the first person I've ever met from Wyoming." And you're instantly notable and remembered. And that's because in Wyoming we are family, and we convey that in good times and in bad, through floods, fires, loss, any adversity - economic or otherwise - no other state comes together or stands strong like Wyoming. That is why Wyoming, as big as we are, is called a small town with very long streets. God has blessed Wyoming abundantly, just as He has the lives of our citizens and especially each of you who will be having the opportunity to serve this Great State in these chambers. To you, the 20 new members beginning your term, I believe you'll find this opportunity one of the greatest honors of your lives. And to you, the seasoned legislators - including new leadership: Speaker Harshman; Floor Leader Miller; Speaker Pro Tern Burkhart; Majority Whip Sommers, Minority Floor Leader Connolly; Minority Whip Pelkey; Minority Caucus Chair Freeman: as well as to all new committee chairmen- congratulations! The leadership that you'll provide will be invaluable. And your mentorship in and of itself is a gift, not only to those you help nurture along their ways but to you. What a gift it is to help another. 1 Now each of you, all 60 of you present, I believe are being called to one of the highest callings expected of us as humans- service to our State and to our country. Scripture has it: "To whom much has been given, much is required." Thomas Jefferson said it this way: "There is a debt of service due from every man to his country, proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him." For Thomas Jefferson and our countries founders "the pursuit of happiness" as contemplated in the Declaration of Independence meant those feeling of "self-worth" and "dignity" you acquire by "giving of yourself" and contributing to your community and its civic life. So the "pursuit of happiness" was about an individual's contribution and service to society rather than pursuits of self-gratification. And this service that each of you give extends to each of your families who love and support you, and their sacrifice while you are away from home. They deserve daily our thanks for all that they do for us while you are working so hard. Let us take a moment to show our appreciation to your spouses, children, parents and loved ones present. Ladies and Gentlemen, Wyoming is at very important and historic crossroads. The question is: How will Wyoming engage this opportunity? Make no mistake: Wyoming's future hangs in the balance. During this legislative session, you have the ability to take decisive action to strengthen Wyoming and begin a bold new chapter in our State's history. And I know that you will seize this opportunity and help chart a course for this generation and for generations to come. I do strongly believe that the youth of Wyoming should be the center of our approach to the future. And I'm convicted in my belief that they, our children, are "Acres of Diamonds." We must recognize the value and importance of our youth to the future prosperity of our State. And I know each of you do. Wyoming's youth are departing our State at a rate depriving us of our greatest resource. Over 60% of our youth between the ages of 18 to 29 are leaving for opportunities beyond our borders. We must find a way to allow our children to remain here to have good jobs, and live and raise their own families here in Wyoming. Above all, we must never forget where we have come from in order to determine where we are going. Wyoming, as we know it now, simply didn't come to be. It's been over 126 years of hard work, grit, perseverance, leadership and love that created this State. In Wyoming's storied history, there are many examples of strong and industrious men and women, fighting to secure a role for all. But one person's pioneering spirit stands out in my mind today. A person who faced great hardship in her life, she was the wife of a saloon owner on the continental divide in South Pass City. A person of incredible fortitude and talent, who stood up for all pioneering peoples: Esther Hobart Morris. She stood firm for her entire life for what she knew to be right – "a woman's right to vote" and she made a difference; in Wyoming and in this nation. She is an example that one person, cloaked in truth, can change the world. And this same spirit with which Esther Hobart Morris lived during her life, lives on in the people of Wyoming today. We have it in our blood, we have it in our State, we have it in our people, and we have it here in this body - the 64th Wyoming State Legislature! Now is your time to add to the course of Wyoming's history! And never let yourselves think for a moment that you are not capable of making a significant impact on this body, on this State, and in the lives of your constituents. Your passion and energy are exactly what this State needs