[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6679124,"mediaKeyId","2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f","parentId",2239746,"title","Committee advances bill to require party-appointed members on county canvassing boards","audioSeconds",3466,"startMs",98000,"endMs",3564000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f&start=98&end=3564","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f/thumbnail_98000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6679124/Wyoming/Committee-advances-bill-to-require-party-appointed-members-on-county-canvassing-boards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679124-3035aaa0db07c40ab3135660f437687a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656234&Signature=nMSYyx6FpFFGbgmeZv5IB9Lzx~esFLjgyaghcNmH1KSBteecKzckTHvVFZh6Zr32UytCzt-Vqj-lTDOtuQu1QyJgcmaHSEYlcQeJ2p4S0R-LAs6Srcc2b-y7f4SX7mqWpC5kEPZeUXXK-zTKk~fYGxNxApiC-HbIKzPI1N43CI8-WnUynMb91C0fZCibj-9RIo8VsW2uSEAfG0pIYsp6SRi2RgEDMVILD7o0afd6x2EWBehnFvuEE5B0WWGLS1StMrgwC6JKGgSNgIgju-AS2FHdMbOSMWRnKrnLGd2WIF-i3L4mAOipx3D6MZ3iAvU9D~rd7cqWu5dK9xMJmEqc5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee","date","2025-02-06T07:02:52.567Z","article","House Bill 144, which would change how county canvassing boards are constituted, passed the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee after amendments clarifying how the two largest parties are determined and preserving a three-member board.

Speaker Tom Nyman, sponsor of House Bill 144, told the committee the measure was suggested by a sheriff in his district to \"provide accountability and transparency and more oversight into our election process.\" Nyman said the bill would replace one of the clerk-appointed canvassing board members with an elector selected by the county central committee of each of the two largest political parties.

The bill drew detailed testimony from the County Clerks Association and public comment. Malcolm Irvin, president of the County Clerks Association and Platte County clerk, urged clarifications before the bill moved forward, including a firm appointment deadline for party designees, a definition of \"largest\" parties at the county level, and a requirement that parties be notified of their obligation to appoint members. \"The county canvassing board really is an analytical board,\" Irvin said, describing its function as reviewing poll books, reconciliations and oaths and warning against composition that could become \"political in nature.\" Irvin offered three alternatives: expand the board to five members, have parties submit multiple nominees for county commission selection, or make the county commission the canvassing board with the clerk as an ex officio member.

Several committee members and members of the public raised concerns about potential politicization and about counties where one or both major parties are not organized. Gail Simmons of Sheridan County, testifying in opposition, asked whether the bill was a reaction to a single contested count in another county and argued that selecting precinct committee members to replace a countywide-elected official \"doesn't make a lot of sense.\" She said an expansion to five members would be a reasonable compromise.

Representative Weber asked whether party leadership and clerks had been consulted; Nyman said he had spoken with both and was willing to work with the clerks association on amendments. During debate the committee adopted an amendment defining \"largest political party\" as \"the party with the most registered voters within the county on the January of a general election year\" and clarified the bill language accordingly. The committee also adopted language pulling the remainder of the statute text into the bill for clarity.

The committee voted to move the bill out of committee. Representative Weber made the motion to move the bill; Representative Brown seconded. A roll-call vote recorded eight ayes and one no (Representative Yin submitted an absentee vote of no). The clerk recorded the tally as 8 ayes, 1 no; the bill was reported favorably from committee.

Next steps: House Bill 144 will proceed with the committee amendments and be available for further consideration on the floor and in subsequent committee work if additional changes are proposed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, January 5, 2025-Upon Adjournment","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 144, which would change how county canvassing boards are constituted, passed the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee after amendments clarifying how the two largest parties are determined and preserving a three-member board.","taxTitle","Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61352,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6679111,"Committee rejects bill to prohibit electronic voting equipment after brief floor vote",434,7518000,7952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f&start=7518&end=7952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f/thumbnail_7518000.jpg","/articles/6679111/Wyoming/Committee-rejects-bill-to-prohibit-electronic-voting-equipment-after-brief-floor-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679111-e511036f732aca0f0e4c9041cd945401/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656234&Signature=OiTUB5852dWpFmWEinF48r5hlpcCW4C~glIMwRVH5xQNQptyKXEvLjLmCIK8KO3ecFMaCZLe6bbvQy~kshf3V9-3sM8MktT94eNPrCy4jebE85PbBczJjXotiYJ32ptOBWoRn6H~lWTeUhUdDjT4kZurckkoh5CKN71wRA-KBRAlmz-D~Bp47JehELs5Lza7NneX1hs0MgjfJVII3y6o6O97-xbk0G9pUtiRCUMpXB4IdfXkQNgHa35fqotTtHt-ACsjZYvy9dmqTz4vBD8YwBbhfVounxeIM4RjAMQ1e1S-wjXfrJyp2KgCLiOpcIStAi26sttevxkhku8m4mTUHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 215, which would have restricted use of electronic voting equipment, failed to pass the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee after a roll-call vote.

Representative Weber spoke in committee discussion that the measure required more work and that stakeholders, including county clerks, should be included in further drafting. After debate, the committee held a roll-call vote; the clerk announced the result as one aye and eight no votes. Chairman Knapp confirmed the vote total and said the bill did not pass committee.

Committee members expressed concern that the bill was not ready for final committee action and recommended further study or stakeholder engagement if sponsors choose to pursue changes in a future session.

","House Bill 215, a proposal to prohibit electronic voting equipment, failed in committee after a roll-call vote; proponents said more work was needed but committee members voted 8–1 against advancing the current measure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":80,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6679117,"Committee hears hours of testimony on curbing county reserves; bill tabled for further study",3915,3603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f&start=3603&end=7518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239746-d12eb672eccc05d80503167f501fba1f/thumbnail_3603000.jpg","/articles/6679117/Wyoming/Committee-hears-hours-of-testimony-on-curbing-county-reserves-bill-tabled-for-further-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679117-024d06e9225e784facfe8d8b15634d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656234&Signature=PoiL~r9ha2e-MGrqnKUsDxcr-XBbkSyA9skSAok-at1GUHBY73aubrbiU1jvoT6YhfD69U33wjcpCZIGMbWNmR2rFDlCGyvkbGvjx27lXxL~lEJq7XAXvwtvgWS18G-4sFHv0OL5coO3we4ItF6cDcLtOTW8qCwE-fcQ5GrdGAeu78tl4WLlQOBK1tYvlhq6krqhj1pBKTJxtmv6GzR5d6x~bEYpVzuk3YPbQ9SzrqbM62R5I-tOzKz2p0usFL7CTs7Jga8Mvx1O5Bcm~BE~TNyUxPFLWuCCkVF-8F4sFFY0oFyEFo9pgJbEU3OnkrSPq8KGPZ1D9PzsBgmMpfCRWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Dan Johnson presented House Bill 262, which would restrict the amount counties may hold in reserve and require counties to calculate an \"annual spending amount\" and notify residents if an excess fund is expected. Johnson said reserves in some counties exceed what he considers reasonable; using Laramie County as an example he described reserves that he and supporters consider excessive and said excess revenue should be returned to taxpayers, including revenue from mineral production.

The bill drew lengthy opposition from the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, which said returning general county reserves to taxpayers could raise constitutional concerns. Jeremiah Grama, executive director of the association, cited Article 16, Section 6 of the state constitution prohibiting gifts or donations by political subdivisions and warned the proposed refund mechanism could conflict with that provision. Grama and county commissioners testified that reserves are often earmarked for specific capital projects, long-term maintenance, depreciation funds, or to stabilize revenue that is volatile because it depends on mineral production and other variable sources.

County commissioners outlined practical reasons for maintaining multi-year reserves: revenues tied to minerals can spike and then fall, counties sometimes receive large one-time receipts (for example, a hospital sale), and the shift to monthly ad valorem collections left counties with a need to set aside funds for the \"true up\" process. Commissioner Robert Short of Converse County and Commissioner Bill Novotny of Johnson County described multi-year planning for roads, equipment and known future liabilities; Novotny said special-purpose reserves and long-term project funds are critical for counties with changing valuation bases.

Local officials and special district representatives also testified in opposition. Joel Schell, treasurer of Converse County representing the Wyoming County Treasurer's Association, raised administrative problems in the bill's language, noting the draft would include fiduciary and restricted funds held for other taxing entities or special districts unless language was clarified. He warned the notification and refund mechanics would be administratively burdensome and potentially costly. Mayor Kelly Krakow of Albin described landfill and fire-district reserves that are meant for future capital and closure costs; airport representatives said federal grant and revenue restrictions limit how municipal airport funds may be used and that the bill could conflict with federal obligations.

During committee discussion members asked whether the bill would trigger end-of-year spending sprees, how small counties with limited tax bases would be protected for emergencies, and whether refunds should be implemented differently (for example, adjusting mill levies). Representatives and witnesses highlighted existing statutory mechanisms that limit municipal reserves and the need to distinguish between restricted enterprise/capital funds and general operating reserves.

After hours of testimony and questions the committee took no motion to advance the bill and officially tabled it for further study. Committee members said the measure requires substantial work on statutory language, constitutional consequences and the fiscal note. Representative Weber and others suggested the issue be considered as an interim topic with additional stakeholder input before any final legislation.

","House Bill 262, which would limit county reserves and require refunds of excess funds, drew extensive testimony from county officials, associations and local officials and was tabled for further work after committee members raised constitutional, administrative and practical concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill to require party-appointed members on county canvassing boards

Committee rejects bill to prohibit electronic voting equipment after brief floor vote

Committee hears hours of testimony on curbing county reserves; bill tabled for further study