[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6661149,"mediaKeyId","2416452-b8bfc3bcfdab325ee3979b51304ad499","parentId",2416452,"title","Votes at a glance: Senate signs enrolled acts, concurs on several House bills and Committee of the Whole advances multiple measures","audioSeconds",1032,"startMs",1000,"endMs",1033000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416452-b8bfc3bcfdab325ee3979b51304ad499&start=1&end=1033","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416452-b8bfc3bcfdab325ee3979b51304ad499/thumbnail_1000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661149/Wyoming/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-signs-enrolled-acts-concurs-on-several-House-bills-and-Committee-of-the-Whole-advances-multiple-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661149-2c269ae2678152f17d626e36e6bf5daf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775872030&Signature=nmli1qucGIDK42yWX1B3qicIS6b5aFmdQat~X6pahBLruRsUyC-d~t~RPZPb~5L9S4wb2RDUoHMlqGpV28ENfxUziQhO~04cx3~8oN6WczOiFnx51xVH18TtqZQB3BogjdIIVErHISTLWuHObu2WEHZ6A7LaNQOKFFAoRbMAlve930koqZwzSi6soxCf9Oc38PyeD8hAdJrC7TomGocxa1fHrzb2dtiur~~g4miGFKgvLzs65JlpMs14u3uU3NZS68chu4p8VDoRxB--bcdj5RDLMiGv7zbFoJFBq8jBHdAqY-Zq55kueo0AkOb8jD62d~22ksNt0iDBRgUqfMkPkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-02-27T00:28:37.457Z","article","This session included signings of enrolled acts, concurrence votes on House amendments and Committee of the Whole actions advancing a set of House bills.

What the Senate signed and concurred on

- Signing of enrolled acts: The President signed a series of Senate enrolled acts on the floor, recorded in the transcript as Senate Enrolled Acts Nos. 41–49. Titles read into the record included items such as “School district vehicles flashing lights authorized,” consumer rental purchase agreement amendments, ‘‘Energy impact on Wyoming economy,’’ motor vehicle dealer warranty rates, and other measures. The signings were read on the floor in sequence and each was attested as signed by the presiding officer.

- Concurrences requested from the House: The Senate considered House messages asking the Senate to concur on amendments to several Senate files. Notable concurrence roll-call results recorded in the session transcript included:
- Senate File 154 (Industrial Wind and Solar Projects hearing deadline): concurrence recorded as 30 aye, 1 no.
- Senate File 56 (Providing false information to registered agents): concurrence recorded as 30 aye, 1 no.
- Senate File 113 (Greater Opportunity Act): concurrence recorded as 20 aye, 9 nay, 2 no (transcript line shows \"20 9 aye, 2 no\").
- Other House messages referenced multiple Senate files and requested concurrence; the transcript records that the Senate concurred on those items as read.

Committee of the Whole: House bills advanced

The Committee of the Whole considered a string of House bills and reported do-pass recommendations for several. Key outcomes recorded in the session transcript follow; where the transcript recorded a roll call or division, that tally is shown; where the transcript did not provide a numeric roll call, the outcome is recorded without a tally.

- House Bill 192 — Public utilities wildfire mitigation and liability limits: Committee of the Whole reported a do-pass recommendation after amendments (detailed in separate article). Final passage vote tally on the floor was not specified in the session transcript.

- House Bill 79 — Bond election voter-threshold requirement: Standing committee amendment adopted; reported do-pass as amended (vote on the motion to pass was taken in committee; transcript records adoption of the amendment and that the Committee of the Whole passed the bill).

- House Bill 154 — False voting amendments: Standing committee amendment adopted; Committee of the Whole passed the bill. Debate noted the bill clarifies double-voting prohibitions to include voting in Wyoming and another state and identifies that county sheriffs investigate at the request of the secretary of state or county clerk.

- House Bill 90 — Anthrax outbreak protocol (agriculture): Standing committee amendment adopted (language correction in title to reference positive anthrax tests). Committee of the Whole passed the bill; sponsors said the bill directs the Livestock Board to adopt rules and notification protocols following a positive anthrax test to coordinate veterinarians, brand inspectors and homeland security when needed.

- House Bill 122 — Senior citizen service districts: Committee of the Whole passed the bill; sponsors said the bill extends the initial period to demonstrate a district’s work from roughly 18 months to four years before a renewal election is required.

- House Bill 246 — “Wyoming Wednesday” / state-theme day: Committee of the Whole initially faced a division; a roll-call was requested under Senate rule and recorded as 16 aye, 14 no, 1 excused on the Committee of the Whole roll call; the Committee of the Whole reported the bill as do-pass to the full Senate.

- House Bill 156 — Proof of voter residency/registration qualifications: Standing committee amendment adopted to add explicit forms of proof of U.S. citizenship; Committee of the Whole passed the bill by division (25 voted in favor when standing count was taken; transcript records \"25, more than half\"). Debate included questions about how the rule would treat students and driver-license/Real ID issues.

Other floor actions

- The Committee of the Whole report covering several bills (HB192, HB79, HB154, HB90, HB122, HB246, HB156) was adopted by the Senate.
- The floor also recorded numerous routine committee reports and announcements and set committee and joint conference meetings for subsequent dates.

Why it matters: Several enacted or advanced items touch core state issues — wildfire liability and utilities (HB192), election rules and residency (HB156), and agricultural public-health protocols (HB90). The concurrence votes show the Senate accepting the House’s amended versions of bills dealing with industrial siting deadlines, consumer-rental law changes and corporate filing enforcement, among others.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session-Day 31, February 26, 2025-PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate signed multiple enrolled acts, concurred on several House-passed measures and the Committee of the Whole advanced a package of House bills, including action on elections, public-safety protocols and senior-district rules.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",30485,"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},6661155,"Senate committee advances wildfire-mitigation bill that narrows utility liability, adds planning requirements",3971,1575000,5546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416452-b8bfc3bcfdab325ee3979b51304ad499&start=1575&end=5546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416452-b8bfc3bcfdab325ee3979b51304ad499/thumbnail_1575000.jpg","/articles/6661155/Wyoming/Senate-committee-advances-wildfire-mitigation-bill-that-narrows-utility-liability-adds-planning-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661155-6fd63f29edf65978f96a0d10e98d44ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775872030&Signature=B5vdwZJ0Lc-Gwja0L3TP0D3Ly9tocEm2SjoX7m3M5JjgK5vaGF6PTuj5R31voV-xRm-z1hsc0TOifBjfFQ0iawtrjfcPozlbheqM1SPY3kL1uizUEG063~l5lnt5CDJ142EVL3I87iVqhCo7FSWJ3TulXJNs6VsCijN42V-kUO3T0FDU-Nl126hTBaJ2RF5lfCdGb3CRBN1nbjMYwk-U1kaygV89KF~latNXu-1ZYpjHn8INrT1edPmtgtn3Di26I1ACDVWg9fAtZGzsaW4VFkWSedidDgWMWAB0Jir1YQ0TXvfdMq4~qHTyjSv-2-OxYeAJXI8kkad5sHSCdoNZCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Case, chairman of the Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, led floor debate Wednesday on House Bill 192, a measure that would require electric utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans with the Wyoming Public Service Commission and that would change the civil-liability framework for wildfires linked to utility infrastructure.

The bill requires each electric utility to prepare a wildfire mitigation plan describing its service area, inspection and vegetation-management procedures, upgrades and preventive programs, de-energization procedures and anticipated public-safety impacts, and to seek input from state forestry and local fire entities. It also directs the commission to review and potentially approve plans and allows utilities to seek cost recovery separately if rates are regulated by the commission.

“This bill deals with the liability that arises out of wildfires with respect to utilities,” Senator Case said on the Senate floor as he explained the bill’s origins in interim committee work and a minerals committee task force. “This section requires public utilities to file a mitigation plan with the public service commission and to follow that plan and mitigate the risk of wildfires.”

Why it matters: Sponsors said the measure aims to reduce the costs of wildfire litigation that can threaten utilities’ financial stability and drive higher rates for customers, while requiring utilities to document mitigation steps and report annually on compliance. Opponents warned the bill shifts risk from utilities to private property owners and their insurers unless carefully balanced.

Key provisions and debate

- Plan content and review: HB192 requires mitigation plans to include a mapping of high-risk areas, inspection and vegetation-management schedules, procedures for de-energizing lines and communication plans, and a description of how utilities will restore service after a wildfire. For utilities whose rates are regulated, plans must estimate incremental costs and potential rate impacts. Plans must be updated at least every five years and utilities must file annual reports with the commission requesting a finding of substantial compliance.

- Presumption and limits on damages: The bill creates a rebuttable presumption in civil actions that an approved wildfire mitigation plan is a “reasonable and prudent” preparation for wildfire risks. A plaintiff may recover economic loss only if the plaintiff proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the utility failed to substantially comply with an approved plan and that failure was the proximate cause of the damage. Non-economic damages are generally barred except for injury or death.

- Access, negotiations and defenses: The draft treats a utility as having substantially complied if it attempted in good faith to comply but was denied or unreasonably delayed access to a right-of-way for vegetation management. Debate focused on how to define reasonable efforts by a utility to enforce easement rights and whether the bill appropriately protects landowners whose local ordinances or land-management practices prevent mitigation work.

- De-energization and backfeeding concerns: The bill requires plans to describe procedures and notice protocols for de-energizing power lines to reduce fire risk. Senator Case and other senators discussed the potential hazard of “backfeeding” from on-site generators or rooftop solar during de-energization and the need for utilities to consider those risks when restoring service.

Amendments, votes and floor action

- The committee adopted the standing committee amendment that, among other changes, clarified that utility plans should seek input from counties and required direct notice to Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities and affected counties within five business days after a plan is filed with the commission.

- Two Committee of the Whole amendments were offered on the floor. Committee of the Whole Amendment No. 1 (which would have removed a pre-filing negotiation requirement) failed on a division vote. Committee of the Whole Amendment No. 2, which requires utilities to make reasonable efforts to enforce their easement-access rights before a denial or delay is deemed a proximate cause, was adopted.

- After debate and the adopted revisions, the Committee of the Whole reported HB192 with a do-pass recommendation. The motion to pass the bill carried on the floor (final passage vote count on the Senate floor for the bill as a whole was not specified in the transcript of this session).

Substantive concerns expressed

Several senators cautioned the bill could shift costs from utilities to ratepayers or to private property owners and their insurers. Senator Rothfuss warned that limiting liability without broader reforms could simply shift the financial burden to homeowners and insurance policyholders. Senator Hicks and others raised the practical challenge that local land-use rules, federal land-management restrictions or county ordinances can prevent utilities from accessing rights-of-way, and asked whether the bill adequately addresses liability when a government entity blocks mitigation.

Supporters, including Directors and representatives of rural electric cooperatives who testified in committee, argued the bill compels utilities to create and follow mitigation plans, coordinate with counties and firefighting entities, and document practices — all steps that reduce ignition risk and provide a clearer framework for adjudicating wildfire claims.

What the bill does not do

- The commission’s approval of a mitigation plan does not automatically guarantee rate recovery; cost recovery remains a separate commission determination.
- The bill does not eliminate all legal avenues for landowners; under the bill a plaintiff may still recover in defined circumstances, and governmental claims would remain the mechanism for suits against public entities.

Next steps

Senator Case moved HB192 out of the Committee of the Whole with a do-pass recommendation. The bill’s statutory effective date and the transcript indicate some sections would be effective on July 1, 2025, and other sections (sections 3 and 4 related to recovery and rulemaking) effective immediately; the bill will proceed through the Senate’s remaining steps for final action.

Ending note: The debate on HB192 reflected an extended floor discussion about balancing wildfire risk reduction, utilities’ financial exposure, county and federal land-management constraints, and the scale of responsibility for wildfire losses.

","The Wyoming Senate Committee of the Whole advanced House Bill 192 after debate and amendments that require utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans with the Public Service Commission and limit certain wildfire-related damages against utilities while preserving some landowner remedies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Senate signs enrolled acts, concurs on several House bills and Committee of the Whole advances multiple measures

Senate committee advances wildfire-mitigation bill that narrows utility liability, adds planning requirements