Committee asks staff to draft cloud‑seeding and geoengineering measures; proposal to license veterinary technicians fails on roll call

CHEYENNE — Committee members voted to ask Legislative Service Office (LSO) staff to prepare drafts of measures relating to cloud seeding and to prohibit unauthorized atmospheric geoengineering, and approved a joint resolution instructing the federal delegation to examine atmospheric activities — moves that committee members said were intended to create a formal record and allow detailed drafting and vetting. Separately, a proposed bill to license veterinary technicians did not pass the committee on a roll call vote (6 in favor, 7 opposed).

Representative Mike Schmidt introduced three items the committee agreed to send to LSO for drafting: 1) a proposed “Cloud Seeding Moratorium and Baseline Act” that would pause cloud seeding operations for a limited time to collect unseeded baseline precipitation and hydrologic data; 2) a “Wyoming Clean Air and Geoengineering Prohibition Act” that would prohibit unauthorized atmospheric geoengineering activities and set penalties; and 3) a joint legislative resolution asking the federal delegation to examine aerial activities affecting Wyoming skies.

Committee discussion focused on process and evidence. Some members objected to moving drafts forward without more time for public review; others said many constituents had traveled for the hearing and requested that staff create bill drafts so stakeholders and technical experts could work through language. Lawmakers debated whether the state should create a research‑only path or a temporary prohibition to allow collection of baseline data; Representative Schmidt said he sought a 10‑year moratorium (later discussion indicated the duration could be negotiated). Several legislators asked LSO to produce bill drafts so the committee could see legal language and definitions before final decisions.

On the animal‑health item, the committee considered draft legislation to create a state‑level veterinary‑technician license (the measure would define a veterinary technician, set training or experience pathways, require registration or examination, and extend board enforcement authority). Dozens of practicing veterinarians, livestock groups and municipal water and ag organizations testified in favor during the meeting, saying licensed technicians would professionalize the occupation and help address workforce shortages. Opponents on the committee raised concerns about expanding professional licensure and about the bill’s legacy clause that would have allowed long‑service assistants to qualify without a national examination. The committee held a roll call on the veterinary‑technician draft; the measure failed on a 6–7 vote.

Committee leaders directed staff to work with the sponsor and stakeholders to prepare bill drafts for further committee consideration in the current legislative session. Committee members said drafting by LSO would allow the public and technical experts to review formal legal text before further action.

Ending: The committee advanced the cloud‑seeding/geoengineering drafting requests and the joint resolution to LSO for legislation drafting; the veterinary‑technician proposal did not pass the committee on a recorded 6–7 vote. The committee invited additional written material and follow‑up analyses from technical witnesses and municipal water managers.