Committee debates bill to let governor organize Wyoming State Guard without federal trigger; measure fails in committee

Senators on the Wyoming Senate Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee heard extended testimony March 19 on a bill to allow the governor to organize a Wyoming State Guard without first waiting for the National Guard to be ordered into federal service. Proponents said the change modernizes state law and would let Wyoming prepare a volunteer force to respond to disasters or other emergencies; opponents warned of cost and scope questions.

Senator Dan Larson, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure removes an obsolete federal prerequisite that currently ties creation of a State Guard to activation of the National Guard. "This is about the Wyoming State Guard," Larson said, summarizing the bill's intent to "allow the governor to organize and maintain within the state such military force as the governor deems necessary to preserve the public peace, to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrection, or to repel invasion." He said the draft bill also includes a $25,000 appropriation to convene a council to study organization.

The bill drew lengthy public testimony and expert comment. Mister Tallon, who identified himself as a retired federal employee and former commissioned officer with experience in state defense forces, described Wyoming's limited emergency response capacity across a…