Senate adopts Forest Health Grant Program conference report and signs related enrolled acts
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Summary
The Wyoming Senate adopted the joint conference committee report on House Bill 78 (Forest Health Grant Program), agreeing to amendments and additional appropriation language, then the president signed House Enrolled Act No. 41 and a bundle of enrolled acts. The chamber also honored retiring staff, including Chief Clerk Ellen Thompson.
The Wyoming Senate on March 6 adopted the joint conference committee report on House Bill 78, a Forest Health Grant Program measure, and the president signed House Enrolled Act No. 41 on the floor.
Senator Hicks presented the conference committee report and told colleagues the committee’s compromise included four adopted senate amendments, a clarifying alignment with Wildlife Trust Fund language, elimination of a repealer and an Appropriations Committee addition of $2,000,000 to the program. "One of them was to make it effective immediately...the Appropriations Committee added an extra $2,000,000 to that," Senator Hicks said on the floor while urging senators to vote aye.
After brief discussion the clerk called the roll and the Senate adopted the joint conference committee report on House Bill 78; the clerk announced the vote as 29 ayes and 2 excused. The president subsequently signed House Enrolled Act No. 41 (original House Bill 78) on the Senate floor.
Earlier in the session the presiding officer also signed a package of enrolled acts from both chambers, including Senate Enrolled Act No. 68 (original Senate File 106, Welfare Fraud Prevention Act) and a series of House enrolled acts (House Bills 43, 80, 102, 145, 120, 178, 16, 92, 39, 69, 44) that were read by the clerk before the president’s signature.
The Senate paused its legislative business to recognize long‑serving staff who are retiring. Ellen Thompson, introduced on the floor as the Senate’s chief clerk, delivered a farewell address reflecting on 16 years in the role, the challenges of a chamber move and pandemic sessions, and technological improvements she helped implement in the Senate’s procedures.
The body then prepared to caucus on veto override items and later adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
Significant floor action: adoption of the HB78 conference report (roll call 29–0 with 2 excused) and signing of House Enrolled Act No. 41 on March 6.