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Wyoming Senate introduces multiple bills Feb. 11; several pass introductory votes and are referred to committees
Summary
On Feb. 11 the Wyoming Senate introduced Senate Files 82–96. Several bills received introductory roll-call approval and were referred to standing committees; others failed to meet the two-thirds threshold for introduction. Key topics included registered-agent regulation, tax and revenue measures, criminal justice and education policy.
The Wyoming Senate on Feb. 11 conducted a large packet of first readings and introductory roll-call votes for Senate Files 82 through 96, advancing a mix of measures on corporate registration, tax and revenue changes, criminal justice, and administrative reforms.
Senate File 82, introduced by Senator KGO, would create a "know your customer" requirement for commercial registered agents to provide more information about the owners of companies filed in Wyoming. Sponsor said the change is intended to give law enforcement and the Secretary of State tools to investigate "fly by night" ventures and that exemptions would protect local companies. The introductory vote passed (recorded as "24 I, 5 no, 2 excused") and SF 82 was referred to Committee 7 (Corporations).
Other introduction outcomes included: SF 95 (allowing third-party providers to offer certain driver services) passed introduction and was referred to Committee 8 (Transportation); SF 90 (limiting school facility use fees) passed and was referred to Committee 4 (Education); SF 92 (a Wyoming False Claims Act) passed introduction and was referred to Committee 1 (Judiciary); SF 96 (tobacco remote-seller excise tax and a capped cigar tax) passed introduction and was referred to Committee 3 (Revenue). Several bills failed to secure the two-thirds majority at introduction: SF 83 (party central committee voting), SF 86 (Property Tax Relief Authority), SF 89 (local housing projects tax-exemption amendments), SF 91 (Energy Project Accountability Act), SF 93 (shared custody amendments), and SF 94 (governmental immunity relating to road maintenance).
Sponsor remarks during introductions described policy rationales across the packet: SF 86 sponsor (Case) proposed using state-underwritten private loans to expand use of tax-deferral programs for homeowners; SF 87 sponsor (Cole) framed a felony-enhancement bill as protecting peace officers; SF 89 sponsor (Steinmets) described closing a loophole in low-income housing tax exemptions that he said allowed private developers to receive public-style tax benefits; SF 91 sponsor (Steinmets) argued the Legislature should review any major energy project that involves state funding or bonding before construction begins. Transcripts show vote counts on the record for each introductory roll-call where held and the committee referral or failure outcome recorded in the journal.
Votes at a glance (introductory motion results from the Feb. 11 session):
- SF 82 (Duties of registered agents amendments) — Sponsor: Senator KGO. Introductory vote recorded as 24 yes, 5 no, 2 excused. Referred to Committee 7 (Corporations). - SF 83 (Major political party state central committee voting) — Sponsor: Senator Casease. Introductory vote recorded as 5 yes, 25 no, 1 excused. Failed introduction. - SF 86 (Wyoming Property Tax Relief Authority) — Sponsor: Case. Introductory vote recorded as 14 yes, 17 no. Failed introduction. - SF 87 (Felony interference with police officer amendments) — Sponsor: Senator Cole. Introductory vote recorded as 28 yes, 3 no. Referred to Committee 1 (Judiciary). - SF 88 (Sex offenders: residents near child care facilities) — Sponsor: Senator Salazar. Introductory vote recorded as 28 yes, 3 no. Referred to Committee 1 (Judiciary). - SF 89 (Local housing projects tax exemption amendments) — Sponsor: Senator Steinmets. Introductory vote recorded as 18 yes, 13 no. Failed introduction. - SF 90 (School facilities use fees) — Sponsor: Senator Brennan. Introductory vote recorded as 1 yes, 1 no (closing notation inconsistent in transcript) but the journal shows it received a two-thirds majority; referred to Committee 4 (Education). - SF 91 (Wyoming Energy Project Accountability Act) — Sponsor: Senator Steinmets. Introductory vote recorded as 10 yes, 21 no. Failed introduction. - SF 92 (Wyoming False Claims Act) — Sponsor: Senator Nethercott. Introductory vote recorded as 23 yes, 0 no (closing line recorded "Senate file 92 30 I 1 No" in transcript notation); referred to Committee 1 (Judiciary). - SF 93 (Shared Custody Amendments) — Sponsor: Senator Pearson. Introductory vote recorded as 19 yes, 12 no (transcript summarized as failing to reach two-thirds); failed introduction. - SF 94 (Governmental immunity — road construction and maintenance) — Sponsor: Senator Pearson. Introductory vote recorded as 11 yes, 20 no. Failed introduction. - SF 95 (Drivers and Motor Vehicle Services — third-party providers) — Sponsor: Senator Papus. Introductory vote recorded as 28 yes, 3 no. Referred to Committee 8 (Transportation). - SF 96 (Tobacco Sales and Taxation) — Sponsor: Senator Papus. Introductory vote recorded as 22 yes, 9 no. Referred to Committee 3 (Revenue).
What happened next: senators announced committee meeting schedules and the chamber recessed until 2 p.m.
This roundup summarizes introductory votes and referrals recorded in the Senate journal during the Feb. 11 session. Specific bill text, fiscal notes and committee assignments are in the official bill packet and committee agendas published by the Legislative Service Office and the committees named in the journal entry.
