Below is a current list of bills of interest filed on 2/22/21. To read the bill, click on the title.

Click here for all bills.
 

HB0134 - Human heartbeat protection act.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Gray, Andrew, Baker, Bear, Blackburn, Flitner, Fortner, Haroldson, Harshman, Knapp, Laursen, Neiman, Ottman, Rodriguez-Williams, Romero-Martinez, Styvar, Wharff and Winter and Senator(s) Biteman, Boner, Bouchard, Hicks, Hutchings, Kinskey and McKeown
AN ACT relating to public health; providing that no abortion shall be performed after the embryo or fetus has a detectable fetal heartbeat; modifying laws from a viability to a detected heartbeat standard; and providing for an effective date.

• Currently, the laws of the state of Wyoming forbid the performance of an abortion after "viability" of the embryo or fetus. This bill would replace the word "viability" with the phrase "detectable fetal heartbeat." It further defines "Detectable fetal heartbeat" as meaning "cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac that is detectable using standard medical equipment."

HB0070 - Abortion-informed consent.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Rodriguez-Williams, Bear, Gray, Haroldson, Neiman and Ottman and Senator(s) Biteman, French and James
Status: 1/21/21 Received for introduction.

This bill adds these items to the information that physicians must supply a patient before and abortion:

• In writing- the nature of the proposed procedure, notice of opportunity to see an ultrasound of the unborn child, potential impacts of abortion on the patient's mental health.
• Verbally- the probably gestational age and a description of the development of the child, risks of the procedure--including those of medically induced abortions.
• Verbally or in writing- information on government services for pregnant women.
• That these points were address by the physician must be documented in writing before the procedure is performed. 

SF0034 - Born alive infant-means of care.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Steinmetz, Biteman, Boner, Dockstader, Hutchings and Kinskey and Representative(s) Flitner, Gray, Haroldson, Jennings, Neiman, Ottman, Rodriguez-Williams, Romero-Martinez and Wilson
AN ACT relating to public health and safety; requiring the commonly accepted means of care to be employed in the treatment of any infant born alive; imposing duties on physicians performing abortions; and providing for an effective date.
Status: Scheduled for online hearing 02/24/2021, 1:30pm - Senate Labor Committee

This is substantially the same legislation (SF 97) that passed both chambers with super majorities last year but was vetoed by Governor Gordon in 2020.

HB0073 - Birth certificates-gestational agreements.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Greear, Duncan, Oakley and Olsen and Senator(s) Cooper, Nethercott and Steinmetz

Currently, there are no state statutes prohibiting nor allowing surrogacy. But it is happening. Infertility is an extremely difficult experience for many people; however, we have to realize that in some instances medical technologies have outpaced our ethical understandings. Just because we have the ability to do something, doesn’t mean we should be doing it. For more information on the problems associated with surrogacy, read How Surrogacy Arrangements Fail Children.

Death Penalty Repeal.

This bill has not been filed yet but will be soon. As the state continues to look at ways to balance Wyoming’s budget, legislators will be looking at cutting programs, attempting to bring more businesses to Wyoming, and also considering raising taxes. It makes less and less sense to pay the costs of keeping the death penalty in the books when the state is cutting jobs and programs that serve the most vulnerable.
For more information on why the Catholic Church considers the death penalty one of several direct attacks on human life, watch this video.

SF0096 - Homicide amendments.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Hutchings, Baldwin, Biteman, Boner, Bouchard, French, Hicks, James, Kinskey, Kolb, McKeown, Nethercott, Salazar and Steinmetz and Representative(s) Andrew, Baker, Blackburn, Burt, Flitner, Fortner, Gray, Hallinan, Haroldson, Jennings, Knapp, Laursen, Neiman, Oakley, Ottman, Rodriguez-Williams, Romero-Martinez, Styvar, Wharff, Wilson and Winter
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating new offenses for first and second degree murder; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

HB0085 - Unlawful dissemination of an intimate image.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Stith, Baker, Banks, Duncan, Simpson and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Nethercott.
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating an offense for the nonconsensual dissemination of an intimate image; specifying elements and penalties of the offense; providing definitions; providing exemptions; and providing for an effective date.

This will penalize adults who disseminate sexually explicit images of persons without their consent. Surreptitiously taken photos, so-called "revenge porn" and online sexual harassment violate the rightful place of sexual intimacy and bodily privacy. Indiscrete images unwisely shared have also been used to coerce and blackmail people into even more damaging and dangerous sexual situations. Life-long damage to young people and their future families can be prevented by this legislation. 

HB0063 - Early childhood education.

Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to early childhood education; providing that the department of education and the department of family services shall administer early childhood education services; transferring specified early childhood education programs, functions and positions [from the Department of Health and Workforce Services to the Department of Education and DFS]; requiring reports; making conforming statutory changes; requiring formation of a working group; authorizing rulemaking; repealing a conflicting provision; and providing for effective dates.
Status: 2/1/21 - H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education

HB0106 - Wyoming education options act.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Wilson, Andrew, Duncan, Gray, Jennings and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Boner, Ellis and Steinmetz

HB0029 - Burials for indigent persons.

Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to indigent person burial expenses; providing for reimbursement of burial expenses for indigent persons; imposing a surcharge for death certificates; creating an account; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Another state program facing budget reduction. This bill makes indigent burial assistance subject to appropriation by the Legislature.  “If this bill is enacted into law, DFS or the State Treasurer’s Office  would require a specific appropriation from the INDIGENT PERSONS BURIAL ACCOUNT to continue administering indigent burial assistance as required by this bill.”

As one state Representative pointed out in testimony, “burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy.” In this case we are talking about those who cannot afford their own burial.

HB0038 - Community behavioral health-priority populations.

Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to public health and safety; amending provisions related to community health services; specifying and prioritizing the categories of persons to receive state funded mental illness and substance use disorder services; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; repealing obsolete provisions; requiring a report; providing sunset dates; and providing for effective dates.

HB0046 - Crime of bestiality.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Stith, Gray and Jennings and Senator(s) Kolb, Kost, Nethercott and Steinmetz
AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of bestiality; prohibiting bestiality as specified; providing definitions; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date.

HB0083 - Health care cost control.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Stith, Hallinan and MacGuire and Senator(s) Boner, Kolb and Steinmetz
AN ACT relating to health care services; prohibiting the delivery of health care services as specified on more favorable terms or conditions for insured than for uninsured persons; imposing civil liability for alleged violations by health care service providers; amending the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act accordingly; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

HB0137 - Medicaid birth cost recovery-repeal.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Yin, Connolly, Hallinan and Sweeney and Senator(s) Ellis and Schuler
AN ACT relating to welfare; repealing the Medicaid Fairness Act and related provisions; providing for the continuation of actions, rights and obligations as specified; and providing for an effective date.

SF0008 - Wind River Reservation law enforcement.

Sponsored by: Select Committee on Tribal Relations
AN ACT relating to law enforcement; authorizing tribal law enforcement officers to enforce state traffic laws as specified; requiring an agreement between state and tribal authorities; providing for liability coverage; requiring certification of tribal law enforcement officers by the peace officer standards and training commission; defining terms; requiring rulemaking; providing legislative findings; and providing for an effective date.

SF0059 - Hazing.

Sponsored By: Joint Education Interim Committee
AN ACT relating to education; requiring school districts to adopt a policy on hazing in addition to policies on harassment, intimidation or bullying, requiring the University of Wyoming and the community colleges to adopt policies on hazing; and providing for an effective date.