CHEYENNE – After convening Feb. 8, the Wyoming Legislature has reached the midway point for the 2016 Budget Session. Tuesday marked crossover period for the body, meaning it was the last day for third reading in the house of origin.
Any legislation that did not successfully pass third reading in the primary house Tuesday will not go on for further consideration in the opposite chamber. At the start of the session, a total of 279 bills and resolutions were numbered for introduction. With two weeks remaining in this year’s session, 157 bills remain active.
The Senate introduced 96 pieces of legislation and 80 of those bills have moved to the House for consideration. The House introduced 91 bills and passed 77 bills on to the Senate for deliberation. Eighty-two of the numbered bills were not considered or failed the introduction vote.
Both the Senate and House have addressed a broad range of issues affecting Wyoming residents and now the second house will get a chance to make changes and pass or vote down those bills sent from the house of origin. Although these bills have passed in their primary house, the legislation still must gain approval of the second house and be sent to the Governor for consideration before becoming state law.
Friday will be the last day for bills to be reported out of committee in the second house and Monday will mark the last day for Committee of the Whole on bills in the second house. March 2 will be the last day for third reading on bills in the second house.
Lawmakers expect to wrap up the 2016 Budget Session by March 4. In addition to the bills currently being considered, legislators are also finishing work on the State’s 2017- 2018 biennial budget. The bodies will spend this week reconciling the differences between the final Senate and House versions of the budget bill through a joint conference committee.
After each Chamber votes to concur on the conference committee’s action, the bill will be sent to the Governor for his consideration. The Wyoming Legislature encourages the public to continue to actively participate in the legislative process.
For a complete list of all the bills that are still active and to track their progress as the session continues, please visit the Legislature’s Website.
