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HB0132 • 2022

Statutory standing committees-include federal review.

AN ACT relating to the legislature; requiring the legislature to establish standing committees; creating the standing committee on federal review; establishing powers and duties of the federal review committee; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Wharff
Last action
2022-02-17
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so its specific impacts are unknown.

Legislature Must Create Standing Committees Including Federal Review

This act requires the Wyoming legislature to establish standing committees and specifically includes a federal review committee.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the legislature to establish certain standing committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Creates a new standing committee called the 'Federal Review Committee'.
  • Gives the Federal Review Committee the power to examine all federal actions to determine if they infringe on Wyoming's sovereignty or citizens' rights as defined during the ratification debates of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
  • Allows the Federal Review Committee to sponsor legislation and advise the legislature based on their findings about federal actions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Wyoming State Legislature
  • Federal agencies whose actions may be reviewed by the new committee

Terms To Know

Standing Committee
A permanent committee in a legislature that deals with specific areas of legislation.
Federal Review Committee
A special standing committee created to review federal actions and their impact on state sovereignty and citizens' rights.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how many other states have similar committees or what their effectiveness has been.
  • The specific powers of existing standing committees are not detailed, only that they must be established.

Bill History

  1. 2022-02-17 House

    H Failed Introduction 26-33-1-0-0

  2. 2022-02-16 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2022-02-15 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
22LSO-0431
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0431
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0132

Statutory standing committees-include federal review.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Wharff, Blackburn, Fortner, Hallinan and Laursen and Senator(s) Biteman, Bouchard, French and Salazar

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the legislature; requiring the legislature to establish standing committees; creating the standing committee on federal review; establishing powers and duties of the federal review committee; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 28
‑
11
‑
801 is created to read:

CHAPTER 11
STANDING AND SELECT COMMITTEES

ARTICLE 8
STANDING COMMITTEES

28
‑
11
‑
801.

Standing committees established by the legislature.

(a)

The legislature shall establish the following standing committees in both the senate and the house of representatives:

(i)

Judiciary;

(ii)

Appropriations;

(iii)

Revenue;

(iv)

Education;

(v)

Agriculture, state and public lands and water resources;

(vi)

Travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources;

(vii)

Corporations, elections and political subdivisions;

(viii)

Transportation, highways and military affairs;

(ix)

Minerals, business and economic development;

(x)

Labor, health and social services;

(xi)

Journal;

(xii)

Rules and procedure;

(xiii)

Federal review.

(b)

All standing committees except those created by paragraphs (xi) and (xii) of subsection (a) of this section
shall function as joint interim committees as provided by W.S. 28
‑
8
‑
104(b).

Section 2.

(a)

The federal review standing committee of the senate and house of representatives created by this act shall:

(i)

Review all federal action to determine if the sovereignty of the state of Wyoming and the powers, rights and liberties of its citizens, as legally defined during the ratification debates of the several states in ratifying the federal constitution of 1787, are being infringed upon or diminished;

(ii)

Determine and make findings as to which federal actions are not consistent with the enumerated roles, responsibilities and powers in the United States constitution.

This duty shall be exercised without regard for any United States supreme court or other judicial decisions that attempt to interpret federal actions;

(iii)

Sponsor legislation, report to the legislature and advise the legislature consistent with any determinations and findings concerning the constitutionality of federal actions.

(b)

For purposes of this section, "federal action" means all new and existing federal laws, resolutions, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, mandates, executive orders and any other federal dictate having the force and effect of law.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0132