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HB0141 • 2022

Coal-fired facility closures litigation funding-amendments.

AN ACT relating to the administration of government; amending permissible purposes and uses of a previous appropriation for purposes of commencing and prosecuting lawsuits against states for impeding Wyoming's ability to export coal and impeding the operation of coal-fired electric generation facilities in the United States; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Energy
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Representative Haroldson
Last action
2022-02-25
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text does not explicitly mention creating a new account, but it implies that such an account exists based on previous appropriations.

Amending Funding for Coal-Fired Facility Lawsuits

This act changes how $1.2 million in state funds can be used to sue other states or federal agencies that hinder Wyoming's coal export and the operation of its coal-fired power plants.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the rules on how $1,200,000 from the general fund can be spent.
  • Allows the governor's office to use these funds for lawsuits against states and federal agencies that impede Wyoming’s ability to export coal or cause early retirements of coal-fired generation facilities in Wyoming.
  • Requires annual reports about how this money is used and what lawsuits are involved.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The state of Wyoming
  • Federal government agencies
  • Other states and their agencies

Terms To Know

appropriation
Money set aside for a specific purpose by the government.
litigation
Legal action or lawsuit involving disputes in court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not considered further.
  • Details about how funds will be used are limited to what is stated in the act.

Bill History

  1. 2022-02-25 House

    H COW:H Did not consider for COW

  2. 2022-02-24 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2022-02-24 House

    H09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  4. 2022-02-18 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals 54-6-0-0-0

  5. 2022-02-16 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2022-02-15 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
22LSO-0442
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0442
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0141

Coal-fired facility closures litigation funding-amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Haroldson, Barlow, Bear, Blackburn, Clausen, Hallinan, Jennings, Neiman, Ottman, Western and Williams and Senator(s) Biteman, Driskill, Hicks and McKeown

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the administration of government; amending permissible purposes and uses of a previous appropriation for purposes of commencing and prosecuting lawsuits against states for impeding Wyoming's ability to export coal and impeding the operation of coal-fired electric generation facilities in the United States; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
. 2021 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 112, Sections 2 and 3(a)(i) and (ii) is amended to read:

Section 2.

There is appropriated one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the governor for purposes of
intervening in, defending,
commencing and prosecuting lawsuits against
the federal government and its agencies and
other states and other states' agencies that enact and enforce laws
,

and
regulations
,
or other actions
by the federal government, other states or third parties
that impermissibly impede Wyoming's ability to export coal
,

or
that cause the early retirement of coal-fired generation facilities located in Wyoming
or that result in the decreased use of

Wyoming coal or the closure of coal-fired electric generation facilities that use Wyoming coal
. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2030. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as
provided by law on June 30, 2030.
There is created an account within the office of the governor into which the funds appropriated under this section as created by this act shall be deposited. The funds in the account shall be continuously appropriated to the office of the governor for the purposes of funding any litigation expenses incurred in accordance with this act.

Section 3.

(a)

On or before October 1, 2021 and each year thereafter until October 1, 2030, the governor and the attorney general shall report to the joint appropriations committee and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee on:

(i)

The expenditure of any funds appropriated in section 2 of this act for litigation to challenge laws or other actions
that impede the export of Wyoming coal or the continued operation of Wyoming's coal-fired electric generation facilities, including early retirements of those facilities
, and for any litigation in which the state has intervened in, commenced, defended or prosecuted in accordance with section 2 of this act
;

(ii)

The status of any litigation initiated
, intervened in, defended, prosecuted
or concluded using the funds appropriated in section 2 of this act. The governor and attorney general may present the information required by this paragraph in executive session;

Section 2
.

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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HB0141