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HJ0004 • 2022

Budget sessions-bill introduction.

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by repealing the introductory vote requirement for bills in a legislative budget session.

Budget
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Representative Harshman
Last action
2022-02-18
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a claim that was not supported by the official source material. The proposal does not specify exceptions for certain bills other than the budget bill and reapportionment bills.

Proposal to Change Wyoming's Budget Session Rules

A proposal to change the Wyoming Constitution by removing the requirement for a two-thirds vote before introducing most bills in legislative budget sessions.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes changing Article 3, Section 6 of the Wyoming Constitution.
  • Removes the rule that requires a two-thirds vote to introduce most bills during budget sessions.
  • Eliminates outdated language about introducing reapportionment bills during budget sessions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Wyoming Legislature
  • The people of Wyoming who vote on constitutional amendments

Terms To Know

Budget session
A special meeting time for the legislature to discuss and pass budget-related bills.
Two-thirds vote
When more than half of all members must agree before a bill can be introduced or passed in certain situations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The proposal did not move forward and was not considered for introduction.
  • It is unclear how many people would support this change to the Constitution.

Bill History

  1. 2022-02-18 House

    H Did not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2022-02-11 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2022-02-07 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
22LSO-0281
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0281
Numbered
2.0

House Joint Resolution NO. HJ0004

Budget sessions-bill introduction.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Greear and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Pappas and Rothfuss

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by repealing the introductory vote requirement for bills in a legislative budget session.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to amend Wyoming Constitution, Article 3, Section 6 and Section 48, is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become
valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 3, Section 6.

Compensation of members; duration of sessions.

The legislature shall not meet for more than sixty (60) legislative working days excluding Sundays during the term for which members of the house of representatives are elected, except when called into special session. The legislature shall determine by statute the number of days not to exceed sixty (60) legislative working days to be devoted to general and budget session, respectively. The legislature shall meet on odd-numbered years for a general and budget session. The legislature may meet on even-numbered years for
a
budget session.
During the budget session no bills except the budget bill may be introduced unless placed on call by a two-thirds vote of either house.
The legislature shall meet for no more than forty (40) legislative working days excluding Sundays in any
one
(1) calendar year, except when called into special session. The compensation of the members of the legislature
shall be as provided by law; but no legislature shall fix its own compensation.

Article 3, Section 48.

State census.

At the first budget session of the legislature following the federal census, the legislature shall reapportion its membership based up that census.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any bill to apportion the legislature may be introduced in a budget session in the same manner as in a general session.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

Currently, the Wyoming Constitution gives the legislature discretion to meet in even-numbered years for a budget session.

A super-majority vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership of the house or senate is required for legislation, other than the budget bill and reapportionment bills, to be considered during any budget session.

The proposed amendment would remove this two-thirds (2/3) super-majority
introductory vote requirement for the budget session.

This amendment would also remove obsolete language regarding the introduction of a reapportionment bill during a budget session.

(END)

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HJ0004