HB0162 • 2024

Public meetings-executive sessions amendment.

AN ACT relating to city, county, state and local powers; repealing the option for the governing body of an agency to hold executive sessions to consider the appointment of a public officer, professional person or employee; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Labor

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Representative Jennings
Last action: 2024-02-16
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the removal of the option for excluding witnesses and making dismissals public unless requested otherwise by the employee. These claims were removed as they are not supported by the provided official source material.

Amending Public Meeting Rules

The bill removes the ability of city, county, state, and local agencies to hold private meetings when considering hiring or firing public workers.

What This Bill Does

Removes the option for governing bodies to have secret meetings about hiring new employees.

Who It Names or Affects

City and county governments
State agencies

Terms To Know

Executive sessions: Private meetings held by government officials that are not open to the public.
Governing body: The group of people who make decisions for a city, county, state agency, or local organization.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass and was not considered for introduction.
It only affects meetings about hiring and firing public workers after July 1, 2024 if it were to become law.

Bill History

2024-02-16 House
H Did not Consider for Introduction
2024-02-12 House
H Received for Introduction
2024-02-12 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0523
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0523
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0162

Public meetings-executive sessions amendment.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Jennings, Allemand, Andrew, Davis, Heiner, Hornok, Locke, Neiman and Pendergraft and Senator(s) Hutchings

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to city, county, state and local powers; repealing the option for the governing body of an agency to hold executive sessions to consider the appointment of a public officer, professional person or employee; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 16
‑
4
‑
405(a)(ii) is amended to read:

16
‑
4
‑
405.

Executive sessions.

(a)

A governing body of an agency may hold executive sessions not open to the public:

(ii)

To consider the
appointment,
employment, right to practice or dismissal of a public officer, professional person or employee, or to hear complaints or charges brought against an employee, professional person or officer, unless the employee, professional person or officer requests a public hearing. The governing body may exclude from any public or private hearing during the examination of a witness, any or all other witnesses in the matter being investigated. Following the hearing or executive session, the governing body may deliberate on its decision in executive sessions;

Section 2
.

This act shall apply to the consideration of any appointment of a public officer, professional person or employee by the governing body of an agency on and after July 1, 2024.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

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HB0162