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26LSO-0440
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0440
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0126
Wyoming-Ireland Trade Commission.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Anderson, Dockstader and Driskill
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to economic development; establishing the Wyoming-Ireland trade commission; providing for the purposes, membership and operation of the commission; amending a definition; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
1601 through 9
‑
12
‑
1603 are created to read:
9
‑
12
‑
1601.
Commission created; definitions.
(a)
There is created the Wyoming
‑
Ireland trade commission.
(b)
As used in this article, "commission" means the Wyoming
‑
Ireland trade commission.
9
‑
12
‑
1602.
Membership.
(a)
The commission shall consist of nine (9) members to be appointed as follows:
(i)
Two (2) persons appointed by the governor;
(ii)
Two (2) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;
(iii)
Two (2) members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate;
(iv)
One (1) member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority floor leader of the house;
(v)
One (1) member of the senate appointed by the senate minority floor leader; and
(vi)
One (1) person to be appointed by the board of directors of the council.
(b)
The commission members selected by the governor and by the board shall be representatives of one (1) or more of the following:
(i)
A Wyoming public institution of higher education;
(ii)
The Irish
‑
American community in Wyoming interested in furthering trade between Wyoming and Ireland;
(iii)
A Wyoming industry engaged in or seeking to engage in trade with Ireland;
(iv)
A Wyoming business association, trade organization, economic development organization or chamber of commerce currently engaged in or interested in engaging in the furtherance of trade with Ireland.
(c)
Members of the commission who are not legislative members shall serve for a two (2) year term. Legislative members shall serve for the two (2) year biennial legislative term for which the members are appointed to the commission and shall remain members of the legislature in order to retain membership on the commission. Members may be reappointed. Terms shall begin March 1 of odd numbered years.
(d)
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be filled only for the unexpired portion of the term.
(e)
The appointing authority for any member may remove that member with or without cause and substitute another appointee for the member at any time.
(f)
The commission shall hold meetings not less than one (1) time each calendar quarter. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairman. At the initial meeting of the commission and annually thereafter, the members shall select from among the appointed legislators one (1) member to serve as the chairman. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the commission.
(g)
The chairman may appoint from among the commission members subcommittees and subcommittee chairmen.
(h)
Necessary clerical and administrative support for the commission shall be furnished by the Wyoming business council.
(j)
Nonlegislative members of the commission shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed under W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
102 and 9
‑
3
‑
103 for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of the member's duties on the commission. Nonlegislative members who are government employees or public officials shall be considered on official business of the member's agency when performing duties as members of the commission.
(k)
The legislative members of the commission shall receive salary and reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the commission, as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101.
9
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12
‑
1603.
Purposes; reporting.
(a)
The purpose of the Wyoming
‑
Ireland trade commission shall be to advance, promote and encourage business and other mutually beneficial activities between Wyoming and Ireland, including:
(i)
Bilateral trade and investment;
(ii)
Joint action on policy issues of mutual interest;
(iii)
Business and academic exchanges;
(iv)
Mutual economic support;
(v)
Mutual investment in infrastructure; and
(vi)
Other opportunities for mutual benefit and economic growth as identified by the commission.
(b)
The commission shall report its findings, activities, results and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate not later than one (1) year after its initial meeting and by November 1 of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. The report shall be in writing and may include recommendations or proposed legislation as deemed appropriate by the commission to effectuate its purposes.
Section 2.
W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
102(a)(viii) is amended to read:
9
‑
12
‑
102.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this act, the following terms have the following meanings, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(viii)
"This act" means W.S. 9
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12
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101 through
9
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12
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1509
9
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12
‑
1603
.
Section 3
.
(a)
Per diem and travel expenses for members of the commission shall be provided from the following sources for:
(i)
Legislative members of the commission, by management council as provided by 2026 Senate File 0002, section 6;
(ii)
Nonlegislative members of the commission:
(A)
Who are not government employees, from funds appropriated to the governor's office in 2026 House Bill 0001, section 2, section 001 for international trade marketing;
(B)
Who are government employees, from funds appropriated to their agency in 2026 House Bill 0001, section 2.
Section 4
.
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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SF0126