UPDATE: 2022 Legislative Session, Week One

February 14-February 18, 2022 ~ Session Update

A Busy First Week

Wyoming's 66th Legislature convened the 2022 Budget Session Monday, February 14. WMS started the week knowing we would need to monitor or provide information on 31 legislative proposals. By the close of business Friday, February 18, only 17 of those 31 bills remained viable in this year's process.

The 2022 Legislative Session is a Budget session meaning it's a short, 20-day session. This session is intended to focus on passing a biennium budget to fund the state's operations, redistricting the legislative districts based on 2020 census data, and allocating funds provided to the state through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Any time remaining in these precious 20 days can also be used to take up pressing and more urgent policy decisions.

Bills that caught the attention of the WMS leadership team can be categorized within a few broad topic areas. Those broad categories include public health and safety, COVID response, and the business of healthcare. E-Newsletters similar to this one will be sent to members at the conclusion of each week to provide updates from the previous week as well as an overview of what we anticipate seeing in the week to come.

Each update will focus on the work at hand. A comprehensive listing of all legislation being followed or on which WMS is advocating can be seen in the WMS Legislative Bill Tracker which is updated daily.

As always, if there are any WMS positions with which any member disagrees, please don't hesitate to contact a member of the WMS Executive Committee, or our staff, to allow our leadership the opportunity to either provide context around the decision or possibly work with the full Board of Trustees to reconsider.

WMS Legislative Bill Tracker

Session Schedule & Coming Deadlines

This week, bills had to be turned into the Legislative Service Office by noon on Wednesday, 2/16. Any bill that was going to be considered this session had to be voted on and had to have achieved the 2/3 majority voting requirement by Friday, 2/18.

Many of the bills of interest to WMS met their final fate in this year's proceedings due to these deadlines made necessary by the short 20-day timeframe.

The week of February 21 will see a focus shift to the work of passing the next biennium's budget. Other policy proposals must be reported out of Committee in their House of Origin by Thursday, February 24. Bills failing to be heard in Committee of the Whole (sometimes referred to as First Reading) by Friday, February 25, will not be eligible for further consideration this session.

WMS Doc and PA of the Day

Thank you to our WMS members for volunteering to serve as Doc and PA of the Day. This week, the legislature appreciated the following WMS volunteers:

Robert Monger, MD

John Paulus, DO

There are still days available to volunteer for Doc or PA of the Day. WMS is proud of this program which provides a great opportunity for WMS members to provide a valuable service to the legislature and have a front-row seat to the legislative process. Click below to learn more and see what days remain open. Email info@wyomed.org if you're interested in spending a day at the Capitol with us!

Information about Doc and PA of the Day

Bills Failing in Week One

Several of the bills being monitored by WMS reached the end of their journey in the process this past week. Those bills are as follows:

Medical treatment opportunity act - A bill to authorize the Governor and Dept. of Health to negotiate Medicaid Expansion FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Vaccine requirements limitations - A bill to limit vaccination requirements, interfere with private business practice, and set a 5-year moratorium on new childhood vaccinations FAILED in the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.
Contracts in restraint of trade - A bill prohibiting restraint of trade language in contracts, effectively abolishing non-compete clauses FAILED in the House (42-17).
Broadband and telehealth access projects - A bill to appropriate $7 million in ARPA funds to support grants in support of broadband and telehealth access FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Decriminalization of cannabis - A bill to decriminalize the use and possession of cannabis, as well as remove restrictions on prescribing cannabis FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Prohibiting mask discrimination for COVID-19 - A bill to prohibit discrimination based on the use or non-use of a mask, including advertising the use of facial coverings as a condition of receiving or accessing benefits FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Living organ donor protection - A bill to prohibit discrimination by insurance companies against living organ donors FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Ban on COVID-19 vaccine passports - A bill to prohibit discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccination status in insurance, access of benefits, services or educational opportunities FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Highway safety child restraints - A bill to require that all children under the age of two be in rear-facing child restraints, and clarifying that child restraint systems should not be used in front seats with airbags FAILED to be introduced in the House.
Wyoming medical cannabis - A bill to authorize and legalize medical marijuana/cannabis FAILED to be introduced in the House.
COVID and mRNA vaccine status privacy and discrimination - A bill to prohibit discrimination based on a person's COVID-19 or messenger RNA vaccination status FAILED in the Senate (15-15).
Massage therapy practice act - A bill to establish a licensing board and requirements for licensing massage therapists FAILED to be introduced in the Senate.
Penalties for mandating COVID-19 vaccinations-2 - A bill to prohibit any public servant or from mandating or enforcing existing mandates related to COVID-19 vaccination FAILED introduction in the Senate (23-7).

ARPA Funding Allocation

In concert with the Health Task Force, Governor Gordon advanced 18 proposals to the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) for consideration in the 2022 Legislative Session. The Governor's proposals are outlined below along with the decisions of JAC.

ARPA Funding Proposals and JAC Action

Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification:

Governor's Proposal: $84,000
JAC Allocation: $84,000

Emergency Medical Services Stabilization Funding:

Governor's Proposal: $10,000,000
JAC Allocation: $5,000,000

Emergency Medical Services Regional Pilot Program:

Governor's Proposal: $10,000,000
JAC Allocation: $5,000,000 with a 1:1 match

Mental Health First Aid Training of Trainers Program-Suicide Prevention:

Governor's Proposal: $200,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Suicide Lifeline and 9-8-8 Implementation-Suicide Prevention:

Governor's Proposal $7,000,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Wyoming Resource Center Network:

Governor's Proposal $4,865,436
JAC Allocation: $0

2-1-1 Capacity Building:

Governor's Proposal $3,477,795
JAC Allocation: $1,750,000

Food as Medicine Pilot for Chronic Disease:

Governor's Proposal $1,075,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Food Insecurity - SNAP Outreach:

Governor's Proposal $202,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Wyoming Housing Fund:

Governor's Proposal $22,600,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Health Education Fund:

Governor's Proposal $500,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Health and Human Services Innovation Account:

Governor's Proposal $20,000,000
JAC Allocation: $5,000,000

Health and Human Services Infrastructure and Capital Construction:

Governor's Proposal $40,000,000
JAC Allocation: $55,000,000 (max of $7,500,000 per project with 1:1 match ran by SLIB)

Health and Human Services Staffing Stabilization:

Governor's Proposal $0
JAC Allocation: $10,000,000

UW Family Medicine Residence Program Stabilization:

Governor's Proposal $708,047
JAC Allocation: $708,047

Telehealth Investment Account:

Governor's Proposal $300,000
JAC Allocation: $0

Crisis Bed Stabilization:

Governor's Proposal $1,000,000
JAC Allocation: $750,000 in the DFS budget

Department of Corrections-Substance Abuse Disorder:

Governor's Proposal $1,200,000
JAC Allocation: $1,200,000

How To Connect and Stay Engaged

Use wyoleg.gov to learn more about this year's legislative process. Below are quick links to important information.

Daily Calendars including floor calendars, audio streams, and committee schedules

Bill Listing that includes all legislative proposals posted for the 2022 Session

As always, Executive Director Sheila Bush welcomes and invites any and all communication. If you have questions about the status of a bill, want to provide feedback or input on legislation, or want to share your thoughts on any other aspect of the WMS advocacy work, please email her at sheila@wyomed.org or call her cell phone at 307-630-8602.