Things are moving quickly at legislature

The clock is ticking down on this year’s legislative session in Cheyenne and bills are passing and failing in quick succession according to the latest report from Representative Nathan Winters.

“Things are moving very quickly,” he said. “We’re to the point we’re trying to get through as many bills as possible so time at the podium is short.”

One of the bills that failed and failed miserably, was HB 0046 calling for permanent absentee voter status.

Winters said there was lengthy discussion on the bill that would allow a Wyoming resident to claim permanent absentee voter status, for instance if they were a “snow bird” living part of their time in another state.

“The big worry about this bill was the opportunity it could create for actual voter fraud,” Winters said. “Someone could conceivably be registered to vote in two or more states with this and we felt it was just too big of a risk to take.”

Wyoming is always on the lookout for new businesses and new industries to move here, opening up more jobs for citizens as well as helping with the tax base for the state.

HB267, a bill to raise the LLC and corporation license fees is being looked at very carefully and is expected to pass.

Currently, the cost to file for an LLC or corporation license in Wyoming is just $50. The bill would raise that fee to $75.

“Wyoming had 41,000 filings from ‘dummy’ or ‘shell corporations’ last year,” Winters said. “By raising our fees we’re hoping to cut down on the number of these fake companies filing for licenses.

“Our final goal is to move this into a full-blown study to make sure these companies aren’t just using us.”

A Wyoming license comes as a package unlike surrounding states. We have one fee for everything they need whereas states like Colorado charge not just the license fee, but other fees for the individual pieces needed to actually open the business.

“Comparing our fees to surrounding states is like comparing apples to oranges,” Winters said. “Through our Wyoming Business Council there is a strong recruitment process to bring businesses of all types into Wyoming. Our lower taxes are a big feature.

“The governor’s office has taken a big stance in recruiting. They have been going after large and small industries and it is working for us.”