Wyoming Legislature update

Senator Wyatt Agar reported that the budget debate had reached something of a standstill last week and was picked up again Tuesday.

The issues, Agar explained, stem from the House wanting $75 million for capital construction projects in Laramie and Cheyenne. The Senate voted against it, instead proposing $200 million be set aside in a separate account to impact the upcoming $250 million structural deficit in education.

Naturally, Agar said, the Senate’s proposal was voted down so both the House and Senate planned to reconvene this week and negotiate a plan that is acceptable by both.

Also with regard to education and budget, Agar noted the External Cost Adjustment (ECA) has been rolled into the budget. The ECA is essentially a payment of more than $26 million to schools for inflation. Agar said he wants to make sure a large part of that payment in the ECA is focused on those teachers making less than $80,000 a year that are on the “front lines” in the classrooms.

There are currently three upcoming bills that address release of public records by agencies. Senate File 57 requires release of public records within a specific time and designation of a public records person for each agency, as well as procedures regarding request of public records and complaints.

Agar said this is a very good bill, as it allows for transparency in local government agencies without making it such a burdensome task to provide public records that those agencies can’t keep up.

House Bills 146 and 201 essentially allow for agencies to publish notices, meetings, salaries and wages online rather than in a newspaper. However, questions have risen as to whether online publications could be modified. Without a print copy to verify the information, it could lead to confusion about the validity of information made public.

Agar said he had not yet read the bills, as the budget discussions have kept him busy, but he plans to. When talking about government transparency, he said, it’s important to remember why we have it.

As for bills he is sponsoring, Agar said both Senate File 68, addressing properly labeled meat products, and Senate File 93, regarding conduction of a grizzly bear hunt, were both scheduled to be read on the floor Tuesday.