Crook County front and center during first week of session

As one of the county's own picked up the gavel as President of the Wyoming State Senate, and another became the first freshman legislator elected as floor leader, Crook County took its fair share of the focus during the first week of the 2023 Legislative Session.

During the opening ceremonies, Governor Mark Gordon gave the annual State of the State speech, during which he took the opportunity to recognize one of the community's exemplary volunteers.

Perry Honored

There's something about the people and culture of Wyoming that's extraordinary, Gordon said, noting that, "Folks here know there's more to being a cowboy than simply wearing a hat" and saying that Wyomingites have "grit, courage and kindness in our souls."

First responders are the perfect example of this, he said, answering calls to need every day. Among those he honored was Jason Perry, Hulett's ambulance director.

"Like many rural communities in Wyoming, Hulett has limited and dispersed resources, making responding to emergencies all that much more difficult," said Gordon.

Perry, he told the gathered legislators, led an effort on his own initiative to get all of Hulett's EMTs certified as paramedics.

"This ensured that their patients would have the benefit of a high level of emergency medical care," he said.

Gordon also paid his respects to a recent local tragedy when he commented that Perry knows the risks of his profession all too well.

"Recently, in the teeth of a blizzard, Jason and his crew responded to an incident at Keyhole State Park to rescue a person who had fallen through the reservoir ice," said the governor.

"Sadly, Bruce Lang, a volunteer firefighter from Pine Haven, lost his life in that rescue effort."

It's dangerous work, Gordon said, and we remember all those who risked everything in serving Wyoming.

"Jason, we want to offer our gratitude to all of your fellow first responders for demonstrating the spirit of Wyoming: courage, sacrifice and neighbors helping neighbors."

Sworn In

Both of the county's legislators were sworn in this year to take on high-level positions within their respective houses.

Ogden Driskill took the oath of office as President of the Senate, the highest ranking position within the Senate.

Chip Neiman meanwhile began his second term as House Majority Floor Leader – a position that, to the best of his knowledge, no freshman legislator has ever been selected to fulfill.

"Together, we must continue to develop Wyoming solutions to the challenges we face," said Senate President Ogden Driskill in a press release as the session began, calling for decisiveness and decorum.

"It is our essential purpose, the expectation of the people of Wyoming, and the duty of each member to welcome robust discussion with respect for each other and for this great institution. Civil, open debate is what we owe the people we serve and it's the best path forward to fulfill our critical obligations and create a stronger Wyoming."

Session Priorities

A number of the topics that Governor Gordon touched on during his State of the State speech – and that will be on the agenda during this session – were of particular interest to the local community, including support for the rare earth community and property tax relief.

Gordon was adamant that the Biden administration needs to work more closely with Wyoming on energy issues.

"When it comes to natural resources, we need good partners in Washington, D.C., and unfortunately, with energy, we don't seem to have reliable partners in D.C.," he said, accusing the Biden administration of being more interested in partnering with Saudi Arabia and Venezuela than Wyoming.

"Misguided policies" have cost the nation dearly, he said, notably leading to $5-per-gallon gas and inflation levels not seen in 40 years, while families in the richest and most advanced nation in the world in very real danger of "freezing in the dark".

D.C. has "Bungled the solution when they pulled it out of what they're sitting on, when we know it is the solution that we're standing on," Gordon said, to a standing ovation.

"The events of the past few years have proven that our economy, our way of life and national security demand all the energy that Wyoming can produce. Instead of giving fist bumps to OPEC leaders, the Biden administration should be extending a handshake to Wyoming energy producers."

We in Wyoming also need to recognize a few things, Gordon said. Change and innovation are inevitable, and carbon capture is essential to the future of fossil fuel production in the light of climate change.

Wyoming's eight coal-fired plants power about 7.5 million homes, said Gordon, and Wyoming coal provides reliable electricity to about a quarter of American households.

"It's undeniable that coal remains a vital fuel source for our country, but the minds in Washington, D.C. all seem to want fossil fuels to go extinct," he said.

Wyoming is making progress with carbon capture tech, with construction this year on two new projects at the Integrated Test Center. Meanwhile, a joint hydrogen hub proposal with Colorado, New Mexico and Utah has made the first cut and received the go-ahead to proceed to the next level.

Gordon said he has requested an additional $50 million this year for the Governor's Energy Matching Fund. It's not big enough to make any particular project a reality, "but it's important that we demonstrate our deep commitment to our resources and our citizens. Wyoming is becoming recognized for forward thinking on climate, the environment and energy."

Advanced nuclear technology coming to fruition in western Wyoming will demonstrate another source of safe, reliable and dispatchable energy, said the governor.

He asked the legislature to pass vital legislation to expand the Department of Environmental Quality's agreement state status, putting Wyoming in the driver's seat with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This, said Gordon, will allow Wyoming to permit and regulate parts of the rare earth and critical minerals industry.

Old and crumbling infrastructure must be addressed, said Gordon, and Wyoming is using federal funds effectively in this area. In 2022, the State Lands and Investments Board allocated $50 million for water projects, but the demand was four times that.

In the coming years, said Gordon, we will be deploying federal funds all across the state but we all know that federal funds come with "too many strings attached" and a gap remains leaving our smallest communities vulnerable. The Wyoming Mineral Royalty Grant Fund has filled that gap for decades and remains essential.

Gordon commented that this fund – which is often utilized by Crook County's towns for projects it could not fund alone – is critical for small communities to address emergencies. He asked the legislature to restore funding to that program.

"Wyoming was built on agriculture," said Gordon, noting that his proposed budget also includes requests to expand predator control, control invasive species, expand water, meat processing and address brucellosis.

Managing Wyoming's water in the midst of a historic drought presents more challenges than ever, said Gordon, with severely stressed watersheds and water curtailments likely. He asked the legislature for the resources to boost Wyoming's ability to respond and advocate, including support for the state engineer's budget proposals.

"The time has come when action can no longer be delayed. It's undeniable that Wyoming's irrigators, municipalities and industries are at risk of using some of the authority they have over their future. [It] is essential that we protect our water," he said.

Meanwhile, said Gordon, our way of life is being constantly challenged by those in D.C. who don't understand how closely we live to the land, our wildlife and our western culture. Wyoming is currently involved in more than 30 lawsuits challenging federal overreach and overregulation.

He expressed thanks to the Wyoming Attorney General's Office for helping Wyoming punch far about its weight to protect our interests on topics such as vaccine mandates, grizzly bear management and oil and gas management. Lawsuits are expensive, he said, thanking the Attorney General for being judicious in how she spends the funds and the legislature for appropriating the funds to fight those battles.

"Our budget is critical, because how we handle our finances this year will affect our people and future significantly," Gordon continued, stating that Wyoming is at a "remarkable juncture" thanks to federal largesse and energy markets.

It's important to make hay when the conditions are right but set aside excess for the leaner times, he said. Supply chains, inflation, tight labor markets and other economic uncertainties may conspire against us.

On that basis, he stated that it will be vital to address the concerns of Wyoming's most vulnerable and those on fixed incomes who are feeling the effects of inflation. He proposed $1 million to extend property tax refund program another year and asked the legislature to consider other ways to deal with inflation.

Inflation is also a concern for state workers, said Gordon, such as snow plow drivers and troopers, who are still paid below market values. We can't retain or recruit, "if we don't pay a fair day's wage for a fair day's work".

We must implement second phase of salary adjustments to fill some of the vacancies, said Gordon, adding, "Remember, these are the men and women that we depend on every single day".

Wyoming is becoming more economically diverse, he said, which means we are better able to weather the booms and busts that have plagued our energy industries. Today, Wyoming economy is the most diverse it has been in 50 years.

"We're not leaving any of our legacy industries behind, but it's exciting to note that other sectors are growing," Gordon said.

Wyoming has seen double-digit employment growth over the last decade in industries including hospitality, manufacturing and finance.

"This isn't slowing down. Businesses from around the state are looking to expand and those in other parts of the country are looking to relocate to Wyoming," he said, stating that it is imperative to adequately fund the Wyoming Business Council to, "seize upon strong interest in Wyoming".

Session Schedule

The 2023 Wyoming Legislature will remain in session until March 3. Senate Files can be introduced until January 26, and House Bills until January 31.

February 3 is the last day for bills to be reported out of committee in their house of origin.