The Making Of A Wyoming Law

In Wyoming, the process of turning a bill into law involves collaboration between the House, the Senate, and the governor. The bill is drafted by an interim committee or individual legislator before being filed in either the House or the Senate, where it is introduced and assigned to a committee. The committee reviews the bill and suggests amendments, and the bill is then placed on a general file, awaiting approval by the house of origin. After the Committee of the Whole, two more votes are taken, and if the bill passes the third reading, it is sent to the other house of the Legislature, repeating the process. A bill can only become law if identical versions are passed by both the House and the Senate. If amendments are made, they must be accepted by the first chamber. If not, a conference committee is formed to negotiate a compromise. The governor can then sign or veto the bill, but a two-thirds majority in both chambers can still enact the law.

Bill creation and filing

The Wyoming Legislature is responsible for crafting and passing laws in the state, and the process begins with bill creation and filing. This critical stage sets the foundation for the entire legislative journey of a potential law. Here's an overview of the detailed process involved in bill creation and filing in Wyoming:

Idea Generation and Drafting:

The concept for a new law often originates with legislators themselves, who may identify a need for new legislation or changes to existing laws within their areas of expertise or constituent concerns. Additionally, citizens, lobbyists, or state agencies may propose legislative ideas to lawmakers. Once a legislator decides to pursue an idea as a potential bill, the actual drafting of the bill begins. Legislators typically work closely with legislative staff attorneys skilled in statutory language and drafting techniques. These attorneys help transform the legislator's idea into proper legal language, ensuring the bill's intent is clear and concise.

Bill Introduction and Assignment of Number:

After a bill is drafted, the legislator introducing the bill, known as the sponsor, files it with the Legislative Services Office (LSO). The LSO is a nonpartisan office that provides support services to the legislature. Upon filing, the LSO assigns a unique bill number, which helps track the bill throughout the legislative process. Bills are identified by a number and the initials of the chamber in which they are introduced—for example, HB for House Bill or SB for Senate Bill. The order in which bills are introduced determines their number, with the first bill introduced receiving the number 1 and so on.

The bill's title, which briefly describes the subject of the legislation, is also assigned during the filing process. A clear and accurate title is essential, as it provides a quick reference for legislators and the public when tracking or researching a bill. Along with the title, the bill's sponsors are officially recognized. The primary sponsor is usually the legislator who initially worked on the bill and filed it. Additionally, co-sponsors can sign onto the bill, showing their support and authorship.

Printing and Distribution:

Once a bill is filed and assigned a number, title, and sponsors, the LSO prints copies and distributes them to legislators and relevant committees. This distribution ensures that all members of the legislature have access to the bill and can begin reviewing and discussing its content. The bill is also made available to the public through the LSO's website, ensuring transparency and allowing citizens to stay informed about proposed legislation.

Bill Status and Next Steps:

After a bill is filed and distributed, it awaits its first reading in the chamber of origin (House or Senate). The first reading is a formality where the bill's title is read aloud, and the bill is referred to the appropriate committee for further consideration. The committee process is where the bill is scrutinized, amended, and ultimately decided upon for further advancement. The bill's sponsor plays a crucial role in guiding the legislation through this next phase, advocating for its passage and negotiating any changes.

In summary, bill creation and filing in Wyoming involve transforming legislative ideas into formally drafted bills, filing them with the Legislative Services Office, and assigning numbers, titles, and sponsors. This process ensures that proposed legislation is properly introduced, accessible to the public, and ready for the next steps in the legislative journey toward becoming a law.

Introduction and committee action

The process of a bill becoming a law in Wyoming begins with an idea proposed by citizens, legislators, or a legislative committee. This idea is then drafted into a bill by either an interim committee or an individual legislator. The bill is subsequently filed in either the House or the Senate and assigned a number and given a house of origin.

During the introduction, the bill is brought to the floor of its house of origin and assigned to a committee. This committee then reviews the bill and invites the public to appear and present testimony. The committee discusses the proposed legislation and may propose amendments. This is a crucial stage where public input can directly influence the bill before it proceeds further. Once the committee is satisfied, it recommends the full body's action and votes on the bill.

The bill then advances to the general file stage, where it awaits approval by the house of origin. At this point, all members of the chamber, referred to as the Committee of the Whole, can suggest amendments before the first vote. This is followed by two more votes for a total of three votes. If the bill passes this stage, it moves to the second house of the Legislature, where the process is repeated.

General file and voting

Once a bill has been introduced and read in either the House or Senate, it is sent to the appropriate committee for further consideration. This is where the general file and voting process begins. The committee stage is a critical step in the legislative process, as it allows for a more detailed examination of the bill and provides an opportunity for public input. The committee may hold hearings, invite expert testimony, and consider amendments to the bill. This process can vary in length, depending on the complexity of the bill and the number of committees it has been referred to.

After the committee has finished its work, the bill is then placed on the general file. This is where it will be debated and voted on by the entire chamber (House or Senate). Before the bill reaches the floor for debate, it is first introduced by the committee chair or a designated member of the committee. The bill is then read a second time, and any amendments adopted by the committee are incorporated into the bill. This is an important step, as it ensures that all members are considering the same version of the bill.

The sponsor of the bill, as well as any interested parties, may speak in favor of the bill during the debate. Opponents of the bill may also voice their concerns and try to persuade other members to vote against it. This debate allows for a full discussion of the bill's merits and provides an opportunity for members to ask questions and raise any concerns they may have. After the debate, the bill is put to a vote. A simple majority (51%) is usually required for a bill to pass this stage.

If the bill passes the vote, it will then proceed to the other chamber, where the process repeats. If the bill fails to pass, it is usually defeated for that session. However, it is possible for the bill to be reconsidered or for a similar bill to be introduced in the future. Once a bill has passed both the House and Senate in identical form, it is sent to the Governor for consideration. The Governor has three options: sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action. If the Governor vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the legislature, which can then override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

Second house and concurrence

If a bill passes the third reading in the first house, it is sent to the other house of the Legislature, where the process is repeated. This is the second house.

A bill can only become a law if identical versions are passed by both the House and the Senate. If the second chamber adopts amendments, a message is sent back to the first chamber requesting that the legislators approve, or "concur", with the amendments. If the legislators vote to "concur", the bill is enrolled, signed by the residing officer, and sent to the governor for action.

If the first chamber does not accept the changes, the bill is sent to a joint conference committee to work out a compromise between the House and Senate positions. A joint conference committee consists of three members of the House and three members of the Senate. When a bill has been passed in identical form by both the House and the Senate, it is then enrolled, signed by the presiding officers, and sent to the governor for action.

Governor's action and publication

Once a bill has been passed in identical form by both the House and the Senate, it is then sent to the governor for action. The governor has several options: they can approve and sign the bill, allow the bill to become law without their signature by taking no action, veto portions of the bill, or veto the bill in its entirety. If the governor chooses to veto the bill, it may still become law if both the House and the Senate vote to override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

If the governor approves and signs the bill, or chooses to take no action, the bill becomes law. However, the process is not quite complete. The new law must then be published in the state statute and printed and bound into Wyoming Session Laws. Finally, the law is placed into the appropriate parts of the Wyoming State Statutes.

The governor's role in the process is crucial, as they have the power to approve, ignore, or veto a bill. Their decision can determine whether a bill becomes a law or not. However, their decision is not the final word, as the House and the Senate can override a veto with a supermajority vote. This showcases the system of checks and balances in the law-making process in Wyoming, ensuring that no one individual or branch has absolute power.

Frequently asked questions