Wyoming Legislature prepares for start of 2019 General Session in early January
Cheyenne – The 65th Wyoming Legislature will convene on Jan. 8 at 12 noon, launching the first of 2019’s 35-day General Session.
The session will continue through Feb. 27, when Joint Conference Committee reports are due and adjournment is scheduled by 12 midnight. Five additional legislative days are available, if necessary.
Inauguration
The 2019 Legislative Session open with inauguration of state-elected officials on Jan. 7.
The Swearing In Ceremony of State Elected Officials will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 7 at the Cheyenne Civic Center. Although the event is open to the public, a ticket is required for entry.
A public reception follows the swearing in, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be at the Wyoming State Museum.
Dave and Annemarie Picard are co-chairing the 2019 Wyoming Inauguration Committee and have planned the event. The latest details can be found at wyoming2019.com.
Just after the start of the legislative session, Gov.-elect Mark Gordon will give his first State of the State address, scheduled for Jan. 9 at 10 a.m.
Inside the session
Live audio streams will be available for the 2019 session of the Wyoming Legislature.
The Wyoming Legislature’s website provides a wealth of information for citizens at wyoleg.gov to help stay up to date on the activity of the session in both bodies.
During the entirety of the 2019 session, legislators can be contacted via e-mail, phone or written mail.
The Wyoming Legislative Services Office (LSO) says, “Legislators can be contacted by e-mail using their firstname.lastname@wyoleg.gov. Contact information is also listed at wyoleg.gov.”
To leave a phone message for State Senators, call 307-777-7711, and members of the House of Representatives can be reached at 307-777-7852.
In addition, a telephone hotline can be used to recommend a vote either for or against potential legislation or to obtain the status of a bill. The hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days the Legislature is in session by calling 866-996-8683.
All written mail can be addressed to 200 W. 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
Comments can also be left on the online hotline at wyoleg.gov.
Committee meetings
Outside of regularly scheduled sessions, Senators and Representatives also meet in committees during the mornings, at noon and upon adjournment of the sessions.
The Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays upon adjournment of the session, while the House committee meetings in the mornings the same days.
Fourteen members of the Legislature serve on each committee, including five senators and nine representatives. A chairman is appointed from each body by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
With a number of important issues to face the bodies this year, the Wyoming Legislature’s Citizen’s Guide to the Legislature says, “Remember, policymaking is not a spectator sport – participate.”
Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
