CHEYENNE – In a joint press release to the Telegram, Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Torrington, Rep. Allen Slagle, R-Douglas, Rep. Scott Smith, R-Lingle, detailed how the team is working on bills to address issues ranging from property tax relief, school choice, budget transparency and pro-life bills – many of those bills are beginning to see life in Wyoming Legislative sessions this week.

“The 67th Wyoming Legislature convened on January 10 to begin the General Session slated to end in March,” Steinmetz wrote. “Many weighty issues face the state of Wyoming.”

Adding, “Individual and committee bills addressing issues ranging from property tax relief, school choice, budget transparency and respect for the life of the unborn are being filed and scheduled for debate in the standing committees.”

According to the press release, Sen. Steinmetz began the new session with the Agriculture Committee by working on senate files pertaining to partition fences around subdivisions, brucellosis updates and slow-moving vehicle amendments.

“As Wyoming sees an increase in population, the legislature will grapple with the issues caused by growth and the change in land use,” Steinmetz explained. “Subdivisions not only affect land, but many times fences, rights of way and water rights depending on the location.”

Currently, Steinmetz has sponsored the following senate files:

Senate Floor Bill 103 relating to sales tax exemption for state legislators: this bill “allows state legislators on official business to be exempt from lodging tax,” Steinmetz wrote. “This file is designed to offset the need to increase legislative per diem in response to the increase in lodging tax.”

Senate Floor Bill 104 relating to property tax adjustments for mill levy’s: this bill “caps the property tax mill levy for counties, cities and school districts at the rate of the previous year plus inflation.”

Senate Floor Bill 105 relating to utilities at the point of consumption and allocation agreements: this bill “is a senate file designed to protect certificated service areas for public utilities and provide for a cooperative agreement process in order to keep rates stable and service reliable.”

Steinmetz wrote, “I am pleased with my assignments to the ag (agriculture) and education committees.”

Adding, “I am honored to follow in the footsteps of late Rep. Jim Hageman, R-Fort Laramie, who had the same committee assignments and served on them for over 24 years.”

Hageman is the father of U.S. Congresswoman Harriett Hageman, and served Goshen County as its representative from 1983 until his death on Aug. 23, 2006: He was born in Douglas on Jan. 11, 1983. Jim Hageman was a graduate of the University of Wyoming and a retired U.S. Navy serviceman.

Slagle also began his session working in committees relating to state lands.

Currently, Slagle is working on the following house files:

House Bill 0016 relating to state land leasing and improvements.

House Bill 0017 relating to state lands as it pertains to grazing of non-owned livestock.

“On both bills, the committee made some minor amendments to clean them up and make the statues more precise,” Slagle wrote. “There are several more state land bills coming, as well as the Omnibus Water bill with projects all over the state, including Goshen ID Tunnel Rehabilitation.”

Currently, Slagle has sponsored the following house files:

House Bill 0106 relating to eminent domain as it pertains to the wind energy collector systems: this bill “reimposes a moratorium on the exercise of the power of condemnation for wind energy collector systems for a period of time to protect private property rights.”

According to Smith, the Wyoming House had an important vote last week on January 16, as the house voted on rules to govern Wyoming Legislatures over the next two years.

“Most of the changes are minor, but there are a couple of amendments that could have adverse effects on the procedures of the house,” Smith said. “Please tune into the Legislature’s website or channel on YouTube to follow along with what is going on.”

Additionally, Smith, who serves on the transportation and military committee said, “We have heard two different bills, and they both passed out of committee and we should expect to have it before the body.”

Adding, “First, (a bill) recognizing (the United States) ‘Space Force’ as a branch of the (U.S.) military and allowing the (Wyoming) National Guard to honor Space Force to all of their policies as they do for all of the other branches of our military.”

“Secondly, we took public comment about making it easier for veterans to get a ‘Veterans’ designation on their driver’s license,” Smith said. “This also passed the committee and will go before the body.”

Steinmetz serves as Chairman of the Wyoming Legislative Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee as well as the Vice Chair of the Wyoming Legislative Education Committee.

Slagle serves on the Wyoming Legislative Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee.

Smith serves on the Wyoming Legislative Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee.

Smith encourages residents to become involved in the legislative process, “Come down to the capitol and sit in and watch a committee meeting – testify before the committee about issues that are important to you,” Smith said. Adding, “We need the people’s input.”