Wyoming Legislature

Wyoming Legislature
Name	Wyoming Legislature
Legislature	Wyoming State Capitol, Cheyenne
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Wyoming Senate, Wyoming House of Representatives
Foundation	1890
Leader1 type	President of the Senate
Leader1	Ogden Driskill
Election1	2023
Leader2 type	Speaker of the House
Leader2	Albert Sommers
Election2	2023
Members	93
House1	Senate
House2	House of Representatives
Political groups1	Majority (29), Republican (29), Minority (2), Democratic (2)
Political groups2	Majority (57), Republican (57), Minority (5), Democratic (5)
Last election1	2022 Wyoming elections
Last election2	2022 Wyoming elections
Meeting place	Wyoming State Capitol, Cheyenne
Website	https://wyoleg.gov/

Wyoming Legislature. The Wyoming Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Wyoming House of Representatives and the upper Wyoming Senate. The legislature convenes at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, with its powers and structure defined by the Constitution of Wyoming.

History

The legislature was first convened in 1869 as the governing body of the Wyoming Territory, famously passing the first law in the United States explicitly granting women the right to vote. Upon statehood in 1890, the body was formally established under the new Constitution of Wyoming. Key historical figures in its early development include territorial governors like John Allen Campbell and state leaders like Francis E. Warren. The legislature has been historically dominated by the Republican Party, with brief periods of Democratic control in the mid-20th century. Significant historical sessions include those addressing the Teapot Dome scandal and the management of resources like those in the Powder River Basin.

Structure and composition

The legislature consists of 93 elected members. The Wyoming Senate has 30 members serving four-year staggered terms, while the Wyoming House of Representatives has 60 members serving two-year terms. Elections are held in even-numbered years, coinciding with the presidential or midterm cycles. The state is divided into districts based on decennial United States Census data, overseen by a temporary Wyoming Redistricting Commission. The current partisan composition reflects strong Republican majorities in both chambers. Leadership includes the President of the Senate, typically the Lieutenant Governor of Wyoming, and the elected Speaker of the House.

Powers and duties

As defined by the Constitution of Wyoming, the legislature holds the state's lawmaking power. Its primary duties include enacting laws, passing the state budget, and confirming gubernatorial appointments to agencies like the Wyoming Department of Education and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. It has the power to levy taxes, such as those on mineral production from the Green River Formation, and to regulate interstate compacts. The legislature also holds investigative powers and can propose amendments to the state constitution, which require voter ratification. It shares budgetary authority with the Governor of Wyoming, currently Mark Gordon.

Legislative process

Bills may be introduced in either chamber, except revenue bills which must originate in the Wyoming House of Representatives. A typical bill is referred to a committee, such as the Appropriations Committee or the Revenue Committee, for review. It must pass three readings in its chamber of origin before moving to the other body. If versions differ, a Conference committee with members from both the Wyoming Senate and Wyoming House of Representatives reconciles them. The final bill is sent to the Governor of Wyoming for signature or veto; a veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each chamber. The legislature operates under rules set by Mason's Manual.

Current session and leadership

The current legislative session is the 67th Legislature, with leadership including President of the Senate Ogden Driskill and Speaker of the House Albert Sommers. The majority leaders are Senate Majority Leader Larry Hicks and House Majority Leader Chip Neiman, while the minority leaders are Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss and House Minority Leader Mike Yin. Key committees are chaired by members such as Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Dave Kinskey and House Minerals Committee Chair Donald Burkhart. The legislature meets annually, with general sessions in odd-numbered years and budget sessions in even-numbered years, in Cheyenne.

Notable legislation

Historically significant acts include the 1869 women's suffrage law, the creation of Yellowstone National Park via the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, and the establishment of the University of Wyoming. In the modern era, notable laws involve the management of coal and natural gas severance taxes, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, and the Hathaway Scholarship program. Recent contentious bills have addressed carbon capture initiatives, regulations for cryptocurrency banking, and measures concerning Critical Race Theory in public schools. The legislature has also passed resolutions challenging federal policies on endangered species and public land management.

Category:Wyoming Legislature Category:State legislatures of the United States