Wyoming Legislative Report - January 31 - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports

Wyoming Legislative Report - January 31

Hill announced Thursday that she will indeed run for Governor in 2014. It comes on the heels of her lawsuit filed against Governor Mead for signing the so-called "Hill Bill". The bill removed her as head of the education department.

If you were watching our Legislative Report Wednesday night. We had Representative Steve Watt challenging Cindy Hill to run for Governor in 2014. He said he admired people who weren't afraid to step on toes if they believed what they were doing was right. Thursday Mrs. Hill took up the challenge.

Hill says she knows running against a sitting Governor from her own party will cause friction but she also says she doesn't feel anointed and says no one else should either.

Another major anti-discrimination measure is killed in the Legislature. That's the third one this week. You'll recall the same sex marriage bill was killed in committee on Monday.

The civil unions bill killed on the House floor Wednesday and the discrimination bill, Senate File 131, went down to defeat in the Senate on a first vote Thursday 13-17. It would've banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Supporters say it's a civil rights issue. Opponents say they were concerned the bill would classify gays and lesbians as a protected class and lead to employment lawsuits.

Also in the Senate, the electronic cigarette bill passes on a final vote. Senate File 103 would include electronic cigarettes in the law that prohibits tobacco sales to minors. It heads to the House.

In the House, the three high powered gun bills we reported on Wednesday pass on a second vote. 103 would make it a felony in Wyoming to enforce stricter federal gun regulations created after Sandy Hook and other recent mass shootings. 104 would bar cities and counties from enacting their own gun regulations and 105 would allow concealed weapons in schools for folks passing background checks. Final House vote on those three Friday. The gun rights bill which would've allowed concealed weapons into public meetings failed Tuesday by a wide margin. That was House Bill 200.

The House passed on a final vote the bill that would allow public schools to offer elective classes in bible studies. House Bill 130 focuses on literature and history of the bible and the House also gave final approval to House Bill 223. It would allow searches for University of Wyoming and state community college presidents to be closed to the public. Both of those bills journey to the Senate.

Expect some heavy lifting here as Friday is the last day for bills to be reported out of committee in their house of origin and Monday the last day for bills to be debated for a first time in the chamber where they started. Any bills which don't meet those deadlines die.