Wyoming Legislative Report - February 13 - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports

Wyoming Legislative Report - February 13

The gun silencer bill has passed the Legislature. While the fuel tax measure jumps another hurdle in the Senate.

The gun silencer bill sails through the House on a final vote 44-14 with two excused. It now heads to the Governor.

Senate File 132 would allow silencers on rifles when hunting small and big game. Big game animals were brought back into the bill on a third reading amendment. One of the concerns with silencers is, will farmers and ranchers be able to hear trespassers or poachers? Todd Rathner of the American Silencer Association says you still reach 130 decibels with a silencer compared to 160 without one. He says 130 decibels is equal to the sound of a chain saw or a loud ATV.

The fuel tax passes the Senate on a second vote. House Bill 69 would raise the gas tax a dime a gallon generating $70 million a year for road maintenance and construction. Final vote Thursday.

A bill that would give employers more incentive to make their workplaces safer passes a final Senate vote, that's House Bill 52.

House Bill 79, which amends the definition of unpaid wages to exclude accrued vacation, just the opposite of what the law is now, also makes it all the way through the Senate. Any change in an employers accrued vacation policy would have to be in writing and agreed to by employees. Those bills on their way to the Governor.

When someone is incapable of managing their personal decisions or property a court may appoint a guardian to make decisions on their behalf. But jurisdictional, transfer and recognition issues with guardianship orders have caused conflicts among states. Wyoming is one of a handful of states without a uniform adult guardianship act. So it doesn't always recognize guardianship orders from states under a uniform act and vice versa.

Senate File 39, which has passed the full legislature, would change that adopting the uniform adult guardianship act helping to prevent elder financial exploitation and abuse and granny snatching.

House Bill 100 going through the Senate, would make it clear that people with MS or other chronic diseases would not be charged for the value of devices when registering their vehicle, such as a chair lift, arm or hand controls, pedal extensions or other things which assist them in driving.

Jonna Patton, who has MS, says folks with disabilities already face enough challenges. What it takes here to push a bill are brains and passion and Jonna Patton has both.