The 2012 Wyoming State Legislature Budget Session begins on Monday, February 13th in Cheyenne.
This year, with a short, 20 day session, most of the focus of the session will obviously be on the State’s diminishing budget, for the first time in a long time, the state is facing major budget cuts, and some difficult decisions will have to be made after extensive debate.
Additionally, this year the Legislature will be dealing with redistricting as a result of the 2010 Census. Again, with shifts and growth of populations within Wyoming, some tough decisions will be need to be made in both Senate and House Districts.
As for construction related bills, two bills have thus far been proposed for consideration by the legislature HB 26 Contractor Residency Provisions, this bills is aimed at better defining company officers and at giving the Department of Employment more leeway in making rules to enforce residency provisions. Additionally, HB 26 will establish a select committee to conduct a comprehensive review of Contractor residency and preference statutes.
HB 45, Roofing Contractor is aimed at providing additional protections for residential owners seeking roof repairs. This bill likely came about as the result of the influx of residential roofing contractors as a result of the major Cheyenne hailstorm last summer.
And an additional bill that has been introduced by the Appropriations Committee is aimed at addressing some of the concerns that arose out of the passage of Senate File 144 last year, a bill that addressed residency and preference within alternative delivery method contracts. Some of the concerns addressed within this bill is material preference, on what number the 70% resident subcontractor ratio should be applied and how the bill is to be enforced.
ABC members have had a lot of discussion regarding the enforcement of residency and preference provisions within the past year, and this year, we continue to ask the State to make rules and regulations regarding residency and preference. We believe it is essential to establish uniform rules that are applied identically from agency to agency and project to project. A year ago, new laws were passed, and we still do not have a uniform set of rules for agencies to abide by. The state needs to have had some time dealing with previous statutory changes as they are enforced within rules before they introduce new legislation that could once again throw the whole issue into flux.
There are just over 100 bills introduced for this upcoming session, and many more will likely be introduced as the session begins. ABC of Wyoming will be working to keep our members informed on the progress of bills that will impact their businesses