Advocacy

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) recently signed four property tax relief measures.

AARP Wyoming kept its eyes on better than 50 bills, which dropped during the 2024 Legislative Session. Here is a representative sample of some of the bills AARP Wyoming watched and their fate.

Pragmatic does not equate to harmonious. We have seen tough arguments over education, water, taxes, medical schools, economic development, trans-basin diversion of water, etc. etc. for decades upon decades. Tensions between northern and southern counties, urban and rural areas, water rich and water challenged areas date back to territorial days.

The end of the 2024 Legislative Session does not bring an end to AARP Wyoming’s advocacy calendar - far from it. Between legislative sessions, our work is concentrated into a few efforts, primarily interim subcommittee work and our contributions to various boards and task forces that meet throughout the year.

The Wyoming’s Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force (MHVA) left an enduring mark on the work of the 67th Wyoming Legislature this winter. The Task Force brought forth four bills which were signed into law by Governor Mark Gordon.

Senate File 57 was a bill brought by Laramie Senator Dan Furphy, and puts a small state appropriation aside to pay for approximately 30 sets of hearing aids for profoundly deaf adults who have financial need.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will maintain a December tradition of Wyoming’s Chief Executive talking to AARP Wyoming members when he joins AARP Wyoming for a TeleTown Hall at 4 p.m. on Jan. 18.

Does an ambulance need to show up if you dial 9-1-1? An AARP Wyoming webinar, slated for 1 p.m. on Jan. 22 will seek to answer that question and look at what the state can do to shore up its Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

The 2024 Legislative Session kicks off on Feb. 12 and one of the priority issues for lawmakers is once again property tax relief. On Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. AARP Wyoming will host a webinar in which the two chairmen of the Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee discuss proposals that will be debated during the 2024 session.

AARP Wyoming members are invited to a Legislative preview webinar with State Senate President Ogden Driskill and State Speaker of the House of Representatives Albert Sommers at 9 a.m. on Jan. 9.