Advocacy

Last month, the AARP Wyoming Volunteer Summit asked State Senator Eric Barlow to discuss the 2024 session and preview the 2025 session. The Senator from Gillette made it clear the weight that hearing from constituents carries. He made it clear how little he regarded organizations that try to stuff his email inbox with automatic messages, but how quick he is to open a text, return a call, or click on an email from someone he knows, especially those in his district.

AARP Wyoming’s steadfast adherence to nonpartisanship reinforces trust among our members and strengthens our ability to serve as an effective advocate.

As in past years, AARP Wyoming is asking its members to submit questions to be asked of the Governor during the TeleTown Hall.

As a nonprofit organization, AARP has never endorsed candidates nor contributed to political campaigns, parties, or candidates—and we never will.

Property Tax Relief and Changes To The Legislature’s Ideological Make-Up Headline The 2025 Session

More than 140,000 Wyoming utility customers could see their electric bills rise if state regulators approve a 14.7 percent rate increase request by Rocky Mountain Power.

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.