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Legislative Session Wrap-Up: Wins for Wyoming’s Older Adults
AARP Wyoming
The Legislative Session is over… mostly. The two chambers are leaving today and will return on Wednesday morning to see whether they need to override any of Governor Mark Gordon’s vetoes. As for AARP Wyoming, our session is over. It was a great one. Internally, we have counted wins on 17 bills and short of the Legislature allowing Casual Friday dress this session, we couldn’t have asked for more. More specifically…
We’re collecting pens
AARP Wyoming
Last year, I used this space to point out that when you are a significant part of a bill that is signed into law by the Governor and attend the public bill signing, the Chief Executive hands out the pens he used to sign the bill to those in attendance. Today, we got two pens as HB75 - Crypto Kiosks and SF4 - EMS Reimbursement for Medicaid were signed by the Governor. These are two bills that have the power to change lives, and we are thrilled to have been part of their passage. Thanks to Rep. Ken Clouston (R-Campbell) for running HB75 and to the Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee for its support of SF4.
The Final State Budget Benefits Older Adults
The crafting of this year’s state budget was a masterclass in sausage-making. That said, the end result was tremendously positive for older adults in Wyoming. The Community Choices Waiver, which pays for home health services for those who are rated as nursing-home eligible, will get another $11 million to cut down on the program’s waitlist. Thanks to the Senate for supporting that spending. The Wyoming Home Services Program got another $1.6 million thanks to an amendment by Senate President Bo Biteman. The Legislature also agreed to fund food stamps (SNAP) in the state and to provide safety-net services for vulnerable adults.
What’s next?
The Legislature will come back to Cheyenne mid-week to discuss any overrides of the Governor’s line-item vetoes. When I left the Capitol around 3 p.m., they were trying to decide whether they had the votes or needed to do so. Meanwhile, legislative committees spent this week going over potential interim study topics. The Management Council of the Legislature will approve those topics in a month or so. Until then, assume you will see work done on a number of topics of interest to AARP Wyoming, including deed theft, Crypto ATMs, more property tax relief, election integrity, and long-term care spends.
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