While the start of the 20-day 2024 budget session of the Wyoming Legislature is still over a month away, a number of non-budget bills have already been filed for consideration.
Wyoming alternates 40-day general sessions with 20-day budget sessions, and while non-budget items can be introduced during a budget session, it takes a 2/3 majority vote of lawmakers to do so.
Among the bills already in the hopper are measures dealing with limitations on property tax increases, preventing child abductions, and allowing motorists to carry electronic vehicle registrations.
There has been a trend in recent years of lawmakers introducing more non-budget bills during budget sessions.
The last budget session 2 years ago saw 155 bills and 8 Joint Resolutions considered in the House with the State Senate looking at 114 proposals and 2 Joint Resolutions.
       This year, 47 bills have already been filed for consideration in the House and 39 in the Senate along with 2 joint resolutions.
The Wyoming Legislature’s 2024 session is scheduled to convene on February 12 and run through Friday, March 8.
Lawmakers have until noon on February 14 to file measures with the Legislative Service Office, so the final number of proposed bills is certain to be much higher.