2022 22LSO-0281
STATE OF WYOMING
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0004
Budget sessions-bill introduction.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Greear and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Pappas and Rothfuss
A JOINT RESOLUTION
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming
2 Constitution by repealing the introductory vote requirement
3 for bills in a legislative budget session.
4
5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
6 two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting
7 separately, concurring therein:
8
9 Section 1. The following proposal to amend Wyoming
10 Constitution, Article 3, Section 6 and Section 48, is proposed
11 for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the
12 next general election for approval or rejection to become
13 valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority
14 of the electors at the election:
15
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1 Article 3, Section 6. Compensation of members; duration
2 of sessions.
3
4 The legislature shall not meet for more than sixty (60)
5 legislative working days excluding Sundays during the term
6 for which members of the house of representatives are elected,
7 except when called into special session. The legislature
8 shall determine by statute the number of days not to exceed
9 sixty (60) legislative working days to be devoted to general
10 and budget session, respectively. The legislature shall meet
11 on odd-numbered years for a general and budget session. The
12 legislature may meet on even-numbered years for a budget
13 session. During the budget session no bills except the budget
14 bill may be introduced unless placed on call by a two-thirds
15 vote of either house. The legislature shall meet for no more
16 than forty (40) legislative working days excluding Sundays in
17 any one (1) calendar year, except when called into special
18 session. The compensation of the members of the legislature
19 shall be as provided by law; but no legislature shall fix its
20 own compensation.
21
22 Article 3, Section 48. State census.
23
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1 At the first budget session of the legislature following the
2 federal census, the legislature shall reapportion its
3 membership based up that census. Notwithstanding any other
4 provision of this article, any bill to apportion the
5 legislature may be introduced in a budget session in the same
6 manner as in a general session.
7
8 Section 2. That the Secretary of State shall endorse
9 the following statement on the proposed amendment:
10
11 Currently, the Wyoming Constitution gives the legislature
12 discretion to meet in even-numbered years for a budget
13 session. A super-majority vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the
14 membership of the house or senate is required for legislation,
15 other than the budget bill and reapportionment bills, to be
16 considered during any budget session. The proposed amendment
17 would remove this two-thirds (2/3) super-majority
18 introductory vote requirement for the budget session. This
19 amendment would also remove obsolete language regarding the
20 introduction of a reapportionment bill during a budget
21 session.
22
23 (END)
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