House Floor Session-Day 6, February 16, 2026-AM [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a roll call led by Ms. Clarissa Nord, followed by a prayer from Representative Gehringer. The journal from February 13, 2026, was approved, and the doctor and nurse of the day were introduced. High school pages Andrew Lewis and David Wiggum were welcomed, along with the Youth for Justice group from Cody, Wyoming, introduced by Representative Campbell. Representative Conley introduced her sister, Carolyn Fox, and several representatives acknowledged guests, including Mayor Joel Highsmith of Shoshone. Reports from standing committees included discussions on various House Bills: - **House Bill 16**: Recommended to pass with amendments regarding expedited filings by the Secretary of State. - **House Bill 95**: Concerning concealed carry at colleges and universities, recommended to pass. - **House Bill 67**: Related to veterans' property tax exemptions, recommended to pass with amendments. - **House Bill 90**: A study on consumptive water use, recommended to pass. - **House Bill 96**: Concerning age requirements for carrying concealed weapons, recommended to pass. - **House Bill 115**: Related to planning for cardiac events in schools, recommended to pass. - **Senate File 2**: Legislative budget, recommended to pass. Discussions on amendments to House Bill 3, concerning Wyoming pregnancy centers, included a proposal by Representative Yen to protect healthcare workers from threats. Representative Williams opposed the amendment, while Representative Brown supported it, drawing parallels to past protective legislation. The amendment was ultimately not adopted, and the bill passed with a vote of 49 in favor, 12 against, and 1 excused. Senator Cynthia Lummis addressed the assembly, discussing Wyoming's achievements in energy, digital assets, and tax reforms, and highlighted the state's potential in energy production, including nuclear energy advancements with TerraPower. The meeting then transitioned to legislative business, where Representative Connolly introduced an amendment related to the Forestry Conservation Program, which received mixed support. Further discussions included an amendment concerning funding for firefighting resources, with representatives expressing various views on its feasibility and potential impact. A separate amendment aimed to restrict public funds for local government membership in organizations engaging in political advocacy faced significant opposition, with concerns about local governance and autonomy. The meeting concluded with a roll call vote on the amendments, with the first amendment passing and the second facing significant opposition. House Bill 107 was passed with 61 votes in favor and one excused. The Majority Floor Leader announced a recess until 2:30 PM, with upcoming committee meetings and discussions on approximately 35 bills scheduled.