Fireworks and firearms featured as state lawmakers introduce bills

WORLAND — State lawmakers convened for a third day in the 2016 Budget Session this Wednesday, to introduce a variety of legislation for the 2016 Legislative Calendar.

Rep. Kendell Kroeker (R-Casper) successfully introduced HB0086, the “Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act” passing introduction by House members at a vote of 47-13. The act, headed for the House Judicial Committee, stipulates that persons lawfully carrying weapons in Wyoming may carry a concealed weapon in any meeting of a governmental meeting, or any meeting of the legislature or committee. The act would not change current laws regarding prohibitions to weapons in courtrooms or on school campuses.

A similar bill, House Bill 114, failed on the Senate floor last year, with added provisions to allow concealed firearms on school campuses and at sporting events.

House Bill 0018, sponsored by the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee, moved past introduction, and seeks to prohibit state and local law enforcement, including Game and Fish personnel, from assisting the federal government in investigating, arresting and prosecuting persons taking or injuring gray wolves or grizzly bears.

On the Senate floor, Senator Ogden Driskill (R-Devil’s Tower) introduced a bill (W.S. 35-10-209) that prohibits the discharge of fireworks or the use of fireworks on any highway or within a highway right-of-way. If the bill passes the Senate, any person violating the law will be found guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction would face a fine of up to $750 or 60 days in jail.

The House and Senate will reconvene on Thursday at 10 a.m. to further review legislation offered for the 2016 session. Interested listeners can tune in to the sessions, live, at legisweb.state.wy.us.