Local lawmakers get ready for January session; Greear named Minerals chair

WORLAND – After a successful bid for the state senate on Nov. 8, Wyatt Agar (District 20, R-Thermopolis) is settling in after last Saturday’s caucus and committee appointments, enjoying the holiday season at home before the next legislative session starts on Jan. 9.

“I got to know the other senators from around the state at caucus, and look forward to working with them,” said Agar, who has been assigned a seat on the Judiciary and Transportation committees.

“We’ll reconvene on January 6 and 7 for training on bill writing and LSO [legislative Service Office], and then I’m really looking forward to getting to work,” said Agar.

For House District 27, Representative Mike Greear (R-Worland), the return means a chair position and time spent examining some of Wyoming’s latest laws.

“I was elected chairman of the Mineral, Business and Economic Development Committee, so I’ll only have the one committee appointment, but since I’m one of only a few lawyers left in the House, I’ll probably stay on the Rules committee,” said Greear.

Greear expressed that he would like to pay special attention to legislation that guides how the state deals with Amendment A, that was approved by voters on Nov. 8. Amendment A allows the state to invest non-permanent funds in the stock market in equity, where currently they are only invested in bonds.

“We need to keep an eye on that, and be very careful how we invest,” said Greear.

Greear also expressed interest in introducing a bill that would clean up the wording of the state’s Limited Liability Companies Act.

In the past, the state has come under fire after shell corporations were registered in Wyoming, after discovering that no actual companies existed. The Secretary of State’s office started cracking down on the practice in 2016, and state lawmakers have vowed to redesign the system.