Fluorescent pink bill awaits governor's signature

WORLAND – Wyoming Senate File 61, a bill which would allow hunters in Wyoming the choice to wear either fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink passed third reading in the House Friday on a 39-21 vote.

Rep. Mike Greear (R-Worland) stated that the bill wasn’t very popular with quite a few people, including himself. He felt that it was an inappropriate bill to be discussing during a budget session. He stated that he didn’t know if fluorescent pink was as safe or safer than fluorescent orange but that if it gets more people interested in hunting or stimulates the economy, great, but he opposed the bill on principle.

During the Committee of the Whole [first reading] co-sponsor Rep. Jamie Flitner (R-Greybull) explained that scientific data supports that fluorescent pink in the field is more visible to the human eye. She quoted professor of textile science Majid Sarmadi , who studied the matter to say,” A dead hunter is not a macho hunter,” and that he would personally wear fluorescent pink out into the field.

Friday, Rep. Tom Walters (R-Casper) according to the bill digest attempted to add an amendment for a third color, fluorescent yellow, which failed.

He then attempted to add an amendment that would strike all colors except fluorescent pink, which also failed.

The bill, if signed by the governor, will go into effect July 1.