New Slayer Rule signed by Governor Gordon

WORLAND — Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed Senate File 66, amending the Slayer Rule, into law on Tuesday.

Sen. Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) is the main sponsor of the bill and when introducing the bill to the Senate Committee of the Whole last month, said that the current Slayer Rule law, which states someone cannot profit if they take another person’s life, does not address joint tenancy and right of survivorship and Wyoming needs to apply the old Slayer rule to modern times.

During the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting they heard testimony from Mel Walker of Worland, who relayed that last February 2020 he was notified that his daughter, Deidra Walker Rowe, was murdered by her husband, who then committed suicide.

“Due to Wyoming law, her things are still in the house a year later because they can’t seem to come to a decision on probate the way the laws are written,” Cooper told Senators during debate.

In his weekly interview, Cooper said he received nothing but positive feedback regarding the bill. “I’m proud of it,” he said.

The bill as amended and approved by the House and Senate addresses joint tenancy with rights of survivorship and includes beneficiary designations. The bill also prohibits the person taking another’s life from serving “through nomination, appointment or otherwise in any fiduciary or representative capacity for the deceased person.”

Senate File 66 was one of five bills sponsored by Cooper that was approved by both the House and Senate. “I passed five out of six bills, which they said were unheard of for a freshman,” Cooper said. He added, “I was given really good material to work with and good topics.”

The bills were also well written, which Cooper noted the Legislative Service Office did “a great job of writing.”

The one bill that did not pass, SF125, would have prohibited counties, cities and towns from enacting and enforcing ordinances and regulations relating to the sale, use or marketing of consumer merchandise.”

Cooper said, “It was asking for uniformity on consumer goods across the state including on what can be sold and on packaging.”

He said there were some issues with the bill and if they can be fixed he will consider bringing it back in another session.

Regarding other legislation, Cooper said he supported House Bill 75 on voter identification. Only two senators voted against the bill.

“It was a pretty basic bill. I thought there could have been a little bit more regarding mail-in ballots. The bill requires identification be shown for in-person voting. There are nine acceptable forms of identification defined in the new bill.

Cooper said, “We don’t have an issue in Wyoming but this sends out a strong statement to rest of country, that it is the right thing to do.”

Rep. Mike Greear (R-Worland), also voted in favor of the bill, stating, “I always thought it odd that I didn’t have to show my ID but in Worland everyone knows me.”

He said they provided quite a few acceptable forms of identification to alleviate concerns from those who say not everyone has an ID.

“I was surprised it took so long. It has come out several times but never goes anywhere,” Greear said, but added that after the last presidential election feelings had changed.

He agreed with Cooper that Wyoming does not have a problem, noting, “I don’t see a single thing wrong with how elections are run in Wyoming.”

Cooper supported House Bill 133 on online sports wagering, noting “I was neutral on it, it’s happening anyway in Wyoming.”

The governor signed the bill Monday.

Regarding financing, Cooper said he was pleased with the budget, noting the governor only had a few line item vetoes. He said the $2.5 million for design phase for the new Ten Sleep School remained in the bill.

Regarding education funding, the Senate had cuts down to 3%. He said most of those cuts were “ghost teacher insurance (insurance for those who are not on the district insurance) that were still being funded.”

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Following this session, Cooper said the Wyoming Legislature will be convening again this summer to discuss how to distribute the American Relief Program funds. “It will be considerable money for the state and schools. It will affect everyone in Wyoming. There will be strings attached, we just don’t know what they are yet.”

Greear added, “It’s important to discuss how that should be spent and not rush to it.”

In addition to a special session, Cooper said his summer will be busy with interim work with his two main committees, Judiciary and Minerals, but he has also been assigned to the small business assistance program advisory panel, the enhanced oil recovery commission and select natural resources committee.

“I talked with leadership of the Senate about what things were available and what fit my needs as well as their needs. It was their choice and I think they came up with good fits for me,” Cooper said.

The Management Council will finalize interim topics for the committees, Cooper said.

As for completing his first full session, Coper said, “Overall I’m just tickled to death I had the experience.”