Some bills deserve to die

At the end of each legislative session I would ask the late Senator Gerry Geis if there were any bills that didn’t make it through that he wished had and 99.9% of the time he would say no.

He would add, if they are good bills, they will be back, if not then having them not pass was a good thing.

The more I cover the Legislature (even after 30-plus years) the more I realize he was correct.

Case in point, Rep. John Winter has tried a few times to bring back the wolf depredation compensation and was successful this session.

This session, of the 497 bills and resolutions introduced, only 39.4% passed both Houses, or rather 60.6% failed. There is a lot of time factored into those bills, time spent by the Legislative Service Office in doing some research and helping in writing some of the bills, time spent by legislators and time spent during the session on introduction and on committee work.

Think about it, 497 bills. That is a lot of legislation and a lot of laws if they had all passed. Of course, some were similar and many addressed the same issues. There were multiple anti-abortion bills, multiple property tax bills.

It seems like legislators could work together in the interim and communicate regarding bills to streamline the process so the best of the best is considered during the session.

Some bills that died that I feel should not come back, but likely will include:

•House Bill 126 that would have allowed a person to use “reasonable and appropriate physical force upon another person” to terminate what an owner believes is the commission of a criminal trespass. The shoot first ask questions later approach is not the best way to handle trespassing, in my opinion.

•Senate File 72 would have prohibited employers from forcing employees to be implanted with a microchip.

Why would an employer microchip employees?

Most of all, is this really a problem or do we really believe it will be a problem in the future?

•Senate File 135 would have allowed conceal carry firearms into governmental meetings including legislative committee meetings. This was tried several times since 2015 with one version going to the governor’s desk where it was vetoed primarily due to language regarding the legislative meetings.

I am a strong proponent of the Second Amendment but I do not believe guns have a place in governmental meetings. Considering how volatile our society has become such allowances for conceal carry at these meetings would only be asking for trouble.

And, as I have asked with other legislation, what problem does this solve? If it does not solve a problem is it even necessary.

Some bills that died this session that perhaps just need a little work:

•House Bill 43 that would have increased the fine from $750 to $1,500 for drivers going on roads that are closed. This winter showed that something needs to be done when roads are closed but I am not sure just increasing a fine is the answer. I think more research needs to be done on the best deterrent.

People who ignore road closures put emergency workers at risk when they have to go and find them or rescue them if they get stuck.

•Senate File 162, the Grace Smith Medical Freedom Act allows for exceptions from mandatory school immunizations, no questions asked. I get the premise behind the bill, freedom to choose health care but I think the bill needs more work. Since there are exemptions in place and a process, I am curious what problem this actually solves.

•Senate File 181 would have expanded the drug induced homicide statute to include unlawfully delivering fentanyl, heroin or methamphetamine to another person that results in the person’s death.

This is a law that is needed and I am guessing that the legislators know this but perhaps some of the language needs tweaked. This would be a question for prosecutors and law enforcement. We have one case in Washakie County where a person is being charged in the death of another person who died from an overdose but the charge is conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, not homicide. He should be charged with homicide.

So when looking at the numerous bills that failed for numerous reasons (some without support from leadership, some with little support from fellow legislators, some from the sponsor pulling it after realizing it needed more work), maybe legislators should take time, not hurry legislation.

Maybe there should be a limit on the number of bills introduced each year because I wonder if anyone actually read all 497 bills?

Limiting the number would make it easier for the public to follow what the Legislature is doing.

Something to consider. Maybe it will be one of the hundreds of bills prefiled for the next session.