Republican Representative Lynn Hutchings
House District 42
Lynn’s Corner
with Special Notes to Constituents
The past few weeks have been incredible. I have enjoyed my experience in the Legislature. I was able to sit as Chairman for the day on the 29th of January. I came within two bills of beating a record for passing bills through the House.
Also, during the last week of January, I spoke out in two committee meetings against three bills. One was HB0169 – Marriage definition, HB0168 – Domestic Partnerships rights and responsibilities and SF0131 – Discrimination. Each was trying to change the status of the homosexual and transgender community. I have been very open and straightforward about my opinion on homosexual relationships. I will not back down to the threats which are cruel, nasty and vicious from the homosexual community. I have received phone calls, emails at home and at work with the most vile language man has seen or heard, from all over the country. To this I say, you have just verified my opinion, that “we may not be able to stop our feelings, but we do have a choice in our actions.” You are doing nothing by your hateful messages, but strengthening my opinion.
Life moves on and I will continue to enjoy serving our State in the Legislature!
Bills within Committees & How I voted
HB0114 – Liberty Preservation Act TRW (Y)
HB0136 – Game and fish license fees-2. TRW (N)
HB0182 – Determination of highway rights-of-way on federal lands THM (Y)
HB0189 – Repeal of Real-ID THM (Y- interim committee study)
SF0085 – Game and fish-resident preference points TRW amended (Y)
(N) – No Vote (Y) – Yes Vote
WHAT is Happening in the House? JAN 12 - FEB 5
SF 104 passed the House. It stripped the Superintendent of Public Instruction of most of her statutorily assigned duties. Representative Hutchings voted NO on this bill.
HB 168 and 169 were debated on Monday afternoon in committee. HB 168 would make provisions for a "Domestic Partnership". This bill passed the committee with a margin of 7 - 2. House Bill 169 was a bill to redefine marriage, and it failed to pass committee by a margin of 5 no and 4 yes. HB 168 moved to Committee as a Whole. It then failed to pass.
HB 97 and SF 88, the abortion bills, failed to pass committee. HB 97 would have made abortion after heartbeat illegal in Wyoming. SF 88 would have mandated the right to information before an abortion. Representative Hutchings Co - Sponsored both bills.
On the Senate side, SF 131 was debated in committee. Dealing with discrimination against homosexuals, it passed by a 4 - 1 margin from the Senate Judiciary. Advancing to Committee as a Whole, it failed to pass.
Representative Hutchings was a Jacket Co-Sponsor on HB 103, 104, and 105. These gun bills all passed the House. Now they go to the Senate for Committee Assignment.
Legislative INTERN’s Corner
By Alex Cole
These past few weeks have been full of excitemnet at the Legislature. Many key issues presented themselves, and I was able to discover a variety of aspects of life at the Capitol. SF 104 battled its way through the House and Senate. This complex bill will transfer the duties of State Superintendent of Public Instruction to a Director of Education appointed by the Governor. After much debate, it passed on Third Reading in the House, and the Governor signed it into law. Another hot topic was HB 69. This bill would increase the tax on fuel by ten cents per gallon. HB 168 and 169 also took much attention from the Legislators. These failed to pass and change the definition of marriage. I learned many things this week, such as the intense scrutiny a bill will receive. If one little detail is missing, it may not pass. While all this was facinating, the highlight of my week at the Legislature was a trip to the top of the Capitol Rotunda. Trooper Testerman, of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, led our group of interns on a tour of the inner workings of the Capitol. We were even able to sign our names at the top. The discussions will continue as the Legislators fulfill their duties. I eagerly anticipate what this week will bring.
Jan.12 - Feb. 5
Volume 1, Issue 2
Representative Hutchings' Weekly Updates
