Several Bills Miss Introduction Deadline in Wyoming Legislature
Several tax proposals put forward in the Wyoming House of Representatives failed to meet a deadline for introduction on Friday afternoon, effectively killing them for this session.
The proposals included a statewide lodging tax and an increase in tobacco and wind energy taxes. Other tax proposals that died by virtue of missing introduction included a real estate transfer tax and a property tax extension.
The deaths of those tax bills followed a decision by the legislature's Joint Revenue Committee at the end of January not to endorse any of several tax proposals.
Some non-tax bills died as well, including a proposed constitutional amendment on term limits for statewide elected officials.
House members voted to adjourn at 3:30 Friday afternoon, effectively killing all of those proposals without a vote.
In terms of tax bills, a generally improving state economy has dampened enthusiasm for new taxes that seemed more likely to win legislative approval a few months ago.
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, in an interview earlier this month, said he thought there was a good chance lawmakers would approve the lodging and tobacco tax proposals.