Wyoming Governor Signs Voter ID, Born Alive Abortion Bills

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed 33 bills passed by the Wyoming Legislature in 2021 into law on Tuesday.

That includes an abortion bill that is identical to one the governor vetoed last year, and another bill requiring Wyoming voters to present identification when casting a ballot.

House Bill 75, the voter ID bill, was primarily sponsored by Rep. Chuck Gray [R-Natrona County] and cosponsored by roughly 2/3 of the Wyoming Legislature. It requires voters to present identification when voting in person, whether they vote early or on election day. Current Wyoming law only requires voters to present ID when they register to vote.

Under the bill, accepted identification would include a driver's license from any U.S. state or territory, a Medicare or Medicaid insurance card, a tribal I.D., a U.S. passport or military card, or a school ID from the University of Wyoming, any Wyoming community college or public school.

Opponents had claimed the bill was unnecessary since there has been virtually no known voter fraud in Wyoming, and that it would suppress voter turnout. But supporters argued that requiring identification to vote is a proactive, common-sense step to prevent voting fraud in future elections.

The governor on Tuesday also signed into law Senate File34, the born-alive abortion bill. That bill will mandates that "medically appropriate and reasonable steps'' be taken to save the life of an infant that survives an abortion.

You can read Senate File 34 here. The bill passed the Wyoming House last week on a 48-11 vote after having been approved in the state senate earlier this session on a 26-4 vote. Gordon in 2020 vetoed the same bill saying that Wyoming law already prohibits abortions in cases where the baby is capable of surviving outside of the womb. But he signed the measure on Tuesday.

The governor on Tuesday also vetoed one bill

Here are the bills the governor signed and vetoed on Tuesday:

Bill No.	Enrolled Act #			Bill Title
HB0229		HEA0066	Livestock identification choice act.
HB0207		HEA0067	Coal fired generation facility closures-litigation funding.
HB0017		HEA0068	Range management at military training areas.
HB0049		HEA0069	Agency fee revisions.
HB0116		HEA0070	Concealed carry-residency requirement-2.
HB0188		HEA0071	Irrigation and water conservancy district loans.
HB0075		HEA0072	Voter identification.
HJ0009		HEJR2	Local government investment in equities.
HJ0011		HEJR3	State sovereignty impacted by federal actions.
HB0150		HEA0074	State budgeting and expenditure authority.
HB0007		HEA0075	Air ambulance membership organizations-regulation.
HB0156		HEA0076	Alcoholic beverage permits.
HB0190		HEA0077	Vehicle titles for nonresident owners.

SF0083	SEA0047	Gillette community college district.
SF0102	SEA0048	Unclaimed cooperative utility deposits and payments.
SF0136	SEA0049	Public service commission considerations.
SF0096	SEA0050	Homicide amendments.
SF0078	SEA0051	Real estate appraisers-continuing education.
SF0126	SEA0052	Real estate subdivisions-easement requirements.
SF0139	SEA0053	Community based in-home services program.
SF0111	SEA0055	School of energy resources budget submittal.
SF0066	SEA0056	Slayer rule-amendments.
SF0019	SEA0057	Public health emergencies-immunity amendments.
SF0002	SEA0058	School facilities-project prioritization.
SJ0003	SEJR1	Federal suspension and orders on oil and gas production.
SF0025	SEA0059	Animal impound proceedings - bond and disposition.
SF0058	SEA0060	Wyoming investment in nursing funding.
SF0034	SEA0061	Born alive infant-means of care.
SF0028	SEA0062	Motor vehicles-security interest perfection.
SF0015	SEA0063	Temporary licensing and permitting authority-2.
SF0112	SEA0064	Insurance discount for accident prevention training.
SF0076	SEA0065	Broadband development program-amendments.

The Governor vetoed the following bill:

SF0114

SEA0054

State land leases.

A letter explaining the Governor’s veto of SF 114 can be found here.

The Governor exercised his line-item veto authority on the following bill:

HB0121

HEA0073

State funded capital construction.

A letter explaining the Governor’s line-item vetoes of HB 121 can be found here.

The full list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2021 Legislative Session as well as the Governor's letters can be found on the Governor’s website.

Today is the last day of the 2021 General Session of the Legislature, although a special session is expected to be called later this year.