Our Plan
Five and Dime Plan
Please contact your State Senator and your Governor to tell them to support the Five & Dime! Contact your State Senator at wyoleg.gov and call your Governor at 307-777-7434
The people of Wyoming have spoken– and we listened.
We made good on the promises to the people of our districts by passing five key bills within the first ten days of the legislative session.
Read more about these bills and what became of them below.
View our 2024 Issues Poll HERE.
01
ELECTION INTEGRITY: Require Proof of WY Residency & US Citizenship When Registering to Vote
- WHAT: Create clear statutory authority for the Wyoming Secretary of State to promulgate rules requiring voters to prove WY residency and to ensure that non-citizens cannot register to vote in WY.
- WHY: No requirement exists for voters to prove their WY residency or US citizenship status. This simple fix will better secure our elections and bolster confidence in our election system.
This bill passed the Wyoming House and Senate with veto proof majorities, and is currently on Governor Gordon's desk awaiting his signature.
02
IMMIGRATION ACCOUNTABILITY: Invalidate Driver Licenses Issued to Illegals by Other Jurisdictions
- WHAT: Invalidate driver licenses issued to illegal aliens present in WY.
- WHY: An estimated 9 million + illegal aliens have entered the US since 2021. Nineteen states and D.C. issue licenses to illegal immigrants– Wyoming does not. This simple bill will help WY crack down on illegal immigration and to ensure consistency in our statutes and rules.
This bill passed the Wyoming House and Senate with veto proof majorities, and took effect without the Governor's signature.
03
STOPPING THE WOKE AGENDA AT UW: Prohibiting D.E.I. in Higher Education
- WHAT: Prohibit the University of WY and Wyoming’s Community Colleges from engaging in discriminatory hiring or continuing education requirements that place moral, historical, or other blame on a person or group of people on the basis of immutable characteristics.
- WHY: It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of any immutable characteristic. As the Equality State, WY should be proud to codify additional protections against discrimination. With continually declining enrollment rates at UW, dumping “woke” DEI programming will attract the free thinking cowboys and cowgirls we want attending our university.
This bill passed the Wyoming House and Senate with veto proof majorities, and was signed into law.
04
PROTECTING OUR CORE INDUSTRIES: Ban woke investment strategies for the State of Wyoming’s trust fund.
- WHAT:: Prohibit the State of Wyoming from investing in funds that prioritize “environmental, social, or governance” standards over funds promising the highest financial rate of return.
- WHY: Wyoming should not invest tax dollars with entities who do not seek the highest rate of return and who are out to destroy and eliminate our core industries.
Legislation to ban ESG investing passed both chambers with veto proof majorities and is currently on the Governor's desk.
05
CUTTING TAXES: Real Property Tax Relief
- WHAT: Provide a 25% property tax cut to residential property owners with a backfill to local governments.
- WHY: The people of WY have been crushed by years of skyrocketing property taxes.
This bill passed the Wyoming House and Senate with veto proof majorities and was signed into law.
Wyoming’s Common Sense Energy Policy
Introduction
Wyoming, known for its abundant natural resources, particularly fossil fuels, has a unique opportunity to balance economic growth, energy security, and environmental stewardship. Wyoming’s large energy-producing sector is the second-most energy-intensive state economy in the United States, producing 12 times more energy than it consumes, and is the 3rd largest net energy supplier among the states. A greater domestic supply of fossil fuels results in higher employment, lower consumer prices, and an energy supply that is more reliable and efficient.
Low cost energy is the bread and butter of the American dream. Entrepreneurs depend on abundant, reliable, low cost energy to bring innovative ideas to market. This policy outlines a strategic approach for energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security whereby Wyoming will continue to produce its natural resources while exploring alternative energy sources and nuclear power to diversify its energy portfolio. Opportunities for alternative energy to compete will include a level playing field in Wyoming tax structure, regulations, and our environment.
1. Maximize Fossil Fuel Production:
– Coal: Wyoming has been the top coal-producing state since 1988, accounting for 40% of all coal mined in the United States. In the United States, coal resources are larger than the combined natural gas and oil resources, based on total British thermal units (Btu), and Wyoming holds 35% of all coal reserves in the United States. Abundant coal resources lead to affordable electricity for consumers, and Wyoming will continue to support coal mining and power generation, ensuring that Wyoming remains a leading coal producer in the United States. Wyoming will support other non-traditional coal uses such as low-carbon hydrogen initiatives, coal-to-asphalt, and coal-to ammonia and encourage new coal-fueled plants to be built in Wyoming that utilize Wyoming coal.
– Oil: Wyoming is the eighth-largest crude oil-producing state in the nation, accounting for 2% of U.S. total crude oil output. Wyoming will continue to promote oil exploration and development, reducing regulations while minimizing environmental impacts.
– Natural Gas: The state is the 10th-largest natural gas producer, and accounted for about 2% of U.S. marketed gas production. Wyoming will continue to support the expansion of natural gas production and processing facilities, leveraging
Wyoming’s vast reserves.
– Regulatory: Recent decisions over the last four years from the U.S. Supreme Court have given a clear pathway for Wyoming energy. We will codify the Clean Air Act as that is law passed by the U.S. Congress. All other unconstitutional regulations will be struck and fall to judicial decision-making and litigation under the Nondelegation Doctrine. Wyoming will acknowledge actual law and support our industries. A repeal of mandates for pilot projects of CO2 sequestration for coal-fired plants will be necessary.
– Reduction of Taxes: Severance tax reduction for coal should equal oil and natural gas.
2. Allow for Alternative Energy:
– Wind: Wind power generation in Wyoming accounts for 21% of the state’s total electricity net generation in 2023 with 3,100 megawatts of wind power generating capacity. Wyoming will support the development of wind energy projects, taking advantage of Wyoming’s favorable wind conditions, while protecting the property rights of citizens and protecting wildlife.
– Solar: Encourage the installation of solar panels on both residential and commercial properties, expanding the state’s renewable energy capacity. We will not support massive solar fields that damage our environment and hurt wildlife, while not providing a base load.
– Geothermal: Encourage developing the vast geothermal resources within Wyoming as a clean energy source.
– Alternative Energy: will be subject to a level playing field of regulation, taxation, and environmental responsibility.
3. Explore Nuclear Power:
– Safety and Regulation: Prioritize the safety and regulatory compliance of future nuclear power projects, ensuring public confidence. On-site waste remains an obstacle to industry and Wyoming.
– Research and Development: Support research and development into advanced nuclear technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
– Uranium: Encourage investment in uranium mining and processing within the state. Wyoming has a large potential for uranium mining, including the largest known uranium reserves in the United States and a history of being a leader in uranium production. Create a regulatory framework for uranium operations with faster permitting processes and support for nuclear energy.
4. Environmental Stewardship:
– Carbon Capture and Storage: Encourage carbon capture and utilization of carbon dioxide to increase crude oil production in aging oil fields within the state. The state must divide two issues; reinjection and infrastructure versus volunteer carbon sequestration at the powerplant level. Wyoming will not mandate carbon sequestration or carbon capture for non-beneficial use.
– Land Use Planning: Implement comprehensive land use planning including pipeline corridors to balance energy development with environmental protection while protecting the individual property rights of Wyoming citizens.
– Water Resources: Protect the water rights of Wyoming and ensure adequate water resources are available for energy production, ranching, farming and future population growth, while protecting water quality and quantity.
– Wildlife: A level playing field includes equal application of regulatory law. Our legacy industries have a proven track record of working in conjunction with Wyoming’s vast wildlife resources. All energy sources must have an equal playing field. Alternative energy must be properly monitored, accountable and bonded for impact on our environment.
Incentives: Provide supportive government policy, favorable tax strategies, grants, and loan programs to encourage investment in energy projects.
• Partnerships: Foster partnerships between government, industry, and academia to drive innovation and collaboration.
• Research and Development: Support research and development initiatives to advance energy technologies and improve efficiency.
• Education and Training: Invest in workforce development programs to ensure a skilled labor force for the energy sector.
Natural resources must be the baseline for Wyoming’s energy future. It is the affordable, reliable and dependable energy resources that sets Wyoming apart from other exporting states. While we accept all energy opportunities, they will have a level playing field to compete in the market. By adopting this policy, Wyoming can position itself as a leader in energy production. This approach will help to secure the state’s economic future and ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply for generations to come.