HB0296 addresses Wyoming legislative apportionment and proposes a process for studying and potentially revising how the state’s House and Senate districts are drawn. The bill includes extensive legislative findings asserting that Wyoming’s constitution requires districts to follow county lines, that each county should have at least one senator and one representative, and that the Legislature must reapportion itself after the federal census. It also states that any apportionment plan must comply with both the Wyoming Constitution and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Rather than directly redrawing districts, the bill directs the Management Council to assign apportionment study work to a legislative committee during the 2025 interim. That committee would hold meetings around the state, gather public and stakeholder input, and report findings by December 1, 2025. The bill contemplates that legislation to constitutionally apportion the Legislature could then be introduced in the 2026 budget session.
Impact
If enacted, HB0296 would not itself change district boundaries, but it would create a formal interim study process and authorize future legislation to revise legislative apportionment. It would affect the Legislature’s internal procedures by requiring the Management Council to assign the issue to a committee, hold statewide public meetings, and produce a report. The bill also signals a potential shift toward districting that more closely tracks county lines and guarantees each county at least one senator and one representative, which could significantly affect future redistricting law and legislative representation.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests strong committee support, with the House Corporations Committee recommending the bill do pass by a 9-0 vote. The bill text itself frames the issue as a constitutional compliance matter and emphasizes good-faith efforts to align state apportionment with both state and federal constitutional requirements. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded vote indicates broad agreement at the committee stage.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s assertion that Wyoming has, since 1992, allowed legislative districts that do not follow county lines and do not guarantee each county a senator and representative. That position implies a challenge to current apportionment practices and could raise concerns about how to reconcile county-based representation with population equality under the federal Equal Protection Clause. Any future apportionment legislation emerging from the study would likely be debated over the balance between county integrity, equal-population districts, and the size and structure of the Legislature.
Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the limited purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.
Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the limited purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.
Proposing An Amendment To Article Xvii, Section 3 Of The Hawaii Constitution To Specify That The Standard For Voter Approval Of A Constitutional Amendment Proposed By The Legislature Is A Majority Of All The Votes Tallied Upon The Question.
Proposing An Amendment To Article Xvii, Section 3 Of The Hawaii Constitution To Specify That The Standard For Voter Approval Of A Constitutional Amendment Proposed By The Legislature Is A Majority Of All The Votes Tallied Upon The Question.
Proposing An Amendment To Article Xvii, Section 3 Of The Hawaii State Constitution To Specify That The Standard For Voter Approval Of A Constitutional Amendment Proposed By The Legislature Is A Majority Of All The Votes Tallied Upon The Question.