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Legislative Branch

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Legislators in the old House of Representative Chambers prior to the 2nd and final addition to the Capitol Building, 1909 (WSA Sub Neg 5712)

The Legislative Branch of Wyoming State Government oversees the creation of state laws. Like Congress, the Wyoming legislature is bi-cameral, meaning that there are two chambers: the senate and the house of representatives. There are currently 60 senators and 30 representatives. Senators are elected for 4-year terms and representatives for 2-year terms.

By statute, the Wyoming Legislature meets twice in a biennium for no more than 60 days total. In practice, they usually divide this time up into a regular session of approximately 40 days in the odd years and a shorter budget session of approximately 20 days in the even years. Time remaining from the regular session can be used during the budget session, if needed. Special sessions may be called by either the governor or the legislature. Sessions called by the governor do not have a time limit. Those called by the legislature may last no more than 20 days.

Information about legislatures or individual legislators can be found on the Wyoming Legislative Services Office website.

Copies of Legislative documents and publications can be found at WyomingLegislation.wyo.gov. This library of legislative materials contains journals, or digests of the journals, from the first territorial legislature that convened in 1869 up to the present. It also contains digitized bills from 1873 to 2000, in addition to bill actions—a record of actions done on each introduced bill—from 1957-2000. 2001-present legislation is available through the Legislative Services Office session archives.

Legislative Leadership


Territorial Legislature

Council

Session Dates Location Members Dem Rep People’s
Party		 Populist
1st Oct 12 – Dec 10, 1869 2nd floor Thomas McLeland Building, southeast corner of 17th and Ferguson (Carey Ave), Cheyenne 9 9 0

2nd November 7 - December 16, 1871 Rollins House, north side of 16th Street, between Ferguson (Carey Ave) and Eddy (Pioneer Ave) 9 5 3 1
3rd November 4 - December 12, 1873 Laramie County Courthouse, northwest corner of 19th and Ferguson (Carey Ave), Cheyenne 9 4 5

4th November 5 - December 1, 1875 Frank Meanea's building, 218 W. 17th Street, Cheyenne, adjoined Post & Cassel's building 13 11 2

5th November 6 - December 15, 1877 Bon Block, 345 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne 13 9 4

6th November 4 - December 13, 1879 McDaniels Building, 1615 Eddy (Pioneer Ave), Cheyenne 13 8 5

7th January 10 - March 10, 1882 Opera House Block, northwest corner of 17th Street and Hill Street (Capitol Ave), Cheyenne 12 7 5

8th January 8 - March 7, 1884 Commercial Block, 218 1/2 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne 12 8 4

9th January 12 - March 12, 1886 Knights of Pythias Hall, 312 W. 17th Street, Cheyenne 12 8 4

10th January 10 - March 9, 1888 unfinished Capitol Building, Cheyenne 12 3 8 1
11th January 15 - March 14, 1890 Capitol Building, Cheyenne (1st addition, including House and Council chambers, completed April 4) 12 7 5



Map credit Wyoming Blue Book Volume 1


House of Representatives

Session Dates Location Members Dem Rep People’s
Party		 Populist
1st Oct 12 – Dec 10, 1869 Arcade Building, 303 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne 12 12


2nd November 7 - December 16, 1871 Rollins House, north side of 16th Street, between Ferguson (Carey Ave) and Eddy (Pioneer Ave) 13 9 4

3rd November 4 - December 12, 1873 Laramie County Courthouse, northwest corner of 19th and Ferguson (Carey Ave), Cheyenne 13 6 7

4th November 5 - December 1, 1875 Post & Cassel's Building, northeast corner of 17th and Ferguson (Carey Ave), adjoined Meanea's building 27 18 9

5th November 6 - December 15, 1877 Bon Block, 345 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne 27 20 6 1
6th November 4 - December 13, 1879 N.J. O'Brien Building, 317 W. 17th Street, Cheyenne 27 9 16 2
7th January 10 - March 10, 1882 Opera House Block, northwest corner of 17th Street and Hill Street (Capitol Ave), Cheyenne 24 6 17
1
8th January 8 - March 7, 1884 Commercial Block, 218 1/2 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne 23 13 9

9th January 12 - March 12, 1886 Knights of Pythias Hall, 312 W. 17th Street, Cheyenne 24 9 14 1
10th January 10 - March 9, 1888 unfinished Capitol Building, Cheyenne 24 14 10

11th January 15 - March 14, 1890 Capitol Building, Cheyenne (1st addition, including House and Council chambers, completed April 4) 23 6 17


State Legislature

Session Dates Senate House of Representatives
Members Republican Democrat Other Parties Women Members Republican Democrat Other Party Women
1st November 12, 1890 - January 10, 1891 16 13 3

33 26 7

2nd January 10 - February 18, 1893 16 11 5

11 12 16 Populist – 5
3rd January 8 - February 16, 1895 18 14 4

37 34 2 Democratic People’s – 1
4th January 12 - February 20, 1897 19 11 4 Silver Democrat - 1
38 23 11 Populist – 1, Fusion – 3
5th January 10 - February 18, 1899 19 13 6

38 35 3

6th January 8 - February 16, 1901 19 16 2 Populist - 1
38 32 2 Unknown – 4
7th January 13 - February 21, 1903 23 21 2

50 46 4

8th January 10 - February 18, 1905 23 20 3

50 47 3

9th January 8 - February 16, 1907 23 21 2

50 45 5

10th January 12 - February 20, 1909 27 24 3

56 46 7

11th January 10 - February 18, 1911 27 21 6

56 31 25
1
12th January 14 - February 22, 1913 27 19 8

57 29 28
2
13th January 12 - February 20, 1915 27 18 9

57 42 15
1
14th January 9 - February 17, 1917 27 16 11

57 32 25
1
15th January 14th - February 22, 1919 27 17 10

54 43 11
1
16th January 11 - February 19, 1921 25 22 3

54 53 1

17th January 9 - February 17th, 1923 25 20 5

60 37 23

18th January 13 - February 21, 1925 27 16 11

62 39 23

19th January 11 - February 19, 1927 27 15 12

62 45 17
3
20th January 8 - February 16, 1929 27 17 10

62 51 11
2
21st January 13 - February 21, 1931 27 21 6
1 62 36 26
1
22nd January 10 - February 18, 1933 27 15 12
1 62 20 42
3
23rd January 8 - February 16, 1935 27 13 14

56 18 38
2
24th January 12 - February 20, 1937 27 11 16

56 18 38

25th January 10 - February 18, 1939 27 16 11

56 37 19
2
26th January 14 - February 22, 1941 27 16 11

56 28 28
1
27th January 12 - February 20, 1943 27 17 10

56 39 17

28th January 9 - February 17 , 1945 27 21 6

55 35 20

29th January 14 - February 22, 1947 27 19 8

56 44 12

30th January 11 - February 19, 1949 27 18 9

56 28 28
1
31st January 9 - February 17, 1951 27 17 10

56 39 17
2
32nd January 13 - February 21, 1953 27 21 6

56 45 11
2
33rd January 11 - February 19, 1955 27 19 8

56 32 24
4
34th January 8 - February 16, 1957 27 16 11

56 30 26
2
35th January 13 - February 21, 1959 27 16 11

56 26 30
2
36th January 10 - February 18, 1961 27 17 10

56 35 21
2
37th January 8 - February 16, 1963 27 16 11

56 37 19
3
38th January 12 - February 20, 1965 25 13 12

61 27 34
3
39th January 10 - February 18, 1967 30 18 12

61 34 27
3
40th January 14 - February 22, 1969 30 18 12

61 45 16
4
41st January 12 - February 20, 1971 30 19 11

61 40 20 Independent - 1 3
42nd January 9 - February 24, 1973 30 17 13
1 62 44 17 Independent - 1 4
43rd January 14 - March 1, 1975
February 10 - March 1, 1976		 30 15 15
1 62 32 29 Independent - 1 6
44th January 11 - February. 28, 1977
February 14 - March 9, 1978		 30 18 12
1 62 32 29 Independent - 1 5
45th January 9 - February 23, 1979
February 12 - March 5, 1980		 30 19 11
2 62 42 20
12
46th January 13 - February 28, 1981
February 9 - March 3 , 1982		 30 19 11
3 62 39 23
13
47th January 11 - March 2, 1983
February 14 - March 9, 1984		 30 19 11
3 64 38 25 Independent - 1 20
48th January 8 - February 23, 1985
February 17 - March 15, 1986		 30 19 11
2 64 46 18
22
49th January 13 - March 2, 1987
February 15 - March 12, 1988		 30 19 11
3 64 44 20
20
50th January 10 - March 1, 1989
February 19 - March 17, 1990		 30 19 11
4 64 41 23
19
51st January 8 - February 28,1991
February 10 - March 17, 1992		 30 20 10
3 64 42 22
20
52nd January 12 - March 3, 1993
February 21 - March 17, 1994		 30 20 10
6 60 41 19
17
53rd January 10 - March 1, 1995
February 19 - March 15, 1996		 30 20 10
2 60 47 13
17
54th January 14 - March 1,1997
February 16 - March 12, 1998		 30 21 9
4 60 43 17
13
55th January 12 - March 3, 1999
February 14 - March 14, 2000		 30 20 10
5 60 43 17
12
56th January 9 - March 1, 2001
February 11 - March 13, 2002		 30 20 10
5 60 46 14
9
57th January 14 - March 6, 2003
February 9 - March 5, 2004		 30 20 10
5 60 45 15
9
58th January 11 - March 3, 2005
February 13 - March 11, 2006		 30 23 7
4 60 46 14
9
59th January 9 - March 1, 2007
February 11 - March 7, 2008		 30 23 7
4 60 43 17
16
60th January 13 - March 5, 2009
February 8 - March 5, 2010		 30 20 10
3 60 41 19
13
61st January 11 - March 3, 2011
February 13 - March 8, 2012		 30 26 4
1 60 50 10
12
62nd January 13 - February 27, 2013
February 10 - March 6, 2014		 30 26 4
1 60 52 8
13
63rd January 13 - March 6, 2015
February 8 - March 4, 2016		 30 26 4
0 60 51 9
11
64th January 10 - March 3, 2017
February 12 - March 15, 2018		 30 27 3
3 60 51 9
7
65th January 8 - March _, 2019
2020		 30 28 2
4 60 53 7
10


Special Sessions

Year Start Date End Date Topics
1890 November 12 January 10 Initial meeting of the State Legislature
1920 January 26 January 28 Irrigation districts, consideration of the 19th Amendment to US Constitution (women's suffrage), appropriations for special sessions
1923 July 16 July 18 Farm Loan Act, commission to negotiate agreements relative to interstate streams, appropriations for special session
1929 December 12 December 17 Memorial tablets for Francis E. Warren and Joseph M. Carey, appropriation for penitentiary, appropriation for girls' industrial institute, parks for cities and towns, Federal funds for extension work, positions of names on ballots, special election for highway bonds, certificates of nominations for candidates for office, nomination of candidates for special elections, distribution of funds received from tax on gasoline, special election for Representative in Congress, election of US Senator, payment of gasoline tax, appropriations for special session.
1933 December 4 December 23 Game and Fish-special season on elk; vacancy in United States Senate; conservation for banks; security for the deposit of public funds; borrowing money in liquidation of insolvent banks; banks and banking- preferred stock; temporary Federal deposit insurance fund; beaver tags-fee; additional appropriation for expenses of legislature; repeal of act relating to state census; per diem for state officers and employees; classification of counties; registration of motor vehicles-fees; refunding bonds of drainage districts; State Industrial Recovery Act; irrigation districts-records- reports- salaries and expenses; irrigation districts-election and terms of commissioners; additional appropriation-State Examiner; compensation of water commissioners; University Liberal Arts building; legislative attorneys-salary and compensation; State Board of Charities and Reform-grants and loans; public employment offices-appropriation; appropriation game and fish fund; establishment of water districts-commissioners; dog control; additional appropriation-Attorney General ; appropriation for bounty claims; additional appropriation-Department of Agriculture; non­-negotiable debenture bonds; tuberculin test of cattle-appropriation; public works- financing; irrigation districts- refunding bonds; actions against State boards and commissions; State Board of Equalization; Public Service Commission; investment of permanent State funds; sale of public lands-certificates; classification of counties; State Relief Act-appropriation; unfair discrimination- petroleum and by-products; motor vehicle registration-dealers and manufacturers; bounties on wild animals; intoxicating liquors for medicinal purposes; hides and pelts-shipment; Wyoming National Guard stables; bidders on public works; home for orphan and dependent children-appropriation; repeal of act relating to special county tax for bridge building; power districts - bonds; limitations of indebtedness of corporations; tablet in memory of late Hon. John B. Kendrick; production of mines- taxation; waters and irrigation -commissioners; operation of motor vehicles; home owners' loan corporation; additional appropriation-State Librarian, Board of Equalization and Public Service; reinstatement of defunct corporations; gasoline tax; intoxicating liquors; appropriations for expenses of legislature.
944 April 17 April 17 Enable qualified citizens in the Armed Forces to vote in the general election, proposed constitutional amendment relating to absentee voting
1946 April 15 April 22 Expanding house due to increase in attendance because of the GI Bill, increase faculty salaries at the University due to the resignation of 70 personnel for more lucrative positions at other institutions, increase appropriations for state departments
1948 June 28 June 30 Increasing appropriations for the University of Wyoming and other state departments, Hospital Licensing Act, refunding to counties money from the Homestead Tax Exemptory Law,
1950 February 14 February 23 Address predicted grasshopper and Mormon cricket infestation, Snake River water compact, Wyoming Home and Hospital for the Aged, crowded conditions in the Penitentiary, fire escapes for the Capitol Building
1964 July 28 July 31 Legislative reapportionment, confirmation of governor's appointments, gas tax collection
1971 July 7 July 8 Proposed US Constitutional Amendment lowering voting age to 18 years, ratification of governor's appointments
1982 March 2 March 3 Institutional Health Services Act, revision of Title 29
1986 June 16 June 19 State workers compensation
1987 May 19 May 22 Maximum speed limit on interstate highways,Amendment Number 6 program
1992 May 11 May 13 Reapportionment of legislative districts
1997 May 30 June 6 Education funding and reform, Senate file 35 - the Business Council
2004 July 12 July 14 Medical malpractice insurance costs and health-care issues




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