Chris Rothfuss in WY legislative records

On Abortion: Opposed new reporting requirements for abortions

HB103: This bill establishes additional information that a physician is required to report when an abortion is performed.

BetterWyoming blog summary:Requires the Board of Medicine to investigate any complaints that an abortion provider has failed to comply with reporting requirements. The board can impose fines up to $25,000 and forfeiture of medical licenses.

Outcome: Passed House 46-12-2 on 2/25/19; Passed Senate 20-9-1 on 2/25; Sen. Rothfuss voted NO; Signed on 3/8.

Source: BetterWyoming blog on Wyoming voting records HB103 Feb 25, 2019

On Drugs: Voted NO on allowing property forfeiture in drug cases

Excerpts from legislation: Bill SF 14: Amends Property Forfeiture Laws: Relating to the Controlled Substances Act: Any person convicted of a [drug] violation shall not be subject to summary forfeiture. If the state seeks forfeiture, the indictment shall specifically identify the property sought to be forfeited; a separate forfeiture hearing will be held; and all property shall be returned unless there is a verdict of guilt.

Excerpts from veto message:Asset forfeiture has been in place in Wyoming for decades. Asset forfeiture takes the profit out of illegal drugs. Crime should not pay, especially drug crime. In some states civil forfeiture has been abused. We do not have the abuses found in other states. Those who speak against civil forfeiture have not found one abuse of law in a 40-year history.

Legislative outcome:Bill passed House 54-6-0, Feb. 9; passed Senate 26-3-1, Feb. 27; State Sen. Chris Rothfuss voted YES; vetoed by Gov. Mead, Feb 27

Source: Wyoming Legislative voting records SF14 Feb 27, 2019

On Education: Don't exempt private schools from zoning authority

SF49: An act exempting private schools from county zoning authority.

Jackson Hole Buckrail summary:The bill would exempt private schools--specifically Jackson Hole Classical Academy (JHCA)--from county zoning authority, as public schools are currently exempted. JHCA could begin construction on a new campus in South Park.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 33-26-1 on Feb/25/19; Passed Senate 25-3-2 on Feb/25; State Sen. Chris Rothfuss voted NO; Signed by Governor on Mar/15.

Source: Jackson Hole Buckrail on Wyoming voting records SF14 Feb 25, 2019

On Energy & Oil: Encourage sale of coal-fired power plants to keep in use

SF159: This bill provides that the rates charged by a utility shall not include recovery of costs associated with new facilities built to replace retired coal fired electric generating facilities unless the utility made a good faith effort to sell the facility to another person prior to its retirement.

Utility Dive e-zine summary:Wyoming lawmakers passed a bill to encourage the sale of coal-fired power plants in a bid to extend their lives amid an industrywide trend of retirements. Senate File 159 would direct utilities to attempt to find new buyers for coal plants before retiring them and proposing replacement generation. It passed both legislative chambers by wide margins.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 50-8-2 on Feb/26/19; Passed Senate 27-0-3 on Feb/25/19; State Sen. Chris Rothfuss voted YES; Signed by Governor Mark Gordon on Mar/8/19

Source: BetterWyoming blog on Wyoming voting records SF159 Feb 25, 2019

The above quotations are from Legislative voting records for Wyoming House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts from Legislative voting records for Wyoming House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts by Chris Rothfuss. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Feb 13, 2023