Laursen, Banks get new committee assignments in state legislature

By: 
Nathan Oster

Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, and Rep. Dalton Banks, R-Cowley, will have new committee assignments when the Wyoming Legislature convenes Tuesday, Jan. 14, for the start of its scheduled 37-day session.

Laursen has been assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Of the new role, Laursen said, “I’m excited to have a significant voice in how the people’s money is spent by the state.”

In his first two years in the Senate, Laursen served on the Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources committee.

Laursen has aligned himself with Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus, which now controls both chambers. The conservative wing’s main priorities going into the session, Laursen said, are tax relief, rights of the unborn, protection of Second Amendment rights and federal overreach.

“Some bill proposals I am bringing include regulation of boys in girls’ bathrooms, cleaning up state guard statutes, alternative teacher certification, requiring random drug and alcohol testing for hospital employees and a proposal for an elected attorney general,” he said.

Banks

In the House, Banks will continue to serve on the Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee, rising to a leadership position as its vice chairman.

Banks will also serve on Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs after spending the past two years on Minerals, Business and Economic Development.

“I am pleased with both of those committees and the work we have to accomplish this term for Wyoming,” Banks said. “Agriculture is so important to Wyoming and is a staple of the economy in the Big Horn Basin. I am honored to be able to continue the work we’ve started on this committee.”

Banks said he is looking forward to his work on the transportation committee, as it “involves necessities we all enjoy such as roads, highways and the maintenance they entail.”

Unlike Laursen, Banks refused to join either the Freedom Caucus or the more moderate Wyoming Caucus during his first term, believing it puts him in a unique position to negotiate for the best outcomes for his constituents.

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