Legislative Watch

WYWF Key Issues

The Wyoming Women’s Foundation selects bills based upon key issues determined in their Advocacy Plan set forth by the board and staff of the organization.

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Education

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Healthcare

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Representation

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Childcare & Workplace Policies

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Income & Asset Development

Wyoming Legislative Bills Impacting Self-Sufficiency of Women and Opportunities for Girls

Education

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Healthcare

SIGNED INTO LAW! Medicaid twelve month postpartum coverage.

Support

Why It Matters

Extending postpartum Medicaid is crucial for the health and wealth of moms and babies in Wyoming. Currently, after 60 days, a majority of women are disenrolled from the Medicaid Pregnant Women Program. This bill proposes a benefit extension, so women can receive continuous care from the time the baby is born to 12 months postpartum. Healing and receiving the necessary care is a long and important process so that women can avoid financial and health-related stress, return to work, and attain economic self-sufficiency.

SIGNED INTO LAW! – Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

Support

Why It Matters

This compact would allow psychologists to practice across states that have joined the compact from their home state. Therefore, Wyoming would gain access to more mental health care providers than before the compact. This would also allow Wyoming mental health providers to expand practices and work with patients in other states. Mental healthcare is important for the wellbeing of women and girls in Wyoming.

SIGNED INTO LAW! – Licensed professional counselor compact.

Support

Why It Matters

According to the Wyoming Counseling Association, a counselor compact would allow Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in participating states to practice in Wyoming. The WCA states that this bill would improve continuity of care, ease the burden of military families relocating, and promote higher degree of client protection. This is important as our state deals with mental health professional shortages. This compact is one part of addressing Wyoming's mental health crisis for the health of Wyoming women, girls, and communities.

HB195 – American rescue plan act appropriations- amendments.

Support

Why It Matters

The ARPA bill includes several appropriations for programs that could benefit Wyoming women. Funding for the Wyoming Investment in Nursing Loan & Grant program (WyIN) will help train and retain more healthcare providers when we are experiencing a shortage. Most of these will be women. Access to mental health care is essential for all Wyomingites. The ARPA funds include funding for the Department of Health to train mental health first responders and other mental health providers. ARPA funds also include funding for targeted healthcare and early childhood workforce programs.

SF 109 – Prohibiting chemical abortions.

Oppose

Why It Matters

Although exemptions in this bill are included, physicians, pharmacists and other medical professionals would be guilty of a misdemeanor if they are found to administer the types of drugs listed in the bill. These drugs are not restricted to abortion use; the drugs are also used for the treatment of miscarriages and other women's health complications. If pharmacists and doctors are reluctant to provide these drugs for the treatment of miscarriages and other conditions, the wait for women to receive treatment can not only be dangerous, but traumatizing. Misoprostol, one drug listed in this bill, is often used for the induction of labor. Women need access to these necessary drugs. Medical professionals should not fear being criminally charged while treating their patients.

Representation

SIGNED INTO LAW! SF 61 – Legislator per diem.

Support

Why It Matters

One of the structural barriers to women's representation in elected positions is the low pay that legislators receive in Wyoming. Since the Wyoming Legislature is a citizen legislature, meaning that our legislators serve part-time, legislators do not get paid full salaries to serve as such. However, the Legislative Session, travel for interim session meetings, and dedication to their constituency takes legislators away from their other jobs and their children. Better pay is listed in our Wyoming Women in Elected Roles brief as a small piece of the puzzle to encourage women to run for office.

Childcare & Workplace Policies

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Income & Asset Development

SIGNED INTO LAW! Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.

Support

SIGNED INTO LAW! – Presumptive child support amounts- updated tables

Support

Why It Matters

Raising a child is expensive. Presumptive child support tables take into account the combined income of parents to determine the amount of child support that is obligated. This amount is paid to the custodial parent to offset expenses and contribute to the child's upbringing. A third of mothers are unmarried in Wyoming, which means that child support can often be a crucial part of a family's finances. The child support tables have not been updated in about a decade. For the financial health of the family, they should be updated to reflect today's economic state.