[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6387702,"mediaKeyId","2115977-27fcbfb25e188eec7918f579901bb885","parentId",2115977,"title","Wyoming Secretary of State urges voter ID, ban on ballot drop boxes and conservative agenda to new House","audioSeconds",93,"startMs",1405000,"endMs",1498000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115977-27fcbfb25e188eec7918f579901bb885&start=1405&end=1498","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115977-27fcbfb25e188eec7918f579901bb885/thumbnail_1405000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6387702/Wyoming/Wyoming-Secretary-of-State-urges-voter-ID-ban-on-ballot-drop-boxes-and-conservative-agenda-to-new-House","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387702-5a31e8b9683275269503bef94d033076/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180775&Signature=HJlP3tVn9LTDgjYhjYkHayhKY3Jc4j4SyDtSJ0-m5Y1WmWa8S2nXh7uqvNy-eA3zdpszCH~r~2sgt-zOx0H-HXiwi4f71mdXYOJrejOhNyC-7MrIdPs6ZAh2hUX~vR3t51SsY-vFYb~ZrJ4TQd76qoz5nu-nu~PqAYxVpCNAyHCEwuLaVQ9LfBa6m-wWQEXhB1Mbn7TSDUJA27Sr-ZITq3~pNZt9~YabfHIFCTdl0X1Ahk6oIqsVcZWuxrfhmEU7nsEDz6Wz71SG~ZUYD7IrQrHauSxp1~-4uv~fd0-J3pcqPz69Xs-QNs4VlSaxGlWXlSgdMa3XBo7Pa9U3gaCKPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray told the newly organized House of Representatives that his office will press for immediate changes to state election law, including documentary proof of citizenship and residency for voters, a statutory ban on unstaffed ballot drop boxes and a requirement that only photo identification be acceptable for voting.

\"Wyomingites and only Wyomingites should be allowed to vote in Wyoming elections, period,\" Gray said in remarks to the chamber. He said Wyoming currently does not require documentary proof of citizenship or Wyoming residency and added that rules the Secretary of State's office put forward last year were vetoed by the governor.

Gray said the office will also seek to bar unstaffed ballot drop boxes, saying they \"break the chain of custody for ballots\" and lack statutory authorization, and urged that voter ID laws require a photo to prevent impersonation. He framed those proposals as part of a broader election-integrity agenda, and said the Secretary of State's office has prioritized combating business fraud as well: \"On the business side, the Wyoming Secretary of State handles business registrations. We've made it a priority of our administration to attack fraud.\"

Gray addressed a range of policy priorities in his remarks to the House, urging lawmakers to act quickly during the 60-day general session and to pursue conservative proposals he said voters want, including property tax relief and measures affecting education and state institutions. He noted that prior efforts to change rules were subject to executive vetoes and said the current legislature presents an opportunity to advance the agenda.

The Secretary of State also described recent administrative steps taken by his office, including dissolving entities tied to foreign actors in 2024; he characterized those actions as part of efforts to reduce fraud in business registrations. Gray's remarks were part policy outline and part exhortation to newly sworn legislators to prioritize the issues he identified.

No specific bills were introduced on the floor at the organizational session; Gray's remarks outlined an agenda he said he would press during the general session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Floor Session Opening-Day 1, January 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary of State Chuck Gray addressed the newly organized House, urging passage of measures including documentary proof of citizenship and residency for voters, a statutory ban on unstaffed ballot drop boxes, and a photo-only voter ID requirement, and outlined broader priorities on elections and business registration enforcement.","taxTitle","House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",30484,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6387706,"Wyoming House organizes 68th Legislature; John Bair named temporary speaker, Representative Nyman elected speaker",3080,1739000,4819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2115977-27fcbfb25e188eec7918f579901bb885&start=1739&end=4819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2115977-27fcbfb25e188eec7918f579901bb885/thumbnail_1739000.jpg","/articles/6387706/Wyoming/Wyoming-House-organizes-68th-Legislature-John-Bair-named-temporary-speaker-Representative-Nyman-elected-speaker","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6387706-4bbf180cf223ea3b9b14fda3681b56b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180775&Signature=R8uYkt1tuG0-AtNmZpLHUC7WefnhevpwrnScTRRiD65LozjMta1IJcEAE3o1zElJptutZJPyQWf1SkGcGsjcCXCIDSz8aTkgXzFZnd1LaL1IMdvp3j~z2ibdj1sdJpz8S534jSe1H7OfRosNb~fR2lgChNgFfD1faLHCms3dCbdlvlnPrZw3elL3gimzRAL7f1pAVGmaEyPa3~WjNsXhVpGzbeL7hxgoCfL~qtVjcsWkC8QVWVxtLZYf2xroeaIxPwe09BNPXu97UiAfAhWI2nHT0EqtEk3zsFID-T8wWiSX2WhRmX1Jm7F4vRGhEkVLv411grI0Na~ZMmIs7WJczg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wyoming House of Representatives convened for its organizational session in Cheyenne and completed the formal steps to organize the 68th Legislature, including electing temporary officers, administering oaths, adopting a credentials report and appointing session staff.

The credentials committee reported that it had reviewed the secretary of state's certified list of elected members and found it accurate; the House adopted that report and discharged the committee. Representative Barr read the committee's report, noting the review was done \"pursuant to Article 3, Section 10 of the Wyoming Constitution.\" The deputy secretary of state then called the roll; the deputy reported that all 62 members of the House were present.

After the credentials report, the House received nominations and elected Representative John Bair as temporary speaker by voice vote. The chamber then elected Katie Talbot as temporary chief clerk and appointed a credentials committee (including Representatives Nicholas, J.T. Larson, Clouston, Banks and Angelos) to finalize membership matters. The committee subsequently reported and was discharged after the House adopted its findings.

Later in the session, Representative Nyman was nominated and, by motion to make the election unanimous, was elected speaker of the House of Representatives for the 68th Legislature. The Speaker-elect took the oath of office administered by Justice Boomgarden. The House also nominated and unanimously elected Representative Jeremy Haroldson as speaker pro tem and completed administration of that oath.

Majority Floor Leader Heiner moved and the chamber approved a list of session employees and committee secretaries, naming Katie Talbot as chief clerk and multiple additional staff roles (assistant chief clerk, reading clerk, journal clerk, committee secretaries, sergeant at arms and others) as read into the record. Heiner also moved that the permanent House and joint rules of the 67th Legislature be adopted as the temporary rules for the 68th Legislature; the motion carried by voice vote.

The speaker announced appointments to standing committees and to a courtesy committee to attend to members who are ill or require assistance. The House recessed until 3 p.m.

While much of the session was procedural, the House completed all required organizational steps: credential review, administration of oaths, elections of temporary and permanent leadership, appointment of staff and committees, and adoption of rules to govern the upcoming general session.

Votes at a glance: temporary speaker (motion to elect John Bair) — approved by voice vote; temporary chief clerk (Katie Talbot) — approved by voice vote; credentials committee report (adoption and discharge) — moved by Representative Barr and approved; election of Speaker Nyman — motion to elect made unanimous and approved by voice vote; speaker pro tem (Representative Jeremy Haroldson) — approved by voice vote; staffing appointments and adoption of 67th Legislature permanent rules as temporary rules — approved by voice votes. Specific roll-call tallies were not specified in the record and were recorded in the transcript as voice votes or unanimous consent.","At an organizational session in Cheyenne, the Wyoming House of Representatives completed credentialing, took oaths for incoming members, elected temporary and permanent officers, appointed staff and standing committees, and adopted the previous session's permanent rules as temporary rules for the 68th Legislature.","actionData","errors"]

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Wyoming Secretary of State urges voter ID, ban on ballot drop boxes and conservative agenda to new House

Wyoming House organizes 68th Legislature; John Bair named temporary speaker, Representative Nyman elected speaker