Cheyenne, Wyo. (RELEASE from WY State Legislature) October 19, 2021 — Senate President Dan Dockstader and Speaker of the House of Representatives Eric Barlow have received a sufficient number of affirmative votes from a recent written poll of the members of the Sixty-Sixth Wyoming Legislature to convene a special session. The Legislature plans to convene for a three-day legislative session beginning on Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. The intended purpose of the special session is to address COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Tentatively, the Legislature plans to hold committee meetings on Oct. 26, conduct a mirror bill process with all three readings occurring on Oct. 27 and hold joint conference committee meetings to resolve any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills on Oct. 28. This schedule requires a two-thirds vote to adopt the special session rules, which will be debated and voted on as the first order of business on Oct. 26.

The Legislative Service Office e-mailed ballots to all members of the Legislature on Oct. 11 at the direction of the President and Speaker to determine whether the Legislature should call itself into special session. The ballots were required to be post marked by Oct. 14.

Proposed legislation, special rules, meeting schedules, legislator contact information and a video livestream will be made available on the Legislature’s Website at www.wyoleg.gov as they become available.

Wyoming voters amended the Wyoming Constitution in November of 2002 to allow the Wyoming Legislature to convene a special session. Prior to the passage of the constitutional amendment, only the Governor could call the Legislature into special session. This will be the second time the Legislature has invoked the authority to call itself into a special session, with the last time being in 2004.