ROCK SPRINGS -- Rankings of social issues and property tax relief dominated a recent political discussion in Rock Springs.
The 2025 General Legislative Session is over, and delegates are back home sharing this year’s outcomes with Sweetwater County.
The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative panel and social at the Young at Heart Community Center on Thursday, April 10. Melissa Adkinson, a Green River High School educator, moderated the discussion.
Delegates in attendance included Joshua “JT” Larson (HD-17), Stacy Jones (SD-13), Cody Wylie (HD-39), Darin McCann (HD-48), John Kolb (SD-12), Marlene Brady (HD-60), Bob Davis (HD-47) and Laura Taliaferro Pearson (SD-14).
Rep. Scott Heiner of House District 18 and Sen. Larry Hicks of Senate District 11 were absent.
PROPERTY TAX ISSUES
While many legislators supported the 25% tax reduction, some argued that it would have minimal impact to the communities in Wyoming. They were asked if they consulted with elected officials in Rock Springs and Green River before making their decisions.
Sen. John Kolb said he reached out to Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson and the Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners.
“It’s not right for Sweetwater County because we haven’t kept up with inflation,” Kolb said referring to the property tax reduction. “I know people like to pay less in taxes, but when I went door-to-door, the main concern I heard from constituents was that they don’t want us to waste money.”
Rep. Marlene Brady said she talked to the county assessor about the proposed 50% property tax reduction and claimed that her constituents wanted long-lasting reform, not just relief.
“A lot of them wanted the 50% reduction,” Brady said, noting it would have minimal impact on communities.
According to Rep. Bob Davis, “This one size fits all doesn’t work for Wyoming."
Sen. Stacy Jones said a thriving community is important to industries.
“People want amenities and services,” Jones said. “With a 50% reduction, we won’t have that.”
Rep. Cody Wylie echoed Jones.
“I don’t want to leave Wyomingites behind,” Wylie said. “Several amendments were brought forth for property tax reform so we can keep our quality of life, but most were thinking about relief instead of reform.”
According to Rep. Darin McCann, a Freedom Caucus poll indicated that property tax relief was listed in the top five priorities for Wyoming. He told attendees that “we’re just going to have to tighten our belts a bit.”
THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
Wyoming Senate leaders did not pass a supplemental budget bill during this year’s legislative session. According to a Feb. 26 news release, which did not list any senator beside Senate President Bo Biteman (R-Ranchester) by name, “the Senate reached a consensus" after "discussions with our senators.”
Sen. Laura Taliaferro Pearson aimed her frustration at the Senate, claiming “there was no vote” or any discussion about the supplemental budget.
“There was a supplemental budget for hardship counties from the House, but the Senate killed it,” Pearson said. “We didn’t find out about this until we read it on Cowboy State Daily.”
Pearson was asked if she had called a motion for the budget to come back. Her response was “No, but I made it clear that I was angry.”
Jones pointed out the Senate “was responsible in not passing the supplemental budget,” noting that the state is not running efficiently.
Wylie agreed the state isn’t 100% efficient and that it’s the legislature’s duty to “advocate for their districts and counties.”
“We’re never going to hit 100%, but there has to be compromise,” Wylie said. “We just have to work for a better future for our neighbors, friends and families.”
STATE INCOME TAX
Rep. Joshua “JT” Larson voiced he is not in favor of a state income tax.
“We have to come up with creative ways to fund the state,” Larson said. “It’s not fair to get it from industries. We have to pull our own weight.”
McCann had the same opinion but insisted there should be zero property tax since Wyoming “is a rich state.”
Wylie said for every dollar residents pay in taxes, they get $7 in services. He received this information from the Wyoming Taxpayers Association.
“I will not support an income tax in any way,” Wylie said.
Kolb said a state income tax “is not a solution,” and that voters need to “vote out the ones who are not doing their jobs.”
Brady opposes the idea of a state income tax, as well, saying “government does not have a revenue problem, government has a spending problem,” while Davis expressed hope for “the next boom.”
According to Jones, communities will lose amenities with a 0% property tax.
“We want people to move to Wyoming,” Jones said. “If we lose the property tax, they won’t move here.”
BACK AND FORTH
Some attendees voiced skepticism, questioning the legislature’s priorities.
Sweetwater County resident Kathy Garrison called McCann out for telling her Wyomingites “should not have property taxes at all” during his campaign.
“You told me that the state has so much money and that I wouldn’t lose any services,” Garrison said.
Garrison referred to a Feb. 18 Rocket Miner news article about non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sweetwater County. She represented an NGO for 45 years. She said there are 17 agencies that can't get funding from the county.
"That is a death nail for some of them. We have worked so hard for these services,” she said, asking lawmakers how they will make the agencies whole again.
In response, McCann said all elected officials can do is “wait and see what happens.”
Rock Springs resident Susan Schmid is a registered voter in House District 48. She asked why time and attention was spent on House Bill 32, “What is a Woman Act,” which McCann co-sponsored.
McCann said a lot of time was spent on this bill because he “agreed with it.”
“You have a stronger opinion on that instead of property taxes?” Schmid asked. “I’m upset that as a representative in my district, you didn’t address the alarmingly high rate of teenage suicide or programs and resources, like the youth home, being cut or where those at-risk kids are going."
McCann, who specializes in orthopedic care, said what struck him the most with the bill was transgender women competing in women’s sports.
“I think it’s well-documented that it’s not a good idea,” McCann said.
Pearson said the legislators wanted a bill that created a clear definition in the statute as far as what a woman is.
“There are over 200 statutes in Wyoming law that reference woman, man, and so forth, so that’s why we needed a clear definition,” Pearson said. “It was just an in-kind to the statute.”
Green River Councilwoman Sherry Bushman asked the delegates how they contribute to the community. While several legislators shared their experiences as volunteers for various events and organizations, Brady said "actions done are not meant to be put on a resumé."
"My philosophy is don't let the right hand know what the left hand is doing," Brady said. "We do our things quietly and we help out in many ways, whether it's with a group or helping a neighbor - anything like that, you just do it."
As Pearson thought about the question, she asked if she even has the time to volunteer, especially since she's a sheep rancher.
"Whenever people need me, and ask me to do something, I try to be there even if I don't have time to do it," Pearson said. "Like, probably tonight, I didn't have time to come in here."
Pearson was about ten minutes late for Thursday's legislative panel.
"I may be a little late, but I will be there to help," she said.
Rock Springs resident Barbara Smith asked the legislators how House Bill 64, Chemical Abortions-Ultrasound Requirement, would protect women.
"Why was this a legislative decision instead of a personal decision between a woman and her doctor?" Smith asked.
McCann said while abortion shouldn't be a political issue, he didn't hesitate in supporting the bill because he is "going to go for the child every time."
Brady explained that since a woman was dying from an abortion pill, legislators thought it should be treated the same way users are instructed when they use Tylenol. She added that based on how far along the woman is, the abortion pill could put her at risk, just as other medications can put her at risk.
"The manufacturer require an ultrasound, but a lot of doctors don't do it and women are dying from this," Brady said. "You don't hear that a lot. You just hear about the sensationalism of the bill."
Smith questioned if these abortion pill deaths occurred in Wyoming. Brady answered, "Yes."
Pearson clarified that if a woman is 10 weeks along, her health is at risk by taking the abortion pill. A vaginal ultrasound is necessary to determine how far along the woman is. There was also no mention in the bill regarding miscarriages.
Jones pointed out the bottom line is "to determine how much medication can be administered" without harming the woman.
"We want to make sure there's a healthy woman at the end of the day," Jones said.
Rock Springs resident Tamera Kendrick asked what the legislature’s plan is if Sweetwater County loses its amenities such as the Young at Heart Community Center or the golf course.
“Are we going to tell our county that they don’t deserve those amenities?” Kendrick asked.
According to Kolb, this would be a local issue.
“When you have less money to use, you have to prioritize," Kolb said. "We all have to make tough choices, from the state to the county and local levels.”
He also noted that the first step to keeping amenities in the community is to vote for it.
Kendrick told Rocket Miner that she doesn’t think property tax is a bad thing.
“I don’t think of property tax as a way for government to get your money,” she said. “Think of it as a living expense. I had someone say, ‘If you own your house, why do you pay property tax?’ My response was, ‘If your house catches fire, will they send a fire truck that your property tax pays for or do they let your house burn?
"It's a living expense.”
