CHEYENNE — The Wyoming House of Representatives referred three mental health bills to the Appropriations Committee last week.
House Speaker Albert Somers, R-Pinedale, referred the bill for consideration, noting his and the governor’s focus on mental health.
“That’s a priority of mine, and I think I heard it was a priority of (Governor Mark Gordon during his State of the State address),” Somers said.
The House passed three mental health bills last week, referring each to the House Appropriations Committee. The committee could consider the bill as early as Tuesday morning.
988 Funding
As previously reported, Rep. Barry Crago (R-Buffalo) told the Sheridan Press ahead of the budget session that he, along with several other members of Congress, will fund the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline Trust Fund. He said he would look for ways to do so. Mr. Crago co-sponsored House Bill 186 to fully fund the $40 million trust fund.
“This is not a hotline. This is a lifeline,” Rep. John Conrad, R-Mountain View, said on the House floor. Conrad is the lead sponsor of his HB 186.
Opponents of the bill on the House floor Thursday morning argued that the 988 funds should remain in the state budget rather than in a trust fund to ensure they continue to work for Wyoming residents.
Many who opposed funding the trust fund last Congress wanted evidence that the hotline works and helps prevent suicide. From June to December 2023, 988 people responded to 3,452 calls, according to Wyoming Department of Health data. Wyoming began operating its hotline 24 hours a day in July 2022, and the number of suicide deaths in 2022 was 35 fewer than in 2021.
Conrad noted that while the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline has helped reduce suicide rates in Wyoming, there is still a long way to go.
“We’re not there yet. We need to be 50th,” Conrad said. The Centers for Disease Control has not released suicide rate statistics for 2022. But the state is likely no longer the state with the highest suicide rate, according to WDH statistics, and the rate is lower than Montana and Alaska, according to state health department data.
suicide prevention license plate
House Bill 144 aims to fund 988 suicide prevention hotline accounts by auctioning off historic license plates. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, noted that some of the state’s older license plates are in high demand and still used by state residents.
The bill would allow the Department of Transportation to auction off license plates with the additional 988 badge. Brown said the plates will help Wyoming residents show their support for suicide prevention and suicide awareness.
“Leaving this state will also show the nation that Wyoming values suicide awareness,” Brown said.
Rep. Clarence Stiver (R-Cheyenne) criticized the bill for having “too many Wyoming license plates.” He said having a sticker available to gauge interest before spending money on a license plate would make it a more attractive option.
Sustaining the MHVA Task Force
The Wyoming Legislature Governing Council established the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adults Task Force immediately after the 2023 General Session. Rep. Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) said the administration decided the task force needed to continue its work for another year, so he proposed a bill to allow members to participate.
“Rather than have the trustees renew the task force for another year, it makes more sense for the entire Legislature to vote on the task force,” Zwonitzer said.
The task force is comprised of six members, including three members of the House of Representatives and three members of the Senate, as well as representatives from the State Department and members of the Judiciary. Zwonitzer said he expects more bills to come out of the special committee during next year’s plenary session.
The shortened 20-day budget session begins on February 12th and ends on March 8th.
Joseph Bode is a government reporter for Sheridan Press. He graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism and joined Sheridan Press in January 2022.
