After the House and Senate couldn’t agree on a bill that seeks to grant greater local authority over approving or denying new gambling locations, a committee met Wednesday to reconcile some of the disagreements.
By the end of the discussion, lawmakers on the Joint Conference Committee (JCC) reached a compromise that preserves local control while addressing concerns over judicial appeals and administrative fees.
Senate File 45 came out of conversations over the past year after cities and towns expressed concern over their role, or lack thereof, in the growing historic horse racing and simulcasting industries. Currently, the authority to approve these permits rests almost exclusively with the Wyoming Gaming Commission and local county commissioners, often leaving municipal leaders – where 42 of the state’s 43 active locations are situated – with no formal say.
