Latest news with #JeremyHaroldson
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wyoming shields utility companies from wildfire-liability payouts
Wyoming's governor has signed a bill that limits the liability for electric utility companies found guilty of starting wildfires. Legislators argued that the bill was necessary for utility companies to function in an era of massive fire-related class-action lawsuits, especially for many of the smaller, co-op utilities that are a hallmark of the mountain west. 'We are one wildfire away from bankruptcy for these small utilities and these cooperatives,' the Wyoming Republican representative Jeremy Haroldson said in a floor debate in February. Wyoming's legislation pokes at a question crucial in today's American west. Wildfires are tearing across the region summer after summer, often sparked by power lines or negligent utility maintenance. Utility companies are seeing soaring insurance rates. Who pays for damages? Some western legislatures have ushered through bills that offer utilities a reduced level of liability if they produce a wildfire-mitigation plan, often by modifying what constitutes acceptable damages. States that are weighing bills this year include Montana, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and New Mexico. Utah passed similar legislation in 2020. Proponents say the bills are crucial for effective wildfire prevention and keeping utility companies in the black when wildfire insurance rates are rising at an explosive pace. Rocky Mountain Power began a push for a 14% rate hike (now negotiated to 10%) on its Wyoming customers by saying their liability insurance had risen 1,888% in the last five years – due to wildfires. 'We recognize the impact that the rising costs of providing electric service has on customers,' said Dick Garlish, the Rocky Mountain Power president, in a prepared statement last August. 'The dynamic economic conditions we face are similar to those challenging all other electric providers in the nation.' Past wildfire survivors are skeptical, at best, of this type of legislation. One survivor, Sam Drevo, spoke with the Oregon Capitol Chronicle in February. 'Do you think the legislature should be taking care of PacifiCorp while Oregonians who were burned up in 2020 and 2022 are still suffering, not able to rebuild and move on with their lives?' Drevo said. One thing that can be agreed on: the financial stakes are huge. California's PG&E filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after being found liable for catastrophic wildfires, ultimately paying out more than $25.5bn to settle its liabilities. PG&E exited bankruptcy and reincorporated in 2020. Lawmakers in the Golden state gave utilities permission to collect $27bn from ratepayers for fire prevention between 2019 and 2023. This past winter's wildfires will be the first major test of the pooled fund. PacifiCorp was found liable for the state's 2020 Labor Day wildfires, and has been ordered to pay out more than $270m in damages to wildfire victims. Plaintiffs have yet to be compensated, as PacifiCorp plans to appeal the verdict; and, according to the Oregon Journalism Project, 30 victims have died since the case began. PacifiCorp is owned by the billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Company. Its subsidiary Pacific Power operates in Oregon, California and Washington, while its subsidiary Rocky Mountain Power operates in Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. According to 2024 filings, PacifiCorp is facing at least $46bn in claims for wildfire negligence.
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Wyoming shields utility companies from wildfire-liability payouts
Wyoming's governor has signed a bill that limits the liability for electric utility companies found guilty of starting wildfires. Legislators argued that the bill was necessary for utility companies to function in an era of massive fire-related class-action lawsuits, especially for many of the smaller, co-op utilities that are a hallmark of the mountain west. 'We are one wildfire away from bankruptcy for these small utilities and these cooperatives,' the Wyoming Republican representative Jeremy Haroldson said in a floor debate in February. Wyoming's legislation pokes at a question crucial in today's American west. Wildfires are tearing across the region summer after summer, often sparked by power lines or negligent utility maintenance. Utility companies are seeing soaring insurance rates. Who pays for damages? Some western legislatures have ushered through bills that offer utilities a reduced level of liability if they produce a wildfire-mitigation plan, often by modifying what constitutes acceptable damages. States that are weighing bills this year include Montana, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and New Mexico. Utah passed similar legislation in 2020. Proponents say the bills are crucial for effective wildfire prevention and keeping utility companies in the black when wildfire insurance rates are rising at an explosive pace. Rocky Mountain Power began a push for a 14% rate hike (now negotiated to 10%) on its Wyoming customers by saying their liability insurance had risen 1,888% in the last five years – due to wildfires. 'We recognize the impact that the rising costs of providing electric service has on customers,' said Dick Garlish, the Rocky Mountain Power president, in a prepared statement last August. 'The dynamic economic conditions we face are similar to those challenging all other electric providers in the nation.' Past wildfire survivors are skeptical, at best, of this type of legislation. One survivor, Sam Drevo, spoke with the Oregon Capitol Chronicle in February. 'Do you think the legislature should be taking care of PacifiCorp while Oregonians who were burned up in 2020 and 2022 are still suffering, not able to rebuild and move on with their lives?' Drevo said. One thing that can be agreed on: the financial stakes are huge. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion California's PG&E filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after being found liable for catastrophic wildfires, ultimately paying out more than $25.5bn to settle its liabilities. PG&E exited bankruptcy and reincorporated in 2020. Lawmakers in the Golden state gave utilities permission to collect $27bn from ratepayers for fire prevention between 2019 and 2023. This past winter's wildfires will be the first major test of the pooled fund. PacifiCorp was found liable for the state's 2020 Labor Day wildfires, and has been ordered to pay out more than $270m in damages to wildfire victims. Plaintiffs have yet to be compensated, as PacifiCorp plans to appeal the verdict; and, according to the Oregon Journalism Project, 30 victims have died since the case began. PacifiCorp is owned by the billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Company. Its subsidiary Pacific Power operates in Oregon, California and Washington, while its subsidiary Rocky Mountain Power operates in Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. According to 2024 filings, PacifiCorp is facing at least $46bn in claims for wildfire negligence.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wyoming anti-DEI bill heads to governor's desk
CHEYENNE – A bill to terminate and defund diversity, equity and inclusion programming at the University of Wyoming and community colleges is headed for Gov. Mark Gordon's desk. Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Torrington, has tried to bring sweeping changes like those proposed in Senate File 103, 'Terminating and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion,' in budget amendments during past sessions, but this year, Steinmetz said she felt it was time for the bill to stand alone. This session, Steinmetz has said that rather than DEI programming, she prefers 'racially neutral, or color blind laws.' In the House, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, explained that the bill will create two new sections of statute regarding how funds can be used by state entities, be they 'bequested, charged, deposited, donated, endowed, fees, grants, gifts and tuition.' Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland (2025) Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland None could be used to 'establish or maintain DEI programs,' Haroldson said. There are carveouts in the bill for academic course instruction; dissemination of scholarly work by students, faculty or other research personnel of UW or community colleges; and for 'federally recognized tribes,' according to Haroldson. Rep. Ken Chestek, D-Laramie, said he believes measures like SF 103 will drive young people from the state. 'We've heard a lot of talk – and we all know this is true – about the brain drain. Our young people leaving the state, not wanting to come back,' Chestek said. 'It's stuff like this that makes that happen. "Our young people are not as concerned about diversity, equity and inclusion as some of us seem to be in this body, and passing laws like this simply make Wyoming an unwelcome place for the younger generation," Chestek said. Rep. Ken Chestek, D-Laramie (2025) Rep. Ken Chestek, D-Laramie Haroldson pushed back, saying that people in his community are 'no longer sending their kids to our college because of this.' Haroldson said it is within lawmakers' purview to say 'we don't want these things taught to our students," because higher education is funded by the Legislature. SF 103, he said, sets a policy clearly stating what lawmakers want taught in state-funded institutions. The House Speaker Pro Tempore likened it to his role leading Impact Ministries in Wheatland. 'I have an opportunity to stand as a pastor in a church. It'd be like someone coming in and saying, 'Hey, we want to give this donation to your ministry, but we're going to earmark it to something that morally you disagree with',' Haroldson said. 'Well, that's not going to work.' Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, pointed out that SF 103 will also restrict how private donations are used within Wyoming's public institutions, which may lead to educational institutions being forced to reject entire donations, even if a small part would be used for programming prohibited under the bill. Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson (2025) Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson 'I think that's a real problem,' Yin said. Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, brought a third-reading amendment to clarify that the restrictions would apply to governmental funds, but would 'ensure that donor funds were spent according to donor intent.' 'Keep in mind that a governmental entity can refuse a donation from a donor, so if that gift comes with DEI considerations, that governmental entity can say 'no thanks',' Sherwood said. 'This does not prohibit someone from saying, 'I don't want to take that gift.'' Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie (2025) Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie Rep. Ken Clouston, R-Gillette, said he would support Sherwood's amendment based on his own experience serving on a cancer care board in his hometown. 'We would get lots of donations set for different things,' he said. 'The button to call for health help, or when we set up a CT scanner. A lot of the donations were specific for a certain project, so I appreciate the bringer of this amendment, and how it would help in those situations.' Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, said Sherwood's amendment would go against the intention of the bill. 'Here we are trying to decide if we are going to allow private funding to go against the policy that this bill is trying to purport,' Bear said. 'Now, does that mean that some grant monies will be at risk? Yes, it does. But should we be seeking grant money that goes in opposition to this bill?' Haroldson said he was also concerned Sherwood's amendment would prohibit DEI programming 'except for when it is (paid for with) private funds.' 'I stand 100% behind the idea that we want to eliminate the conversation of diversity, equity and inclusion, and what that has turned into in this day and age,' Haroldson said. Sherwood, however, argued that it is easy for lawmakers as collective appropriators to put restrictions on state and federal funds. But the conversation is different when it comes to private dollars, she said. 'Consider that maybe there is a donor who wants to provide funding for a Black History Month program,' Sherwood said. "I don't know that it is clear in existing language that that would be allowed.' Sherwood's amendment failed, and SF 103 passed the House in a 52-7 vote.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wildfire grants, backfill, energy funds three main differences between House, Senate budget
CHEYENNE — The spending difference between the supplemental budgets in Wyoming's two legislative chambers is approximately $109 million, according to the Legislative Service Office. Last week, the House of Representatives voted to pass a supplemental budget that added $119.4 million in appropriations, and lawmakers in the Senate passed a one-year budget adjustment with $228.8 million in appropriations. This week, LSO staff met with House and Senate appropriators separately to brief them on the opposite chamber's budget amendments. Lawmakers spent last week bringing second- and third-reading amendments to their versions of the supplemental budget, which is a spending adjustment to the 2025-26 biennium budget that was passed last year. Legislators passed a total of 47 amendments to the supplemental budget, with 19 in the House and 28 in the Senate. Out of that total, five of them are mirror, or identical amendments. One mirror amendment includes a $4 million appropriation to child development centers in the state. Mirror amendments are off the table during the upcoming joint conference committee (JCC) negotiations. Three high-level spending differences between the two budgets are state backfill to local governments for property tax revenue loss, wildfire grant funding and energy matching funds, according to LSO Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards. At the beginning of the session, Gov. Mark Gordon reminded lawmakers the supplemental budget is meant for emergency and unforeseen expenditures only. In his own supplemental budget request, Gordon prioritized funding for wildfire recovery grants, increased Medicaid reimbursement rates and litigation funds to defend Wyoming's core natural industries — just to name a few. Wildfire, property tax, energy Gordon asked for $130 million in his supplemental budget proposal for a wildfire grant program to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and impacted state lands damaged by last summer's historic wildfire season. House appropriators originally knocked this down to a $100 million loan program, run through the Wyoming Business Council, with a 2% interest rate. However, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, successfully added an amendment to create a $40 million grant program for purposes of recovering damaged vegetation from the fires, and reduced the loan program to $60 million. The Senate proposed a $100 million wildfire grant program. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland (2025) Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland The $60 million funding difference for wildfire grants is on the table during budget negotiations. As for property tax cuts, the House added a conditional $72 million state backfill to help cover local governments' revenue loss. This grant would go to the eight counties with the lowest total assessed valuations on condition the grants do not exceed 75% of residential property tax reduction compared to the 2024 tax year. 'This amendment is contingent on passage of at least one of 10 different bills that are all related to property tax,' said LSO Senior Fiscal Analyst Polly Scott, adding that this amendment is set to end in two years. The Senate provided a $15 million backfill, but only to first-responder and health care special districts. The funding difference between these amendments, as well as the parameters around these backfills, will also be on the table during budget negotiations. The Senate also adopted an amendment allow the governor to retain $100 million in large energy matching funds. These funds are used for industrial projects in coal, oil and natural gas. The House chose to adopt the JAC's position and return that money to the budget reserve account. Word of caution Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, currently the House's longest-serving member, has warned lawmakers all session against bills that he said could put the state in a fiscal bind. During Tuesday's report of the supplemental budget, Harshman repeated his words of caution. The beginning balance of the state's Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA, also known as the state's 'rainy-day fund') is $1.869 billion, Harshman said. Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper (2025) Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper 'Depending on whether you're looking at the Senate or the House, we're about $600 million, $700 million less,' Harshman said, adding he wasn't sure if this included the $72 million backfill for lost property tax revenue. State statute requires the LSRA to backstop the School Foundation Program account if it goes below $100 million. For the second time in the state's history, the School Foundation Program dipped into the LSRA, Harshman said. 'And it's not the spending as much,' Harshman said. 'There's been some serious revenue reductions and movements, as well.' Further reductions in property taxes are also expected to impact revenue into the School Foundation Program, which funds inflationary costs for teacher and non-teacher salaries, classroom supplies and energy. Senate Majority Floor Leader Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, told the media last week the LSRA is expected to replace lost property tax revenue in funding this account. However, once the LSRA drops below $500 million, 'no more funding for schools,' Harshman said Tuesday. 'I urge caution when we shrink revenue streams. Our revenue streams are pretty tight the way it is,' Harshman said. House Appropriations Chairman Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, reminded lawmakers Gordon's original supplemental request was $750 million, and the Joint Appropriations Committee cut out $235 million before the current legislative session began. 'What was the real purpose of those cuts? They were to provide tax relief, folks,' Bear said. He said constituents have pushed for property tax relief, and it was the goal of members of the body to provide those tax cuts. He admitted these cuts are costing the state money from its savings account. Next steps The Senate president and House speaker each appointed five members from their respective chambers to the Joint Conference Committee. The JCC is responsible for looking at the amendments on the table and negotiating a single version of the supplemental budget before sending it back to the floor of each chamber for a vote. House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, nominated Reps. Jayme Lien, R-Casper; Chris Knapp, R-Gillette; Scott Heiner, R-Green River, himself and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bear. Bear is the only JCC member who is also a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee. During a news conference Tuesday, Bear said he wanted to give the other House appropriators 'a break.' Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette (2025) Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette 'As the chair of Appropriations, I have worked and run my committee about like a bunch of random mules,' Bear said. 'They deserve a break for their hard work, and maybe this is one way that they can get a better break.' The Senate has not yet announced its JCC members.
