The Wyoming House of Representatives is debating a bill that would limit public health orders to ten days and require elected officials to agree to extend the order.
Speaker of the House Eric Barlow said the legislation is intended to address whether businesses can stay open, regulation of mask use, size of gatherings and the regulation of people who are not sick. He said the extension of a statewide order would be up to the governor and a local order would be up to county commissioners.
Newcastle Representative Hans Hunt said last year's health orders cost the state a lot of money and this legislation restores common sense to the process.
"That we are taking these steps is a huge step in the right direction towards balancing the scales back to A, the elected officials and B, to common sense and sanity," said Hunt.
Barlow's bill also gives the governor the power to appoint the State Health Officer instead of the Director of the Wyoming Department of Health. The bill will be debated two more times.