Wyoming Freedom Caucus chair to sponsor seven bills

CODY - The chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has prepared a handful of bills to sponsor in the upcoming legislative session, including one that clarifies the use of bathrooms in public schools.

The wording of the proposal reflects a resolution passed by Park County School District No. 1 in Powell, which the community supported, said Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, HD-50, in a statement.

It's among bills on multiple issues – UW board of trustees, discrimination, women's sports, adoption, pregnancy, and protections for animals and newborns – that she'll promote during the upcoming legislative session.

Entering her third term, Rodriguez-Williams will champion seven bills during the 2025 legislative session, which convenes January 14. The bathroom policy is proposed in a Senate bill co-sponsored by her and Sen. Dan Laursen, SD-19, of Powell, among others.

Further, as chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, Rodriguez-Williams will be promoting the group's Five and Dime Plan. She's a founding member of the caucus.

The Senate proposal would require public school children to use restrooms that align with their sex at birth. In addition, it would require reasonable accommodations, provide exceptions and set penalties.

Representative Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R - Cody)

"Biological boys should not be able to use girls' restrooms or locker rooms," she said. "Girls deserve to have safe spaces and privacy."

In the House, Rodriguez-Williams said she will carry seven bills, one expanding the University of Wyoming board of trustees from 12 to 19 members. Currently the governor appoints all 12. Under her proposed legislation, voters would elect an additional seven.

"This bill creates an opportunity for Wyoming to hold its land-grant university to a higher standard of representation, transparency, and accountability so that every community can begin to place confidence in its decisions," Rodriguez-Williams said.

Her next bill will prohibit institutional discrimination, restoring a color-blind approach to state government, Rodriguez-Williams said.

Another bill would bar biological males from participating in women's sports, from grade school through college. It would also protect schools that comply with the law from sanctions by any associations.

The fourth bill would ensure that faith-based adoption and foster care providers remain free to serve children in need.

Pregnancy centers would be protected in the fifth bill that would prohibit governmental officials and agents from forcing centers to refer clients to abortion providers. It would also ensure they could provide pregnancy care and related services.

The "Working animal protection act" would protect legal, law-abiding animal businesses from the agenda of radical animal extremists who, she said, tend to operate at the municipal level.

"Local bans on working animal industries destroy animal ownership, job opportunities, and revenue that animal exhibitors, carriage companies, and others bring to the state for all citizens to enjoy," Rodriguez-Williams said. Such bans, she continued, "deny families access to opportunities to view and/or interact with animals just because it doesn't align with certain groups' ideology."

Her final bill would provide funding for newborn safety devices used by safe haven providers. The device permits a newborn to be placed safely in it and alerts the provider when it's used. The Department of Family Services would receive $300,000 for grants to safe haven providers to purchase the device.