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Governor Mark Gordon Signs 20 Bills on Tuesday February 9

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed 20 bills into law on Tuesday, February 9 and has now acted on all legislation passed by the Wyoming Legislature during the eight-day virtual session.

One those bills signed was HJ0001, a bill aimed at increasing treatment options for veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill notes grim statistics like “national veteran suicide crisis data indicates that as many as 22 veteran die by suicide every day” and the link between that and TBIs.

“Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder can be causes of suicide and that data collected from 2000-2009 indicates that between active guard and reserve service members across all branches there are 413,858 individuals with TBIs of varying degrees.”

The bill also notes that “the number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder varies by service era but ranges between 11% and 30%.”

The purpose of HJ0001 is to expand the options of treatment beyond medication and counseling to include “vocational counseling and other rehabilitation therapies… like physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive therapy, speech therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.”

The research on hyberbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for TBI patients began in the 1960s and showed its promise in the neuroprotective results seen in rats in a study published in 1966. More modern studies have shown benefits in the immediate and long term. A 2016 paper published by the NIH indicates that HBOT can increase tissue oxygenation, suppress inflammation and promotes neurogenesis and angiogenesis.

A full list of the bills signed into law on February 9th can be seen below and independently reviewed here.

Bill No. Enrolled Act # Bill Title
HB0008 HEA0006 Consumer credit amendments
HB0018 HEA0007 Military training memorials
HB0025 HEA0008 Tribal vehicle registration exemption implementation
HB0035 HEA0009 Theft statute-amendment
HB0045 HEA0010 Changes to water right – notice requirements for hearing
HB0030 HEA0013 Public utility assessment
HB0009 HEA0015 Short time compensation program
HB0027 HEA0016 Business code revisions
HB0013 HEA0017 Alcoholic beverage regulation
HB0015 HEA0018 Department of transportation communication facilities
HJ0001 HEJR0001 Traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress treatments
SF0057 SEA0005 School finance-dates for fund transfers
SF0014 SEA0007 Credit for reinsurance
SF0032 SEA0008 Water permit notice requirements
SF0060 SEA0009 Monthly ad valorem tax revisions-2
SF0029 SEA0010 Revised uniform law on notarial acts
SF0054 SEA0011 Statewide health information exchange-codification
SF0026 SEA0012 Animal abuse statutes reorganization and update
SF0018 SEA0013 Universal occupational licensure
SF0053 SEA0014 Ground ambulance service provider assessment act

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