This bill requires Wyoming school districts to ensure high school students (grades 9-12) can access at least 12 post-secondary credit hours through partnerships with accredited colleges or universities. It directly affects public high school students and school district boards, mandating they collaborate with post-secondary institutions to make these options "reasonably accessible." The key provision specifies that districts must guarantee access to these credits as part of standard high school programming, without adding new costs to students. The requirement becomes effective July 1, 2025.
This bill removes a provision that allowed Wyoming's attorney general to void ballot initiatives if they were deemed substantially similar to existing laws. It directly affects citizens and groups submitting initiative petitions, ensuring their proposals cannot be blocked solely on this grounds. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, streamlining the process for placing initiatives on the ballot without the duplicate law review.
HB 127 amends Wyoming law to create a legal defense for perpetrators charged with violating a domestic violence protection order. Specifically, if a victim requests the perpetrator to violate the order, that request becomes an "affirmative defense" in court. This change directly affects individuals accused of breaching protection orders in domestic violence cases. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter existing protections for victims.
HB 187 amends Wyoming's theft penalties to increase sentencing for certain offenses. It raises the felony threshold for most property theft from $500 to $1,000 (while keeping firearms/horses at $500), and increases misdemeanor penalties for lower-value thefts. Repeat offenders (fifth or subsequent theft convictions) face felony charges with up to 10 years in prison, $10,000 fines, or both. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of theft, shoplifting, or related property crimes under Wyoming law. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 298 establishes a centralized electronic notice system managed by Wyoming's Secretary of State, replacing newspaper publication for legal and public government notices. It requires all governmental entities to publish notices online by January 1, 2030, instead of in newspapers, with notices retained for seven years and a $10 fee for posting. The system allows public subscription for notice alerts and satisfies all existing newspaper publication requirements under state law. This directly affects all state and local government bodies that currently publish notices in newspapers, including agencies handling property sales, meetings, and public hearings. The bill amends numerous existing statutes to align with this electronic publishing standard.
HB 66 allows Wyoming cities and towns to designate properties as "abandoned" (vacant >6 months) or "nuisance" (dangerous/neglected) for cleanup purposes. Property owners who demolish or repair such designated properties within 2 years (or new buyers within 5 years) can receive tax credits covering up to 50% of demolition costs or 100% of repair costs, subject to city approval. Cities may also assess fees to cover abatement costs for dangerous properties. The bill limits designations by city size (e.g., small cities max 3 properties) and requires owners to submit proof of work for tax credit eligibility. (Bill: HB 66, §15-9-301)
HB 13 transfers Wyoming's Integrated Test Center from state administration to the University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources, including all property, funds, and ongoing obligations. The bill establishes the University as the governing body for the center, requiring it to operate a facility focused on researching carbon capture, sequestration, and emissions management. It mandates annual reports to state committees detailing the center's research activities, economic benefits, and facility occupancy. The law also specifies leasing rules for the facility and requires all agreements to retain state sovereign immunity.
HB 67 requires Wyoming's state treasurer to invest up to $60 million from the permanent mineral trust fund into bonds issued by the Wyoming Community Development Authority. These bonds would finance mortgage loans for veterans and first-time homebuyers at a rate 2% below standard market rates. The bill exempts this investment from the usual $1 billion cap on state fund allocations and includes a sunset provision, ending the requirement on July 1, 2028. This legislation directly affects eligible homebuyers through lower mortgage costs, with no further action taken as the bill remains pending.
HB 70 increases the cost thresholds requiring competitive bidding for irrigation districts in Wyoming. It raises the minimum cost for mandatory bidding from $7,500 to $75,000 for general work and from $1,000 to $20,000 for construction projects or material purchases. The bill mandates that districts advertise bids in local newspapers for three consecutive issues with at least 20 days between publications, detailing the work and bid submission requirements. This applies to all irrigation district contracts exceeding these new thresholds, effective July 1, 2025. The change directly affects Wyoming's irrigation districts when managing contracts above these cost levels.
HB 142 provides supplemental funding for K-12 school construction and maintenance projects in Wyoming for fiscal years 2025-2026. It allocates $241 million for new school buildings and renovations (e.g., Laramie Elementary School #2, Goshen High School), $55 million for major facility maintenance (e.g., Teton High School vocational building), and $41 million for transportation facilities, with additional funds for demolition and unanticipated costs. The bill directs the School Facilities Commission to manage these funds, requiring project schedules to align with the state budget while allowing flexibility for the construction department. It also reallocates $13.4 million in unused funds from previous appropriations to avoid fiscal waste. The bill directly affects Wyoming school districts by enabling specific facility upgrades and new construction.
HB 26 requires all children under age two (or who haven't reached the weight/height limit specified by their car seat's manufacturer) to ride in a rear-facing child safety restraint system in Wyoming vehicles. It specifically prohibits placing rear-facing car seats in front of active airbags and clarifies that children may only ride in the front seat under limited circumstances (e.g., vehicles with only one row of seats or when rear seats are occupied by other children). The law applies to all drivers transporting young children and takes effect July 1, 2025. This policy change updates existing safety requirements to align with current child passenger safety guidelines.
HB 71 requires Wyoming insurance businesses to report suspected insurance fraud to the state commissioner within 60 days of discovery. It also mandates full cooperation with fraud investigations and grants immunity from civil lawsuits for good-faith reporting or cooperation (without malice). The bill directly affects insurance companies, brokers, and agents operating in Wyoming, defining fraud as knowingly submitting false information in applications or claims. Key provisions include new reporting deadlines, investigation cooperation rules, and protections against lawsuits for reporting, effective July 1, 2025.
