HB 238 would have required Wyoming's Department of Transportation to create an online platform by January 1, 2020, for commercial vehicle permit applications, payments, and renewals. This bill directly affected commercial vehicle operators and businesses needing permits under Wyoming law. The key provision mandated the department to replace paper-based processes with a digital system for permit transactions. The bill was procedural (not substantive policy change) and did not become law, as it died in committee in 2019.
HB 215 proposes to increase penalties for parents, guardians, or custodians who endanger children and cause specific severe harm, including sexual assault (as defined in Wyoming law) or certain child abuse (under W.S. 6-2-503). It creates new felony penalties: up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fines for a first offense resulting in such harm, and up to 10 years in prison with $10,000 fines for second or subsequent offenses. The bill specifically targets cases where endangerment directly leads to these aggravated outcomes, not general child endangerment violations. It was introduced in 2019 but died in committee and never became law.
HB 176 requires Wyoming's Department of Health to develop science-based tobacco prevention, cessation, and treatment programs using CDC best practices and peer-reviewed materials. It mandates that these programs address the comparative risks of all nicotine products (including vaping, smokeless tobacco, and cigarettes) and prioritize cost-effective strategies based on annual funding. The bill, introduced in 2019 but not passed, aimed to standardize how tobacco settlement funds are used to reduce tobacco-related health issues. It does not create new funding but sets implementation guidelines for existing settlement dollars.
HB 184 creates a new legal process for landowners in Wyoming who lack access to public roads to establish private road easements over neighboring properties. It requires applicants to prove they’ve exhausted other access options and pay a bond to cover costs, while courts must appoint neutral viewers to determine the most reasonable route (max 30 feet wide), minimize land damage, and set fair compensation for affected neighbors. The law prioritizes historical access paths when agreed upon and mandates compensation for land value loss, improvements, and income impacts. This directly affects isolated rural landowners and their neighbors in disputes over access rights.
HB 296 increases Wyoming's cigarette tax rate from $0.024 to $0.049 per cigarette. It requires wholesalers to pay tax on existing cigarette inventory (floor stock) at the new rate, with payments due in three installments over two months. The bill's effective date depends on either a tribal tax agreement with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes or July 1, 2021, whichever occurs first. This directly affects cigarette wholesalers who must adjust to the higher tax on both new and existing stock.
HB 292, the Wyoming Health Care Pricing Transparency Act, requires health insurers to provide aggregated claims data to large group purchasers of private health insurance plans (like employers with 50+ employees or multi-employer groups) twice yearly. This data includes costs for drugs, services, provider charges, and patient demographics, in searchable electronic format compliant with federal privacy laws. Insurers face $10,000 quarterly penalties for failing to provide the data, and strict rules prevent misuse or unauthorized disclosure of the information. The bill directly affects insurers, large employers buying group health plans, and healthcare providers whose costs are included in the data. It does not apply to government health programs like Medicaid or certain federally regulated employee benefit plans.
This bill changes how Wyoming's Children's Trust Fund can spend money. Until the fund's total assets reach $5 million, the board may spend up to 90% of annual contributions plus prior year's interest. Once the fund exceeds $5 million, only interest income and specific other funds (like those from certain state fees) can be used. The rules took effect July 1, 2019.
HB 83 requires the Wyoming Department of Transportation to maintain the existing system for tracking motor vehicle revenue (such as registration fees) until a new system is implemented. The bill directs the department, in collaboration with the state chief information officer, to standardize data and operations across counties, review current processes, and plan for a new integrated system that can adapt to local needs. It appropriates $910,000 for system maintenance and replacement, with funds restricted to these purposes and unspent money reverting by June 30, 2020. The legislation focuses solely on the technical management of the revenue records system, without altering fee structures or collection methods.
HB 80 is a supplemental budget bill that allocates additional state funds for school facility construction and safety improvements across Wyoming. It directly affects public school districts by providing $26.89 million transferred from the general fund to the school capital construction account, plus specific allocations for projects like a Sweetwater County satellite high school ($17.98 million), Sheridan County alternative high school ($8.82 million), and school safety/security upgrades ($4.95 million). Key provisions include allowing districts to use up to 10% of their existing facility funds for safety needs (with state approval) and requiring the School Facilities Commission to approve safety project spending through a coordinated process. The bill also reappropriates prior-year funds for specific school projects, including charter school leases and modular building replacements in Converse County.
HB 67 (2019) would have imposed Wyoming’s sales tax on specific services previously exempt, including beauty shops, gym memberships, landscaping, and professional services like accounting. It repealed the sales tax exemption for food purchased for home use and adjusted tax rates to increase the total sales tax from 3% to 3.5% (effective July 1, 2019), with revenue distributed as existing sales tax. The bill directly affected businesses providing these services and consumers purchasing them, while removing prior exemptions. Although introduced in January 2019, it died in committee in February 2019 and did not become law.
HB 270 would remove a legal shield that currently prevents lawsuits against Wyoming's Transportation Commission for issues arising from its contracts. If passed, the bill would amend state law to eliminate the Commission's ability to claim immunity under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act when defending contract-related lawsuits. This change would directly affect the Transportation Commission and individuals or entities seeking legal recourse over contractual disputes with the Commission. The bill, introduced in 2019 but never enacted, was intended to take effect July 1, 2019.
HB 150 modifies primary election rules for specific county offices in Wyoming, including sheriff, clerk, treasurer, and others, when more than two candidates run. It requires that the two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary - regardless of political party - advance to the general election ballot. In case of a tie for the top two spots, the county canvassing board resolves it by drawing lots. Additionally, if a candidate who qualified for the general election withdraws, dies, or becomes ineligible before ballots are printed, the remaining top candidate (with tie-breaking by lot if needed) replaces them.
