Wyoming's SF 33 establishes a pilot program to address attorney shortages in rural counties by offering financial incentives to attorneys who practice in qualifying areas. Eligible counties must have under 25,000 residents and fewer than 1.5 attorneys per 1,000 residents, and participating attorneys receive up to $20,000 annually (90% of UW law school tuition) over five years. Funding is split 50% from the Supreme Court, 35% from participating counties, and 15% from the Wyoming State Bar. The program requires annual reports on participation and impacts, with a sunset date to limit its duration.
This bill amends Wyoming law to change how major political parties determine voting power on their state central committees. It requires that each committee member's vote be weighted based on the number of the party's registered voters in their county relative to the party's total statewide registered voters from the last congressional election. This means members from counties with larger shares of the party's registered voters have more influence in committee decisions than members from counties with fewer party registrants. The change applies to all major political parties and takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill (SF 46) changes Wyoming's school attendance law to require children to attend school starting at age 6, rather than age 7. It lowers the minimum age by amending the requirement that children whose sixth birthday falls on or before August 1 (or September 15 if they started kindergarten early) must attend school. The bill repeals an outdated related provision (W.S. 21-4-302(a)) and makes the change effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It directly affects parents and guardians of children aged 6-15 in Wyoming school districts.
HB 112 would impose a 1% tax on real estate sales exceeding $1 million, collected from buyers at closing. It affects homeowners and property buyers in Wyoming whose transactions surpass this threshold, though it includes numerous exemptions (e.g., agricultural land, transfers between spouses, gifts, and nonprofit transfers). The tax revenue would fund property tax relief by reducing the property tax assessment ratio, though specific implementation details are not outlined in the bill text. The bill failed to advance in the Wyoming House on February 13, 2024, with a vote of 8-53.
HB 157 clarifies that Wyoming property tax valuations must consistently follow the state law definition of "fair market value" as specified in W.S. 39-11-101(a)(vi). The bill requires county assessors and the Department of Revenue to use appraisal methods aligned with this definition when annually valuing taxable property. It directly affects property taxpayers and local assessors by mandating uniform valuation practices under existing tax statutes. The bill, which failed committee passage in February 2024, takes effect July 1, 2024, if enacted.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to reclassify Wyoming property taxes into four distinct categories: residential, commercial, agricultural, and personal property. It would allow residential properties (including owner-occupied homes) to be taxed at less than full market value, with limits on annual tax increases, while requiring agricultural land to be valued based on its productive capacity. The amendment also repeals a prior similar resolution (SJR 3 from 2023) that had been submitted to voters. The proposal would require voter approval to become part of Wyoming's constitution.
HB 84 designates the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum in Laramie County as a state historic site managed by Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. The bill requires the department to create a strategic master plan for preserving and operating the site within one year, including potential partnerships with local governments or entities. It also authorizes the department to charge higher admission fees specifically to fund site preservation, operations, and maintenance, with annual reports on these revenues. This procedural bill affects the site's management structure and funding mechanism but does not alter land ownership or create new services.
This joint resolution (SJ 1) is a non-binding request from Wyoming's legislature to the U.S. Congress. It demands that Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming (currently covering about 46% of the state's surface area and 69% of its subsurface resources) to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional "equal footing" status as a state admitted to the Union. The resolution requires Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 1, 2024, and proposes that the transferred lands remain state public lands. It is a procedural resolution, not a law, and has not advanced beyond the introduction stage in the Wyoming Senate (failed 17-14).
This bill creates a new "boutique hotel liquor license" for hotels meeting specific criteria. To qualify, a hotel must be valued at $10 million or more (including land), include a restaurant, have at least 35 short-term guest rooms, provide 12-hour daily dining, and offer meeting space for 50+ people. The license allows on-premises alcohol sales only (with exceptions for catering) and requires an annual fee of $500-$3,000. It is intended for upscale hotels and exempts them from population-based liquor license limits.
Wyoming's SF 88 requires the attorney general to investigate local government actions (counties, cities, towns) that allegedly violate state law or the Wyoming Constitution, following a legislator's written request and prior notice to the local government. If violations aren't resolved within 60 days of notice, the attorney general must notify the state treasurer to withhold state funds from the violating entity until the issue is fixed. The bill creates a specific process for holding local governments accountable, including mandatory reporting to the governor and legislature. It directly affects counties, cities, and towns that adopt policies conflicting with state law, with the primary enforcement tool being the withholding of state revenue distributions. The law amends existing fund distribution rules to implement this withholding mechanism.
HB 146 expands Wyoming's property tax relief program to include renters who occupy rental properties as their principal residence. It allows eligible renters to apply for a refund of up to $250 (or the calculated amount, whichever is less) based on their income and assets, while existing owner-occupants continue to qualify for relief covering up to 75% of their property tax paid. To qualify, applicants must meet income limits (not exceeding 125% of their county's median household income), asset limits ($150,000 per adult), and occupy the property for at least 9 months annually. Applications must be submitted by June 1st each year, with refunds issued by September 30, and the bill takes effect January 1, 2025.
This Wyoming bill (SF 43) prohibits separating and selling ownership of subsurface pore space (empty spaces in rock formations holding oil, gas, or water) from surface land ownership after July 1, 2024. It allows existing severed pore space rights (transferred before July 1, 2024) to continue being conveyed, but requires clear descriptions of the subsurface location for any transfers between 2008 and 2024 to be valid. The law grandfathered pre-2008 contracts and pre-2024 severed rights, meaning they remain enforceable. The bill failed committee introduction on February 13, 2024 (10-21 vote) and will not become law.
