Wyoming's HB 17 would require outfitters and professional fishing guides to register their boats, vehicles, and trailers with the state's Game and Fish Commission if operating in waterways where the Commission sets limits on guided boat numbers. The bill mandates an annual fee for registration and requires displaying a sticker on each registered boat and vehicle. It directly affects commercial fishing guides and outfitters who charge for guiding services, aiming to protect fisheries and fishing experiences by managing boat density. The law would take effect July 1, 2024, if passed.
SF 40 creates the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund and establishes a 9-member board to manage it. The board, appointed by the governor with tribal and regional representation, will distribute funds through grants for outdoor recreation and tourism projects. Key provisions include setting criteria for small/large projects (prioritizing multi-partner initiatives), requiring consultation with tribes and local communities, and mandating annual reports on fund usage. The trust fund directly affects state parks, local tourism entities, and tribal nations by providing structured funding for recreation infrastructure and tourism development.
HB 39, titled "Campaign reporting," proposed new requirements for campaign committees to disclose financial information. The bill would have directly affected political campaigns and candidates by mandating specific reporting timelines and details about donations and expenditures. It failed to advance past the introduction stage, receiving a vote of 37-23 against it on February 12, 2024. The bill aimed to increase transparency in campaign finance but did not become law. (Note: Specific reporting mechanisms were not detailed in the provided context.)
Wyoming's HB 37 creates two new election-related offenses: a misdemeanor for intimidating voters or election officials through verbal threats of violence, harm, or economic retaliation (e.g., threatening to fire someone over voting choices), and a felony for more severe intimidation involving similar threats. The bill directly affects individuals who use such threats to prevent free voting or interfere with election administration. Key provisions define specific threatening conduct (like soliciting campaign contributions through threats of violence) and establish penalties of up to six months in jail or $1,000 fines for misdemeanors, and up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines for felonies. The law would apply to all elections in Wyoming, including local, state, and federal races, and takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 41 proposes a change to Wyoming's residency rules for candidates running for the state legislature. It clarifies that candidates must have lived in their specific legislative district for at least one year before the election. However, if new district boundaries aren't finalized before filing opens, candidates may instead show one year of residency in any county within that district. The bill failed to pass in the legislature (40-20 vote) and would have taken effect July 1, 2024, if enacted. This is a procedural eligibility rule affecting only individuals seeking legislative office.
HB 6 creates a new $2,500 penalty for drivers of light and high profile vehicles (such as trucks or buses) who ignore highway closure signs. The driver must pay the fine immediately upon violation, and a conviction counts as reckless driving under commercial driver's license rules. This can lead to a 90-day license suspension for a first offense, six months for a second offense within five years, or license revocation after two prior offenses. The bill directly affects commercial vehicle operators and drivers of taller/wider vehicles, as violations impact their ability to legally operate commercially.
HB 2 increases nonresident fishing license fees in Wyoming: annual licenses rise from $100 to $110, daily licenses from $12 to $14, and five-day licenses from $54 to $60. It directly affects nonresidents (including tourists and out-of-state anglers) who purchase these licenses. The bill, which would have taken effect July 1, 2024, failed to pass during its introduction on February 12, 2024, with a vote of 39-22-1. The amendment targets specific fee schedules under Wyoming Statute 23-2-201.
This bill requires Wyoming's Department of Health to continue paying behavioral health service claims for low-income individuals without insurance coverage for mental health or substance use treatment (defined as those earning under 200% of the federal poverty level) in the same manner as before prior reforms. It mandates the department to collect data on potential savings from pursuing third-party billing (like private insurance) before state payments and report these findings to a legislative committee by September 2025. The bill also updates definitions to exclude people with insurance covering these services after July 1, 2026, and takes effect July 1, 2024. It does not change current service delivery but establishes new reporting and data collection requirements for state payments.
HB 7 imposes a $0.04 per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used to charge all-electric vehicles at DC fast charging stations and creates annual decal fees: $200 for all-electric vehicles and $100 for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The bill directly affects EV owners (through registration fees) and charging station operators (through the per-kWh tax). Key mechanisms include defining "all-electric vehicle" and "electricity gallon equivalent" for tax calculations, requiring suppliers to report and remit taxes monthly based on electricity used for vehicle charging, and repealing outdated provisions. The tax applies specifically to electricity used for propulsion, not general electricity consumption.
SF 131 prohibits anyone from sending absentee ballot request forms to Wyoming voters by mail, email, or other methods without the voter's specific request. This law directly affects political groups, organizations, or individuals who might distribute these forms unsolicited. The key provision requires that such forms can only be sent if a voter has asked for them, with violations punishable as misdemeanors (up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine). The bill amends Wyoming election statutes to create this restriction and penalty, effective immediately upon enactment.
SF 96 appropriates over $4.3 million for water planning and infrastructure studies across Wyoming. It funds specific Level I reconnaissance and Level II feasibility studies for new water development projects (like Glendo Water Master Plan) and rehabilitation efforts (such as Cody Canal repairs), primarily benefiting local irrigation districts and counties. Key provisions allow unspent funds to be reallocated between projects with committee approval and require all unobligated funds to revert to water accounts by July 1, 2026. The bill mandates reports to the legislature on each study before the 2025 session.
Wyoming's SF 127, the Wyoming Stable Token Act, creates a state-issued digital currency called "Wyoming stable tokens," backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars held in a state trust account. The bill establishes a Wyoming Stable Token Commission (governed by the governor, auditor, treasurer, and appointed experts) to oversee the tokens' issuance, management, and redemption. Key provisions require all funds from token sales to be invested solely in U.S. Treasury bills and held in trust to support immediate redemption at face value. The act directly affects token holders (who can redeem tokens for $1 USD) and financial institutions approved by the commission to manage the tokens.
