SF 19 (Wyoming Senate Bill 19) requires all children under age two or below the weight/height limits specified by the car seat manufacturer to use a rear-facing child safety restraint system in vehicles. The law directly affects parents and caregivers transporting infants in Wyoming vehicles, mandating rear-facing seats instead of forward-facing ones for this age group. It also clarifies that rear-facing seats must not be placed in front of active airbags for safety reasons. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 31-5-1303 and takes effect July 1, 2023.
This bill raises the monetary threshold for improvements on leased state lands from $2,000 to $4,000 per section, meaning lessees (like ranchers or farmers) can now make most minor improvements without needing prior approval from the state lands director. It updates the method for calculating payment to landowners for existing improvements when a lease is renewed or transferred. Lessees must still pay for improvements exceeding the threshold or remove them within 120 days of lease expiration. The changes apply to all state land leases in Wyoming and take effect July 1, 2023.
Wyoming's HB 47 requires all electronic voting systems used in state and county elections to be certified by the Secretary of State. Vendors must submit applications proving federal election assistance commission certification, compliance with voluntary voting guidelines, and escrow of source code, along with a valid Wyoming business certificate. Counties must maintain detailed inventories of all voting systems, including serial numbers, software versions, and firmware details. The law, effective July 1, 2023, directly affects voting system vendors and county election officials by standardizing certification and inventory requirements.
Wyoming's HB 180 requires the state veterinarian to notify livestock owners within three days when an animal tests positive for brucellosis. It mandates the Wyoming Livestock Board to create a communication protocol sharing test results with affected livestock producers, veterinarians, and brand inspectors in the same county. The bill also specifies that adjacent landowners, local veterinarians, and owners of potentially exposed animals may receive limited information to manage disease outbreaks. These changes amend existing statutes to standardize reporting and notification procedures for brucellosis, directly affecting livestock owners and veterinarians in Wyoming.
HB 101 amends Wyoming's trust laws to modernize administration and clarify roles. It updates definitions (like "qualified trustee" and "power of appointment"), changes who can modify or terminate trusts (allowing settlors, trustees, and beneficiaries to initiate proceedings), and revises procedures for filling trustee vacancies. The bill also clarifies that trust protectors or advisors directing trustee actions are not automatically fiduciaries, reducing liability for trustees following such directions. These changes directly affect trust creators, trustees, beneficiaries, and advisors managing or using Wyoming trusts.
HB 284 amends Wyoming law to classify debt buyers as collection agencies, bringing them under existing regulatory requirements. It defines "debt buyer" as any person regularly purchasing charged-off consumer debt for collection (whether collecting directly, hiring third parties, or using attorneys). This means debt buyers operating in Wyoming must now comply with the same rules as traditional collection agencies when collecting debts from consumers. The law applies to all debt buyers conducting business in the state, effective July 1, 2023.
HB 229 allows Wyoming's Department of Revenue and county treasurers to collect sales and use taxes electronically. It updates tax filing rules to explicitly permit vendors (businesses selling taxable goods/services) and taxpayers to submit returns and pay taxes online or via electronic methods, rather than only by mail or in person. The bill specifically clarifies that county treasurers may accept electronic payments for vehicle registration taxes during initial registration. It does not change tax rates or obligations, only modernizing the payment process for existing requirements. This affects all businesses collecting sales tax and individuals purchasing taxable items in Wyoming.
Wyoming bill SF 157 amends a state law to explicitly allow the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Northern Arapaho Tribe to apply for participation in emergency insect management programs. The bill updates the application process so these tribes, along with state agencies, can submit applications directly to the Department of Agriculture for such programs. This change removes previous barriers by formally including the tribes as eligible applicants under the existing statutory framework. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
HB 100 requires Wyoming's Department of Revenue to hire a consultant to study converting the state's residential property tax system from current assessed value to one based on a property's original purchase price (acquisition value). The study must analyze revenue impacts across Wyoming, develop at least three implementation options - including one using 2017 values with annual 2% inflation - and address technical details like agricultural properties, new construction, and sales exclusions. The consultant must report findings to the Joint Revenue Committee by September 1, 2023, with the committee then determining if legislative action is needed. The bill appropriates $10,000 for this study, which is a preliminary step toward potential future tax system changes, not an immediate policy shift. This study directly affects how Wyoming might eventually calculate property taxes for homeowners.
This bill reduces Wyoming's property tax assessment rate for "all other property" (including most residential and commercial properties not covered by other classifications) from 9.5% to 7.5% of fair market value. It directly affects property owners in this category by lowering the taxable value used to calculate their annual property tax bill. The change takes effect January 1, 2024, as amended in sections 39-11-101(a)(xvii)(C) and 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C) of Wyoming law.
HB 183 requires criminal background checks for specific workers in Wyoming's gaming industry, including those involved in horse race betting, online sports wagering, and skill-based amusement games. It specifically targets roles like pari-mutuel agents, trainers, owners, exercise riders, and executive officers of online betting companies. The Wyoming Gaming Commission must conduct these checks using fingerprinting and criminal history records as part of the licensing process. This applies to anyone directly involved in regulated gaming activities with access to restricted areas or animals at event venues.
HB 169 requires Wyoming school districts to ensure high school students in grades 9-12 have access to at least 12 college credits through partnerships with accredited institutions like the University of Wyoming or community colleges. School boards must make these post-secondary options "reasonably accessible" to eligible students, working with higher education providers. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, directly impacting Wyoming public high school students and school district obligations. It modifies existing requirements for school-district collaboration with post-secondary institutions to guarantee credit access.
