HB 73 requires two-thirds of landowners owning a majority of the land (excluding public streets and tax-exempt property) in an area seeking annexation to provide written approval before a city or town can proceed. This applies to all annexation proposals initiated on or after July 1, 2023, and modifies notice requirements to include details about infrastructure costs and public hearings. The bill directly affects landowners in proposed annexation zones by adding a mandatory approval step, replacing the previous process. It does not change annexation eligibility criteria but adds a new landowner consent requirement before a city can move forward.
HB 98 creates a new property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners who live in their primary residence. It allows eligible owners to reduce their taxable property value by up to $50,000 (capped at 25% of the home's total fair market value), directly lowering their annual property tax bill. To qualify, residents must have lived in Wyoming for at least five years and in the home for six months prior to claiming the exemption, with an annual claim required by May 4th. False claims carry penalties under existing law, and counties will receive redistributed funds from the state's legislative stabilization reserve to offset revenue losses from the exemption. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
This bill requires Wyoming school districts to separately account for and spend all funds allocated for teachers under the education resource block grant model exclusively on teacher salaries, health insurance, and benefits starting in the 2023-2024 school year. It exempts charter schools, certain alternative schools, and very small districts (under 49 students or 243 total students). School districts must report annual spending data to the Department of Education, which then reports to the education committee by October 1 each year. The bill also mandates a study by June 2024 to refine how these funds are allocated.
This bill reduces Wyoming's maximum unemployment benefit period from 26 weeks to 13 weeks for claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects workers who file for unemployment benefits after that date, limiting their total benefit duration. Key provisions amend sections of the unemployment law to change the maximum payment calculation (from 26 to 13 weeks) and update the commission name to "unemployment re-employment insurance commission." The law takes effect July 1, 2023, with no retroactive application.
HB 90 amends Wyoming's sex offender registration law to prohibit certain offenders from petitioning for relief from registration requirements. It removes the ability for individuals convicted of specific offenses (including those under W.S. 6-2-302, 6-2-303, 6-2-314, or 6-2-315) to petition for relief after 10 years of registration. For other offenders, it increases the required registration period from 10 to 25 years before petitioning is allowed. The bill directly affects sex offenders who previously could seek relief after a decade of compliance but now face permanent registration requirements for certain offenses.
HB 94 requires that any person appointed to Wyoming's state board of parole must have lived in Wyoming for at least one year before their appointment and must continue residing in the state throughout their entire six-year term. This rule applies to all members appointed or reappointed on or after July 1, 2023, directly affecting the governor (who appoints members), the state senate (which provides advice and consent), and potential parole board members. The bill amends existing law to add this residency requirement, ensuring board members maintain a connection to Wyoming during their service. It takes effect on July 1, 2023, with no changes to other existing board appointment rules.
HB 25 (School capital construction-transfers and distributions) directs state funds to support school infrastructure. It requires annual transfers from two existing accounts - the school major maintenance subaccount and the school lands mineral royalties account - to the school capital construction account starting July 1, 2024. These transfers, managed by the state auditor to optimize cash flow, will fund school building repairs and construction projects. The bill directly affects Wyoming public schools by channeling dedicated funds for capital improvements.
HB 34 creates a two-year grant program for Wyoming public school districts to fund mental health services for K-12 students. Districts can apply for competitive grants of up to $120,000 annually (totaling $11.52 million in funding), with funds administered by the state Department of Education and separate from existing education funding. To qualify, districts must submit proposals detailing mental health needs, service plans, and timelines, and report on service impact and student outcomes. The program specifically targets K-12 public schools in Wyoming, with grants available for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
HB 124 imposes a tax on electricity produced from wind and solar resources in Wyoming for sale or trade. It directly affects wind and solar electricity producers who sell power within the state, requiring them to pay a tax per megawatt-hour at the point where electricity connects to transmission lines. Producers must report their annual electricity output by February 1 each year. The tax applies to solar electricity sold after January 1, 2024, while existing wind electricity production tax rules remain in effect. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.
SF 82 reallocates $50 million in American Rescue Plan Direct (ARPD) funds specifically for eligible water and sewer infrastructure projects in Wyoming. This funding supports local governments and water utilities to upgrade or maintain drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities. The bill amends prior appropriations to designate this exact amount under "Eligible Water & Sewer Projects" (line item 060) within the state's ARPD budget. It directly affects communities needing infrastructure improvements to meet public health and environmental standards. The policy change is a targeted allocation within existing pandemic relief funding, with no new tax or fee requirements.
SF 168 creates a new alternative teaching certification pathway for K-12 teachers in Wyoming. It requires applicants to hold a bachelor's degree and complete an approved alternative certification program (operating in at least five states for ten years) and pass a subject-area teaching skills test. The certification covers 11 specific subjects, including math, science, English, history, special education, and career technical education. Teachers receive certification only for the subject areas and grade levels they successfully complete through the program.
HB 126 amends Wyoming's criminal trespass law to clarify that property owners or their agents may use reasonable physical force to stop someone trespassing on their land. It specifies this force must be necessary to end what the owner reasonably believes is ongoing trespass. The bill does not change existing self-defense laws, as stated in Section (e). The law takes effect July 1, 2023, directly affecting landowners and their authorized representatives facing trespassers.
