This Wyoming bill (SF 74) requires farm tractors and certain farm equipment manufactured after July 1, 2023, designed to operate above 25 mph to display two items: a standard slow-moving vehicle emblem and a speed identification symbol showing the equipment's maximum speed. The symbol must be mounted on the rear, and combinations of tractors and towed equipment must follow specific rules about which speed limit applies. It directly affects farmers and ranchers operating such equipment on public roads. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 145 expands access to criminal identification and intelligence information to specific state agencies, including law enforcement, the state board of parole, department of corrections, the office of homeland security (for purposes under W.S. 19-13-105), designated agencies under W.S. 14-6-227, and the department of family services. Agencies holding this information must implement security precautions to prevent unauthorized access, with rules tailored to each agency's specific use and security practices. The bill amends existing law to formalize these access provisions and security requirements. It takes effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill increases retirement contribution rates for Wyoming public employees and their employers. It raises employee contributions from 8.5% to 9.75% of salary (with firefighters at 7% to 7.12%) and employer contributions from 8.62% to 9.87% (firefighters at 7.12%), with all employee increases deducted directly from paychecks. The bill appropriates specific funds ($25,000 to $3.9 million) to cover the new employer costs, explicitly stating these funds cannot pay for employee contribution increases. These changes apply to state employees, judges, firefighters, and public education staff for fiscal year 2024.
House Joint Resolution 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a separate tax class for residential property in Wyoming. This would allow the legislature to set distinct tax rates for homes compared to other property types, including authorizing subcategories like owner-occupied primary residences. If approved by voters, it would change Wyoming’s property tax system by formally separating residential real estate into its own class under the state constitution. The amendment must be ratified by Wyoming voters at the next general election to take effect.
HB 164 requires Wyoming newspapers publishing legal notices (such as court filings or public hearings) to also post them online. Specifically, newspapers must publish these notices on a statewide digital repository (maintained by a newspaper organization representing most Wyoming papers) and on their own website, in a free, open location with no extra cost to the person publishing the notice. This applies to all legal notices currently required to be published in print, ensuring public access to these notices online without additional fees. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
HB 51 increases Wyoming legislators' quarterly allowance for constituent services from $750 to $1,000 per calendar quarter. This change applies directly to all current state legislators serving during the quarter. The allowance covers expenses incurred while providing services to voters beyond regular legislative duties like committee meetings. The bill takes effect January 14, 2025.
This bill allows Wyoming charter schools to apply for and receive federal and state grants as local education agencies, including funding for students with disabilities under federal law. It updates application requirements to include a proposed agreement between charter schools and their authorizers on liability and insurance, and mandates annual reports on student learning results and waivers. The bill clarifies that charter schools are entitled to 100% of foundation program funding and eligible reimbursement amounts, while repealing outdated provisions. These changes streamline grant access, improve accountability, and provide clearer funding rules for charter schools and school districts.
Wyoming's SF 39 clarifies that the State Board of Equalization can decide all questions about how tax laws are applied, including disputes over property assessments that might create county tax liability. The bill directly affects taxpayers, counties, and departments (like Transportation) involved in tax disputes by expanding the Board's authority to address issues beyond what parties initially raise. Key provisions require the Board to resolve questions about tax statute construction under the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, allowing it to consider new legal interpretations without being limited to arguments presented. This change applies to all tax-related disputes reviewed by the Board, including challenges to rules or assessments. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 8 authorizes Wyoming's Department of Health to create a supplemental payment program for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) enrolled in state Medicaid. The program uses existing state funds from the Private Hospital Assessment Act to secure federal matching funds, aiming to increase payments to these facilities. It appropriates $3.85 million in state funds and $3.85 million in federal funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with strict rules requiring unspent funds to revert by June 30, 2024. The bill does not alter Medicaid eligibility but modifies how payments are structured for PRTFs.
HB 275 creates a new tax on electricity used to power electric vehicles (EVs) in Wyoming, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and increases annual registration fees for all-electric vehicles while adding a new fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The bill directly affects EV owners and commercial charging facilities, requiring the Department of Transportation to collect these taxes and fees to fund highway maintenance. Key provisions include defining terms like "all-electric vehicle" and "electric vehicle energy," establishing reporting requirements for electricity providers, and allowing cooperative agreements with other states for tax administration. The bill does not change road usage taxes for conventional vehicles but aims to adjust funding mechanisms to account for EVs' reduced fuel tax contributions.
This constitutional amendment shifts responsibility for school facility construction from the state to local school districts, requiring districts to secure voter approval for capital projects via bonds or other means. The state would provide mandatory equalization funding to ensure no district's local property tax burden exceeds what a statewide average would require, calculated using per-person assessed valuation. It also allows optional state funds to address financial hardships for districts pursuing capital projects. The amendment directly affects school districts (as primary builders) and the state (as funder of equalization).
SF 124, a proposed Wyoming bill, restricts foreign governments and businesses from purchasing or owning agricultural land in the state. It prohibits new foreign ownership after July 1, 2023, requires existing foreign-owned land to be registered with the secretary of state, and mandates selling or converting the land within two years if ownership becomes foreign. Violations could trigger daily civil penalties up to $5,000. The bill directly affects foreign-owned companies, governments, or their agents seeking to hold Wyoming farmland, with exceptions for land owned as of July 1, 2023.
