HB 170 requires Wyoming state agencies to prepare detailed statements estimating the economic impact of new rules before implementation. These statements must analyze whether a rule could cause over $100,000 in aggregate costs within five years for economic growth, business competitiveness, or regulatory expenses, and specifically assess impacts on small businesses, counties, cities, and towns. Agencies must also consider lower-cost regulatory alternatives submitted by the public within 45 days of rule notice and provide written reasons if rejecting them. If a rule exceeds the $100,000 cost threshold, it cannot be enforced until approved by the legislature in the next session.
HB 98 requires registered agents for Wyoming businesses to maintain current names and addresses of all entity owners (like partners, members, or shareholders) at the registered office. This applies to most businesses, except those with over 100 owners, which are exempted. Registered agents must update this information within 60 days of any change and keep it available for inspection. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 180 amends Wyoming's Controlled Substances Act to clarify and streamline property forfeiture procedures related to drug violations. It specifies that property subject to forfeiture includes controlled substances, equipment used in drug manufacturing, vehicles transporting drugs, buildings used for drug activity, and money traceable to drug offenses. The bill requires courts to issue notices to potential owners or lienholders before final forfeiture, giving them 30-60 days to contest the seizure, and mandates that property used without the owner's knowledge cannot be forfeited. This directly affects property owners involved in drug-related cases by altering the legal process for government seizure of assets.
Wyoming's HB 59 prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their vaccination status, mask-wearing, or COVID-19 testing results. It bans businesses and service providers from denying access to public services, goods, or facilities - like restaurants or retail stores - because someone is unvaccinated, not wearing a mask, or refuses testing. The law also prevents businesses from advertising requirements for masks, vaccines, or testing as a condition for service. Violators face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and affected individuals can file lawsuits to seek this compensation. The bill directly impacts businesses serving the public, ensuring equal access regardless of health-related choices.
HB 211 changes how property tax assessments work for certain real property by establishing a rebuttable presumption that acquisition value (what a property was purchased for) should be used instead of market value for tax calculations. It directly affects property owners and tax assessors dealing with properties classified under W.S. 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C), typically commercial or industrial properties. The bill removes confidentiality rules for sworn statements about these properties, making them public records accessible to anyone contesting tax assessments, and prohibits criminal penalties for disclosing them. This shifts transparency in property tax disputes by prioritizing purchase price data over market value for specific property types.
HB 91 prohibits Wyoming from enforcing health mandates or requirements from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) related to mask-wearing, vaccines, or medical testing for COVID-19 or its variants. The bill explicitly states these federal and international health organizations have "no jurisdiction" in Wyoming, meaning their guidance cannot be used to justify such requirements within the state. It directly affects Wyoming residents, businesses, and local officials who would otherwise be subject to CDC or WHO directives. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies specifically to pandemic-related health measures.
Wyoming's HB 193 prohibits cities, towns, and counties from adopting policies that restrict local officials from sharing non-confidential immigration status information with federal immigration authorities. It defines "immigration status information" as details about a person's legal presence in the U.S. and requires local governments to cooperate with federal enforcement on immigration matters. The bill allows the governor, with advice from the attorney general, to withhold state and federally administered funding from localities that violate this requirement. This directly affects all Wyoming municipalities and counties by mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and imposing financial penalties for non-compliance.
HB 177 prohibits natural asset companies from operating in Wyoming. These companies, defined as SEC-recognized entities managing natural or agricultural lands for conservation, are barred from managing any federal, state, or private land within the state. The bill also stops conservation easement holders from using these companies via credits and bans the state treasurer from investing in them. It takes effect July 1, 2024, directly impacting natural asset companies, conservation groups using such structures, and state financial decisions.
This Wyoming joint resolution (HJ 5) expresses the state legislature's support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. It condemns the attacks, mourns victims, and calls for Hamas to cease hostilities and release hostages, while urging the U.S. to lead efforts to cut Hamas funding and reaffirm support for Israel's security. The resolution includes six specific calls to action for the U.S. government and directs Wyoming's Secretary of State to send copies to U.S. officials and Wyoming's congressional delegation. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies and has not yet been considered for introduction.
HB 204 would decriminalize small amounts of cannabis in Wyoming by replacing criminal penalties with civil fines. It eliminates criminal charges for possessing up to 3 ounces of marijuana in plant form or 16 ounces of edibles, while creating specific civil penalties for exceeding these limits. The bill also removes marijuana possession and paraphernalia from criminal law and allows medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis (after FDA approval), aligning with medical use standards. This primarily affects adults in Wyoming who possess small amounts for personal use or seek medical cannabis treatment.
HB 207 repeals a lifetime restriction preventing certain hunters from obtaining moose or bighorn sheep hunting licenses. It directly affects individuals who, as of July 1, 2022, were subject to a five-year restriction under Wyoming law for these species. The bill allows these hunters to apply for and receive licenses as if they had never been restricted after July 1, 2022, though they will face the standard lifetime restriction if issued a license after the bill's effective date of July 1, 2024. This change modifies existing provisions in Wyoming's hunting license regulations (W.S. 23-1-703 and 23-1-705) without altering the underlying five-year restriction period.
HB 202 requires individuals receiving Wyoming unemployment benefits to undergo weekly rapid drug testing under the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act. It disqualifies recipients from benefits if they fail a test and fall into specific categories: those recently employed by companies with approved drug-testing programs, those seeking jobs requiring drug tests (e.g., licensed occupations), or those targeting "extrahazardous" work. Employers may receive credits or refunds for unemployment contributions paid for disqualified employees. The bill mandates rulemaking by the Department of Workforce Services and takes effect July 1, 2024, with immediate implementation for certain sections.
