Wyoming's HB 214 creates a "regulatory sandbox" program allowing businesses to temporarily test new products or services without complying with certain state laws or regulations. It directly affects innovators (like tech startups or new service providers) with a physical presence in Wyoming, requiring them to apply to the state council for approval. Key provisions include mandatory applications detailing consumer benefits, risks, and specific regulations sought to be waived, along with strict safeguards to protect consumer safety and ensure no federal law conflicts. The council coordinates with state agencies to approve waivers only for demonstrably safe, consumer-benefiting innovations during a limited testing period.
HB 78, titled "Protection of parental rights," would have amended Wyoming statutes to expand where parental rights protections apply. It specifically required that parental rights protections cover judicial proceedings involving custody, neglect, or termination of parental rights (under Title 14), and mandated that schools and educational agencies communicate with parents about their children (under Title 21). The bill aimed to ensure parents' rights in family court decisions and school-related communications. However, it died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.
HB 177 modifies Wyoming's school expulsion policy for students possessing deadly weapons, requiring a mandatory one-year expulsion from public schools for such violations. The bill allows school boards to extend expulsion beyond one year if the district provides alternative educational services during the additional period. It directly affects public school students in Wyoming who are found with deadly weapons, as defined under existing law. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter the grounds for expulsion but specifies the minimum expulsion duration.
This bill prohibits abortions after fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb) except to preserve a woman’s life or health, or in cases of incest or sexual assault (with assault reports required within 5 days of the incident or victim’s capacity to report). It also bans state funds from covering abortions except in those specific exceptions. The bill repeals prior conflicting provisions in Wyoming law regarding abortion restrictions and funding. These changes apply immediately upon enactment.
HB 262, the Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act, would have created new legal protections for individuals whose religious practices face government restrictions. It defines "burden" to include actions like denying benefits, imposing penalties, or excluding people from programs due to their religious exercise. The bill would have required state government to prove that any restriction on religious practice serves a "compelling interest" and is the "least restrictive means" to achieve it. This law would directly affect anyone whose religious practices might conflict with state regulations or programs. Note: The bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.
This bill limits train lengths in Wyoming to 8,500 feet or the shortest passing track/siding length on any route, whichever is shorter, and prohibits trains from routinely blocking intersections for over 10 minutes. Railroad companies operating in Wyoming must comply with these rules, facing fines of $500-$1,000 per foot for exceeding limits, or up to $250,000 for gross negligence causing injury. Penalties collected are deposited into the state highway fund. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 176 limits the number of K-12 content standards Wyoming schools must teach, capping at four per subject for grades K-6 and eight per subject for grades 7-12. It allows school districts to use course completion (like passing a class) instead of standardized tests to measure student performance in some cases. The bill requires districts to report on their assessment systems and directs the state to propose reducing testing by August 2023, potentially using college entrance exams to meet federal requirements. This directly affects Wyoming public schools, teachers, and students by changing curriculum expectations and assessment methods.
HB 77 modifies Wyoming's definition of "average daily membership" (ADM), the metric used to calculate state school funding. It lowers the threshold for counting part-time students as full-time from 80% to 75% of a full-time schedule, allowing districts to include more part-time students in funding calculations. The bill clarifies that part-time enrollment is prorated based on actual hours attended versus full-time hours, and excludes students absent over 10 consecutive days or withdrawn. This change directly affects school districts receiving state education funding starting with the 2023-2024 school year.
Wyoming's HB 133 requires that all electrical generation equipment - including solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric generators, power inverters, and power optimizers - must be installed by licensed electricians. This applies directly to electricians, contractors, and installers working with these systems. The bill clarifies existing law to explicitly include renewable energy equipment under the requirement for licensed installation, waiving the requirement only for specific exemptions listed in the law. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 191 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Wyoming to protect pharmacies and patients. It requires PBMs to report quarterly on drug reimbursement appeals, including denial reasons and cost adjustments, and prohibits retroactive claim denials or fees for claim processing. The bill bans PBMs from basing pharmacy payments on patient outcomes without prior agreement, restricting point-of-sale fees, and preventing unfair contract changes without 45 days' notice. These provisions directly affect pharmacies and pharmacy designees that contract with PBMs, aiming to ensure fair reimbursement practices and transparency.
HB 198 authorizes city clerks (or their designees) to serve as ex officio clerk for civil service commissions without additional pay. It also clarifies that preliminary expenses for these commissions can be covered from existing funds or included in the next budget cycle. This procedural bill affects local government administration in Wyoming cities and towns, streamlining civil service commission operations.
HB 186 prohibits courts in Wyoming from charging fees or costs to minors or their custodial parents/guardians for court-appointed legal services in cases involving minors. The bill amends Wyoming Statutes 7-6-106(j) and repeals 14-6-235(c), ensuring that when a minor needs a court-appointed attorney, the minor or their responsible family members cannot be required to pay for these services. This directly affects minors in legal proceedings (such as child welfare or juvenile cases) and their parents or guardians who might otherwise face financial responsibility for legal representation. The law applies to all cases beginning after its effective date, removing previous mechanisms that allowed courts to seek reimbursement from families.
