Wyoming's SF 171, the "Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act," prohibits financial institutions from using or disclosing payment card transaction data to identify lawful firearm or ammunition purchases. It bans assigning "firearms codes" (like special merchant category codes) that would allow banks or payment networks to track gun-related transactions, preventing such data from being shared with government entities. The law defines "protected financial information" as payment records linked to firearm codes and allows civil lawsuits if the ban is violated. It directly affects banks, payment processors, and gun retailers by restricting how they handle transaction data related to firearm sales within Wyoming.
Wyoming's HB 255 allows the Game and Fish Commission to formally designate tax-exempt nonprofits (501(c)(3) organizations) as "official nonprofit partners." These partners must include a commission member on their board (nonvoting), provide annual donor and spending reports, and focus on supporting department priorities. Partners may accept donations and manage funds for specific projects but cannot use public money, and the state will not be liable for their actions. The bill creates clear requirements for these partnerships and mandates rulemaking by the commission.
HB 221 requires prosecutors to either pursue domestic violence cases or provide written justification for dismissal, including supporting facts. It mandates law enforcement officers to submit detailed incident reports to prosecutors within 10 days and requires prosecutors to notify victims within 5 days about case status. The bill applies directly to domestic violence victims, law enforcement, and district attorneys in Wyoming. Key provisions ensure transparency in case decisions and streamline communication between agencies. The law took effect July 1, 2023.
Wyoming's HB 228 establishes a specific formula for compensating ranchers whose yearling cattle (12-24 months old) are damaged by trophy game animals like elk or deer. It requires the state department to use a compensation amount equal to 3.5 times the value of the yearling, unless research-based alternative formulas are developed for specific areas. This directly affects ranchers who report livestock damage by game animals and file claims under Wyoming's existing damage compensation system. The law applies to claims made on or after July 1, 2023, and standardizes the calculation method previously left to department discretion.
Wyoming's HB 263 automatically restores voting rights for nonviolent felons once they complete their full sentence, including probation, parole, and fines. It applies to Wyoming convictions completed after January 1, 2010, without requiring a separate application, and streamlines the process for out-of-state or federal nonviolent felony convictions. The bill repeals previous application requirements and takes effect July 1, 2023. This change specifically affects voting eligibility only - nonviolent felons remain ineligible for jury duty or public office under existing law.
HB 269 modifies Wyoming's workers' compensation law to allow hearing examiners to reimburse appointed attorneys for reasonable expenses and costs (beyond just fees) in contested cases. It removes the previous restriction that limited attorney fees to "a reasonable number of hours not to exceed the benefits at issue" in the case. This change directly affects workers' attorneys who represent claimants in contested hearings, enabling them to recover full documented costs without the prior benefit-based cap. The bill requires a verified itemization of all services for reimbursement requests and maintains existing rules about denying fees for frivolous claims. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 223 establishes a grant program using Wyoming Education Trust Fund revenues to provide financial assistance to preschool providers serving economically disadvantaged and at-risk students. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 annually for specific expenses like teacher salaries, facility leases, insurance, and parent training materials, with applications due by May 15 and funds distributed by October 1. Eligible providers include school districts, private non-profits, and for-profit organizations that meet federal TANF program criteria. The initiative is funded by a $50 million transfer from the public school foundation program to the trust fund, replacing an existing grant program.
HB 201 creates the Hathaway Fallen First Responder Scholarship, providing financial aid to children of Wyoming first responders who died while on duty. It directly affects students whose custodial parent or guardian was a Wyoming resident first responder (as defined by Wyoming law) killed in the line of duty, and who graduated from an accredited high school (in Wyoming or out-of-state). To qualify, students must have a minimum 2.50 high school GPA and score at or above the 43rd percentile on a national college entrance exam. The scholarship offers $1,680 per semester for full-time enrollment (12+ hours), prorated for fewer hours, and is funded through Wyoming's existing Hathaway scholarship program.
HB 211 limits who can return absentee ballots for others in Wyoming elections. It restricts designated returners to handling no more than two ballots per election, unless the ballots belong to immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, siblings, children, or blood relatives living in the same household). The bill requires designated returners to notify the county clerk using a state-prescribed form. This directly affects voters who ask others to submit their absentee ballots, particularly those who might have used ballot harvesting services. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 109 modifies Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship program to prioritize students in workforce-focused education. It adds a third preference for students enrolled in credential programs approved under the Wyoming Works program (which connects training to local job needs) and a fourth preference for teacher preparation students. The bill also changes how the scholarship fund's value is calculated, using longer historical averages starting in 2027, and transfers $75 million to the scholarship fund while directing $20 million to workforce programs. This directly affects students pursuing vocational credentials, teaching degrees, or other in-demand fields through Wyoming community colleges.
This bill (SJ 9) proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Wyoming's Constitution that would establish a fundamental right to privacy for all residents. It would create a new Section 40 in Article 1 stating: "The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed." The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the state Constitution. As a proposed constitutional change, it does not take effect immediately but would directly affect all Wyoming citizens if approved by voters.
HB 46 creates a permanent Wyoming Public Safety Communications System Trust Fund to support the state's WyoLink emergency communications network. It establishes a $100 million seed fund from the general budget, which the state treasurer will invest to generate earnings. Ninety percent of these investment earnings will be distributed semiannually to the Wyoming Department of Transportation specifically for WyoLink operations, equipment, infrastructure, and other system needs, following a strict spending priority order. The fund's principal remains protected, with 10% of earnings returned to the fund corpus annually. This bill directly affects the WyoLink system and its management by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
