This bill establishes a tolling program for Wyoming's Interstate 80 highway. It authorizes the Transportation Commission to collect tolls from drivers using I-80 to fund the highway's construction, maintenance, and improvements. The bill creates a dedicated "special toll revenue account" to hold all toll payments, which can only be used for repaying project debt or approved highway-related expenses. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion, delays, and accidents on I-80 through this toll-financed approach.
Wyoming's SF 166 appropriates $3 million to Texas and $2 million to Arizona for constructing border walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and transporting non-citizens to sanctuary cities in other states. The bill specifies that up to $250,000 from each state's allocation may fund transportation to sanctuary cities, requiring detailed spending reports. It mandates these funds be used only for border wall construction and non-citizen transport, with all unspent funds reverting by June 30, 2026. The bill directly affects Wyoming (as the funding state), Texas and Arizona (as recipient states), and sanctuary cities receiving transported individuals.
HB 63 changes Wyoming's rules for filling vacancies in elected state and federal offices. It requires a special election to fill a vacancy if more than half the term remains when the vacancy occurs, raising the trigger point from 60 to 110 days before the next election. The bill specifies that vacancies must be filled by special election (held on existing election dates like primaries or general elections) rather than appointment, and sets clear timelines for county clerks to publish election notices 90-70 days before May/November elections or 101-91 days before August elections. This directly affects offices like governor, state legislators, district attorneys, and county commissioners.
HB 260 creates the Wyoming Firearms Research Center Oversight Commission to guide the University of Wyoming's planned firearms research center. The commission, with eight members (including a legislative appointee and seven from gun-related groups, industry, law enforcement, and county attorneys), reviews the center's mission and recommends how it should focus on firearms culture and traditions in Wyoming. It also facilitates agreements between the university center and Wyoming stakeholders and advises the legislature on funding. The bill appropriates $2,500 for the legislative member's expenses and $17,500 for other members, with funds expiring June 30, 2024. The commission must meet annually but has no compensation beyond travel reimbursement.
HB 114 amends Wyoming's state land leasing rules to make them more flexible and clear. It increases the amount lessees can spend on improvements without permission from $2,000 to $4,000 per land section, extends maximum lease terms from 75 to 99 years, and explicitly allows residential leases for the first time. The bill also requires all leases to follow minimum state standards for safety and land use, and clarifies that lessees must get approval for improvements exceeding $4,000. This directly affects individuals and businesses leasing Wyoming state lands for farming, ranching, or residential development.
This proposed constitutional amendment would modernize Wyoming's common school fund management. It requires all earnings from the fund - including investment gains (not just interest) - to be transferred to a separate earnings fund, rather than being used directly for school operations. The amendment also mandates that the legislature create a process to cover any investment losses to the fund, ensuring the principal value remains intact. These changes would clarify that all fund earnings must exclusively support Wyoming's public schools, as intended by the current constitution.
Wyoming's HB 36 amends six state statutes to explicitly include the U.S. Space Force in definitions of "uniformed services" for military-related benefits. The bill updates legal references in areas like military acknowledgment of documents (W.S. 19-11-202), service member definitions (W.S. 20-2-205(f)(iv)), veteran tuition benefits (W.S. 21-17-105(f)), and licensing for military personnel (W.S. 33-1-116(a)(ii)). It directly affects Space Force members, their dependents, and military spouses by aligning state law with federal service classifications. The change takes effect July 1, 2023, ensuring Space Force personnel qualify for existing state benefits without new provisions.
HB 288 proposes a 2.3% tax on electricity production in Wyoming starting January 1, 2024, paid by electricity producers (like power plants and utilities). It exempts electricity from federal/state government facilities and small personal use under 500 kWh daily. The bill creates a rebate program where producers can receive credits against other Wyoming taxes (like sales or severance taxes) for the electricity tax paid. The Department of Revenue would administer the tax, requiring annual reports by February 1 and imposing penalties for late payments (up to 25% of tax owed). Note: This bill died in committee in 2023 and is not law.
HB 85 creates a new corporate structure in Wyoming called "for-profit public benefit corporations" (FPBPs), allowing companies to operate for profit while legally committing to specific public benefits. It directly affects new companies forming under this law and existing businesses converting to this structure. Key provisions require FPBPs to: (1) state in their charter which public benefits they aim to serve (e.g., environmental sustainability or community development), (2) mandate directors to balance shareholder profits with those public benefits in decisions, and (3) prominently disclose their FPBP status on stock certificates and shareholder communications. This law modifies standard corporate governance to formally integrate social/environmental goals into business operations without changing the profit-driven nature of the entity.
HB 84 would authorize Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission to set daily limits on commercially guided fishing boats launching on specific rivers to protect fish resources. The bill requires public hearings in affected communities before new limits are set and mandates tracking systems to monitor boat launches. It directly affects outfitters and professional fishing guides operating for hire on major river drainages (including the Snake, Green, and North Platte Rivers). Key provisions include daily boat caps, public input requirements, and standardized tracking rules for river access.
HB 6 clarifies that certain sensitive election records - including social security numbers, driver's license numbers, birth dates, telephone numbers, tribal ID numbers, email addresses, and individual voter ballot details - are not subject to public disclosure under Wyoming's Public Records Act. Only basic voter information (names, addresses, gender, and party affiliations) remains public. County clerks must keep confidential records secure, and only authorized members of county or state canvassing boards may access them for election-related purposes while maintaining confidentiality. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023, directly affecting how election data is handled by local election officials and limiting public access to specific personal information.
HB 138 requires Wyoming school districts to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention education to students. It directly affects all public school districts and their students across the state. The bill mandates that programs align with existing state materials under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxv) and training requirements in W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxiii). The law was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, if passed. This is a policy change requiring specific educational programming in schools, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
