SF 7 amends Wyoming's theft laws to increase penalties for certain offenses. It raises the maximum penalty for theft of property under $1,000 from six months in jail and $750 fines to one year and $1,500, and lowers the felony threshold from a fifth to a third theft offense. The bill also updates penalties for using theft detection shielding devices to match the new misdemeanor penalties. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
Wyoming's HB 5 modifies how oil and gas operators contribute to a bonding pool. It sets a zero assessment rate on oil/gas production from July 2025 through June 2030, after which the commission may impose up to 0.5 mills ($0.0005) per dollar of production value. All collected funds and investment earnings must be deposited into a separate account solely for the bonding pool, not used for other purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting oil and gas operators required to pay bonding assessments in Wyoming.
This Wyoming bill (SF 8) creates a new criminal offense for "absconding for criminal purposes," targeting individuals who travel between counties within Wyoming or to another jurisdiction *after* committing a crime. It directly affects people who flee to commit additional crimes, hide stolen property, or further a felony. The law specifies that penalties for this offense will match the penalty for the most serious underlying crime (e.g., the original offense or the intended one). The bill is pending and would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
This bill (SF 17) modifies Wyoming's forestry program by removing limits on employee positions for the "Good Neighbor Authority" (a program managing federal forest projects). It requires all funding for these employees to come solely from the dedicated "Wyoming State Forestry Good Neighbor Authority Revolving Account," which can now accept gifts, donations, and bequests but cannot accept real property. The changes apply to the state forester and staff managing federally funded forest projects, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill (SF 18) ensures Wyoming public K-12 schools are equally free and accessible to all children, including those attending part-time. It requires schools to operate for a minimum of 175 days per year (unless an alternative schedule is approved by the state board after public meetings), and mandates annual evaluations of alternative schedules. Parents or guardians of eligible children may apply for an Education Savings Account (ESA) program under existing law. The changes apply starting the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill changes Wyoming's lottery rules to allow only cash or debit card payments for lottery tickets, banning credit cards, checks, and other payment methods. It directly affects all lottery ticket buyers and retailers statewide by restricting payment options at point-of-sale. The key provision amends existing regulations to explicitly state that "all sales shall be for cash or debit cards only" and prohibits other forms of payment. The rule takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 85 requires Wyoming county clerks to document post-election audits with formal minutes and allow political party representatives and independent candidates to observe the audit process. It mandates that county clerks notify all political parties with candidates on the ballot and independent candidates about audit times and locations, ensuring at least two observers from different parties are present. Observers may register concerns during the audit, and their feedback must be shared with the secretary of state along with audit results. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all counties conducting post-election audits.
This bill requires Wyoming cities and towns to hold elections for existing surface water drainage fee systems that began collecting payments before July 1, 2026, without prior voter approval. Municipalities must hold these elections by July 1, 2027, and if voters reject the fees, they must stop collecting them within 60 days. It clarifies that new or existing drainage systems must follow specific rate-setting rules for water use and runoff management after an election. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting local governments managing surface water drainage.
Wyoming Senate Bill 125 (SF 125) halts the Wyoming Business Council's (WBC) new funding activities starting April 15, 2027, prohibiting it from accepting new grant, loan, or bond applications for any programs it administers. The bill requires the WBC to submit a detailed report by April 30, 2026, listing all pending grants, outstanding loans, bonds, property, and funds held by the council, itemized by program. This report must include repayment schedules, recipient details, and the status of all financial obligations existing before the effective date. The legislation effectively transitions the WBC away from active funding operations while mandating transparency about its existing financial commitments.
This bill repeals a requirement that conservation district supervisors in Wyoming must have all funds immediately available to cover a contract before signing it. It directly affects local conservation district supervisors who manage contracts for district operations. The key change removes the pre-contract financial availability rule, allowing supervisors to enter agreements without needing full funds upfront. The repeal takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill amends Wyoming's Hathaway scholarship program to provide recipients with a single lump sum payment instead of semester-by-semester disbursements. It eliminates requirements for satisfactory academic progress, continuous enrollment, and minimum credit hours, simplifying access to funds. Eligibility remains based on high school GPA and standardized test scores, with three scholarship tiers: $6,720 for a 2.50 GPA/43rd percentile, $10,080 for a 3.0 GPA/56th percentile, and $13,440 for a 3.5 GPA/79th percentile. The changes directly affect Wyoming students pursuing degrees or certificates who meet the academic criteria.
HB 143, the "Free Speech for Health Care Providers Act," protects health care professionals (including doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and hospital staff) from state agency discrimination based on constitutionally protected speech related to patient care. It prohibits state agencies from taking adverse actions like license suspension, reprimands, or termination against providers for speech within their professional scope - unless the agency proves the speech directly caused harm to a patient within the past three years. The bill requires agencies to notify providers within 14 days of any complaint about speech-based actions and allows providers to sue for damages, attorney fees, or injunctions if their rights are violated. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
