HB 173 requires law enforcement agencies to provide specific portions of personnel files to Wyoming's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) upon written request. This applies to peace officers, dispatchers, and correctional officers, focusing on file sections related to certification factors (like conduct or qualifications). The commission may not disclose these files to anyone else except as required by law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and amends existing statutes to clarify this access requirement.
HB 130 creates a state grant program to fund county, city, and town law enforcement agencies in purchasing or training dogs to detect fentanyl. It allocates $4 million from the general fund for grants up to $300,000 per agency, with applications due by July 1, 2024. The Attorney General will administer the program, requiring agencies to apply and report on grant use by June 2025. The program expires December 31, 2024, with unspent funds reverting to the state.
HB 203 repeals two reserve accounts for Wyoming's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund (PMTF) and Common School Permanent Fund (CSPLF), eliminating their specific spending policies. It transfers funds previously held in these accounts to other designated state funds, simplifying the management of public funds. The bill removes outdated provisions related to these reserve structures and updates fund distribution rules. This change directly affects how Wyoming allocates excess investment earnings from these permanent funds.
This Wyoming bill would establish state law as the sole authority for regulating residential rental properties, preventing cities, towns, and counties from creating their own rules or fees. It prohibits local governments from requiring rental property registration, charging registration fees, or regulating ownership/leasing practices for properties rented for six months or more. The bill explicitly states it does not affect local zoning or land use regulations. However, the bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.
HB 202 creates a Wyoming community college loan program to cover costs for students pursuing aviation degrees and commercial pilot certificates at Wyoming community colleges. It directly affects Wyoming residents or high school graduates enrolled in eligible aviation programs who commit to working as airline pilots in Wyoming for three years to avoid repaying the loan in cash. Key provisions include requiring applicants to seek federal aid first, limiting loans to tuition/certification costs minus other aid, and allowing debt forgiveness for undue hardship. The program is funded by a $1.5 million state appropriation for 2023-2026, with repayment options deferred for military service.
HB 220 prohibits schools and charter schools in Wyoming from using, displaying, or distributing pornographic or indecent materials that meet obscenity standards (defined as "sensitive materials" in the bill). It directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, and their instructional materials, excluding health, healthcare, or family and consumer sciences courses. Key provisions require school boards to ensure compliance, mandate annual reports to the education committee on complaints and resolutions, and direct the state board to create rules defining prohibited materials and handling violations. The bill does not restrict health-related instructional materials, which may be exempted by the state board.
HB 179 modifies Wyoming's medical education programs to prioritize training for rural healthcare needs. It requires universities to emphasize rural health care in medical curricula, create a Medical School Student Fund (using student payments and investments), and use fund income for relocation costs, rural training, and scholarships for students committing to practice in underserved areas. The bill directly affects medical students, Wyoming's higher education institutions, and rural communities facing healthcare shortages. Universities must report annual fund usage and program modifications to legislative committees by October 1 each year.
Wyoming's HB 135 allows cities and towns to designate abandoned or nuisance properties (vacant, deteriorated buildings causing harm) and provides tax credits for owners who improve them. Property owners who demolish or rehabilitate designated properties within two years (or new owners within five years) can receive a tax credit covering up to 50% of approved improvement costs. Cities may also assess fees to cover abatement costs for dangerous buildings or nuisances. The bill creates new rules for tax credit eligibility and requires city approval of expenditures before credit application, effective July 1, 2023.
HB 92 creates a Wyoming film production rebate program administered by the Wyoming Tourism Board to support economic development. It offers monetary rebates (up to 30% for Tier 1) to film and digital production companies filming in Wyoming, covering qualified local costs like set construction, food, lodging, and below-the-line wages paid to Wyoming residents. To qualify, productions must hire Wyoming residents, maintain proper records, remain in good standing with workforce services, and include branded Wyoming recognition. The program aims to boost local jobs, tourism, and the state as a filming destination, with rebates limited to expenditures made within Wyoming for eligible productions.
HB 91 creates a legal shield protecting Wyoming journalists from being forced to disclose news sources or information gathered in their professional work. It applies to all media (newspapers, TV, online outlets) covering public-interest topics like local events or community welfare. The law blocks courts from punishing journalists for refusing disclosure - no fines, jail, or contempt citations - except when there’s an imminent risk of death/harm or in specific defamation cases where the information is needed for the claim. Journalists can assert this protection without proving its validity upfront, but they must still meet the law’s criteria for coverage.
HB 248 clarifies and updates Wyoming's vital records system by defining key terms (like "vital records" to explicitly include related books and "local official" to cover county clerks/coroners) and setting specific requirements. It mandates medical coroners certify deaths within 72 hours of notification, requires marriage certificates registered over one year late to be marked "Delayed," and directs the Department of Health to create implementing rules. The bill directly affects county officials handling birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, ensuring clearer procedures for registration, certification, and preservation. It removes outdated language but does not create new benefits or penalties, focusing solely on procedural clarity for existing record-keeping processes.
Wyoming's HB 163 creates refunds for oil, gas, and coal producers on federal mineral estates when federal royalty rates increase. Starting January 1, 2024, eligible producers (on a per-property basis) receive refunds equal to 75% of the increased federal royalty impact, calculated using the state's share under federal law. Producers must apply annually by July 1 to receive refunds, which are funded from state severance tax distributions. The bill specifies the refund calculation method and distribution process without changing existing tax rates.
