SF 73 updates Wyoming's fence laws to clarify responsibility when livestock damages property. It increases fines for unlawful wire fences and changes liability from "animals" to "livestock" for damage claims. For subdivisions, it requires adjacent landowners to pay half the cost of perimeter fences (not full cost), while the subdivision covers additional construction expenses. This directly affects ranchers, landowners with fences, and developers building near grazing areas.
This Wyoming bill (SF 60) increases fees for nonresident hunters seeking elk, deer, or antelope licenses. It adds $576 to the elk license fee ($1,258 total), $288 to deer ($826 total), and $288 to antelope ($874 total) beyond existing license costs. The bill also requires 40% of available nonresident licenses for these species to be allocated through a separate drawing system for nonresidents, with 75 deer licenses reserved for a national bow hunt. The changes take effect January 1, 2024, directly affecting nonresident hunters seeking these big game licenses.
HB 91 sets minimum and maximum annual salary ranges for specific county officers in Wyoming, effective January 2, 2023. It directly affects county assessors, part-time county/prosecuting attorneys, county clerks, clerks of district court, sheriffs, and treasurers. The bill requires these officers to receive at least $10,000 per year but no more than the salary authorized for a district court judge (per W.S. 5-1-110). It also repeals outdated salary language in the existing statute.
HB 63 updates salary structures for Wyoming's district attorneys and county/prosecuting attorneys. Starting in 2023, district attorneys will earn the same as district court judges, while county attorneys must receive at least $35,000 annually but no more than the district court judge's salary. The bill also increases state funding for county attorneys, covering up to $50,000 per year (or 50% of salary, whichever is less) for the main attorney and $30,000 for each assistant. These changes take effect July 1, 2022, with the new salary levels applying from January 2, 2023.
HB 96 increases the annual salaries for five Wyoming state elected officials following the 2022 general election. The governor's salary rises from $105,000 to $140,000, while the secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction each see their salaries increase from $92,000 to $125,000. The bill also establishes a process for future cost-of-living adjustments to these salaries, tied to budget appropriations and requiring specific footnote disclosures in budget bills. These changes took effect July 1, 2022, with funding allocated for the 2023-2024 fiscal period.
Wyoming's SF 55 creates an "Insurance Sandbox" program allowing innovative insurance products or services to be tested in the state with temporary waivers of certain existing insurance laws. The bill directly affects insurance companies or innovators developing new products that can't currently be offered due to regulatory barriers. Key provisions let the insurance commissioner grant limited waivers for up to 24 months (extendable), requiring applicants to provide a consumer protection bond and follow specific oversight rules. The program permits waivers of numerous insurance statutes listed in the bill, but does not exempt participants from civil liability, criminal laws, or consumer protection regulations.
HB 137 requires the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners to post public notice online for any proposed exchange of state-owned land. It applies to anyone - including government agencies - seeking to swap state land, mandating the Board post notice within 30 days of receiving an application and keep it visible until a final decision is made. The notice must include how the public can access details and submit comments. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with rules to be established by the Board by that date.
2022/Summaries/HB0100.pdf
Wyoming's SF 106 authorizes the state treasurer to issue "Wyoming stable tokens," a digital currency backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars held in a dedicated trust fund of Treasury bills. Token holders can redeem each token for exactly one U.S. dollar, with the state required to maintain at least 100% of all issued tokens' value in this reserve fund. The bill mandates annual reporting on the program's operation and explicitly states tokens are not state-insured or guaranteed beyond the reserve fund's value. This directly affects individuals and businesses holding these tokens, providing a state-backed digital currency option with clear redemption terms.
Wyoming's HB 2 requires landowners subdividing property to provide specific documentation about water rights before subdivision approval. It mandates written proof from the state engineer or board regarding water rights abandonment, transfer to municipal systems, redistribution within the subdivision, or legal detachment. The bill also requires notice to other water users, review by irrigation districts or water conveyance systems, and clear disclaimers about riparian rights on property offers. This directly affects developers, landowners, and local governments handling land subdivisions in Wyoming. The law aims to clarify water rights management during land division while ensuring compliance with existing water regulations.
SF 9 authorizes Wyoming's Business Council to issue revenue bonds up to $50 million per project to fund agricultural processing facilities. These bonds finance projects for international, in-state, and interstate sales of agricultural products, directly affecting farmers and processors seeking capital for new or expanded facilities. Key provisions include securing bonds solely through project revenues (not state funds), tax-exempt status for the bonds, and requiring the council to consult industry groups annually. The bill creates a dedicated funding mechanism for agricultural infrastructure without increasing general state debt.
This bill exempts emergency wildfire suppression activities from Wyoming's Underground Facilities Notification Act, which normally requires utility companies to notify before digging. It directly affects utility workers and emergency responders who need to quickly access underground infrastructure during wildfires. The key provision adds a specific exemption (subsection (k)) to the existing law, removing the notification requirement for wildfire suppression efforts. The exemption took effect on July 1, 2022.
