HB 136 clarifies that applicants seeking underground water rights must prove their case in contested hearings, shifting the burden of proof from the state engineer to the applicant. It requires applicants to demonstrate four specific conditions: unappropriated water availability, adequate diversion methods, compliance with well spacing rules, and non-detriment to public interest. This bill directly affects individuals or entities applying for or amending underground water rights in Wyoming, such as agricultural users or land developers. The law applies to all such applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, and modifies existing water rights procedures under Wyoming Statute 41-3-932.
HB 105 reduces Wyoming's severance tax rate for surface coal mining from 7% to 6.5% by lowering the statutory tax portion from 5.5% to 5%, while maintaining the constitutional 1.5% rate. This change directly affects surface coal mining companies operating in Wyoming, reducing their tax burden on coal extracted from the surface. The bill updates tax distribution rules to reflect the new rate, with the constitutional portion (1.5%) continuing to fund Wyoming's permanent mineral trust fund. The reduced rate applies to surface coal produced on or after July 1, 2022.
Wyoming's HB 131 amends laws governing nuclear power facilities, primarily affecting operators of advanced nuclear reactors and waste storage sites. It requires operators to submit detailed pre-construction reports to the state department, including projected job creation, local/state tax revenue, and community impacts from construction, operation, and decommissioning. The bill updates definitions to include "advanced nuclear reactors" (replacing "small modular" terminology), mandates compliance with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules for waste storage, and exempts these reactors from certain utility purchase requirements. These provisions aim to align state regulations with federal oversight while requiring transparency about economic and community effects.
The Second Amendment Protection Act prohibits Wyoming state and local officials from using state funds or personnel to enforce any federal gun regulations that conflict with the Second Amendment. It specifically bans state resources from being used to carry out federal laws, rules, or regulations that the state deems to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Public servants who violate this prohibition face penalties under existing state law. The bill took effect on July 1, 2022, and applies directly to Wyoming's government entities and officials.
This Wyoming bill (SF 100) amends the state's stalking law to explicitly prohibit using electronic devices to surveil others without permission. It directly affects individuals who might use GPS, digital tools, or internet tracking to monitor someone's location or online activity without their authorization. The key provision adds a new section banning unauthorized surveillance via electronic devices, including tracking internet/wireless activity, to the existing stalking statute. The law became effective July 1, 2022.
This bill establishes Wyoming's "seal of biliteracy" and "advanced distinction seal of biliteracy" for high school graduates. It allows school districts to award these seals to students who demonstrate proficiency in English plus one or more world languages (including American Sign Language, classical languages, and indigenous languages). The state superintendent designs the program, sets assessment standards, and requires districts to report annually on the number of seals issued, languages used, and seal types. The program applies to all Wyoming high school students meeting the proficiency criteria, with implementation beginning July 1, 2022.
This bill clarifies ownership and liability for carbon dioxide stored underground through geologic sequestration. It requires companies (injectors) to hold title and liability for stored CO2 until a "certificate of project completion" is issued by the state after at least 10 years of post-injection monitoring. Upon certification, title and liability for the stored CO2 and related facilities transfer to the state, releasing the companies from future regulatory requirements. The bill directly affects carbon sequestration operators and the state government, establishing a clear transition from private to public responsibility for long-term management.
HB 5 requires Wyoming to seek reimbursement from federal agencies for grazing costs of wild horses on state, county, or municipal lands. It establishes a tiered cost calculation method: standard rates for herds within federal management limits, and triple the rate for herds exceeding those limits. The bill authorizes Wyoming to use court orders to compel federal agencies to remove horses from nonfederal lands and creates a $2 million appropriation for state-led management, including cooperative agreements with tribes (like the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho) and federal agencies. This directly affects state and local landowners, federal land managers, and tribal governments by shifting grazing cost responsibility and enabling state-led management efforts.
HB 123 establishes rules for disposing of specific materials during mine reclamation. It requires mining operators to pay fees (25% for wind turbine blades/towers in coal mines, 10% for inert material in non-coal mines) to the state department, with fees credited to the general fund. The bill defines "inert material" as non-reusable waste and sets requirements like burying it below aquifers at minimum depths, removing mechanical parts, and following solid waste management standards. These rules apply to operators using such materials for backfilling reclamation sites in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022.
SF 8 transfers responsibility for managing weed and pest control on state lands from Wyoming's Office of State Lands and Investments to the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2022. The bill requires the transfer of related funding ($300,000), property, equipment, and authority to the Department of Agriculture, with collaborative planning between the two agencies for implementation. This reorganization streamlines management of these programs without changing the underlying weed and pest control regulations or policies.
Wyoming's HB 3 modifies state land leasing rules to prioritize adjacent landowners for vacant grazing and agricultural leases. The bill requires that when two or more applicants qualify for preference (like owners of neighboring land), the state must hold a live auction to determine the highest bidder among them, rather than automatically granting the lease. It also mandates that the leasing office notify adjacent private landowners before accepting new lease applications. This affects ranchers, landowners, and businesses seeking to lease state lands for grazing or farming, ensuring adjacent landowners have a structured bidding process to secure leases. The law took effect July 1, 2022.
HB 42 allocates $105 million from Wyoming's general fund to local governments, primarily distributing funds to cities/towns and counties based on specific formulas. It requires 89% of the total to be split between cities/towns (with 5% reserved for revenue-challenged areas) and counties (11%), plus additional 5.5% allocations for each. The bill mandates two annual payments per fiscal year, with all cities/towns receiving minimum amounts ($15,000 for populations ≤35, $35,000 for larger) before applying a formula based on per capita sales tax revenue and property assessed value. This funding mechanism aims to standardize distributions while providing targeted support for smaller communities.
