This bill authorizes funding for four specific water infrastructure projects in Wyoming. It provides $823,490 for an aerial cloud-seeding program to boost snowpack in the Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre ranges, and $316,000 for a ground-based program in the Wind River and Sierra Madre ranges, requiring 63% cost-sharing from other water users. It also allocates $2,546,000 for the Crystal Bypass Pipeline in Cheyenne (covering 67% of costs) and funds the Evanston Transmission Pipeline for municipal water supply. All appropriations are drawn from the state's water development account, with unspent funds reverting to the account by 2024 or 2027.
HB 146 requires multiple Wyoming state agencies to submit regular reports to legislative committees. The bill mandates the Governor's Office to report quarterly on infrastructure grant funds (Section 1) and establish metrics for the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (Section 2). The State Treasurer must provide quarterly financial reconciliations (Section 3), biennial audit response reports (Section 4), and monthly investment status updates (Section 5). Additionally, the Tourism Board must report on welcome center improvements (Section 6), and Corrections must report on mental health funding and alternative sanctions (Sections 7-8). These reporting requirements apply from 2022 through 2024.
This bill (SF 41) updates Wyoming's 911 emergency communication system by expanding the Public Safety Communications Commission's role. It adds two new members to the commission (representing emergency communications officials and homeland security) and directs the commission to develop guidelines for next-generation 911 systems that integrate current infrastructure. The bill also allows existing 911 tax funds to cover costs for next-generation systems, including equipment, maintenance, and personnel supporting system integration. These changes directly affect public safety agencies operating 911 call centers and emergency response systems across Wyoming.
This bill allows Wyoming county commissioners to dissolve county-created boards or districts (such as special service districts) by following specific procedures. Commissioners must provide 120 days' public notice in local newspapers, hold a public meeting for input, and approve dissolution via resolution. It requires settling all debts first, then distributing remaining funds either by offsetting taxes owed to taxing units or crediting property values in the dissolved area. The law applies to boards created under statutes governing county services, solid waste districts, and similar entities, effective July 2022.
HB 10 updates Wyoming state laws to correct outdated references to tribal governance structures on the Wind River Indian Reservation. It replaces "joint business council" with "cooperative tribal governing body" in over 20 statutes, clarifies that this term refers to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho inter-tribal council, and standardizes references to either tribe or the governing body. The bill also updates identification card recognition to include tribal IDs from both tribes and repeals the obsolete Wyoming Indian Affairs Council. These changes primarily affect state agencies, courts, and tribal governments interacting with Wyoming law.
Wyoming's HB 44 updates procedures for issuing and transferring vehicle and mobile home titles. It allows a single co-owner to transfer a mobile home without others' signatures unless the title specifies "and" or joint ownership. The bill requires county treasurers to issue excise tax receipts and mandates duplicate titles to include a warning that they may be subject to rights under the original title. These changes apply to all vehicle and mobile home owners, dealers, and county clerks handling title transactions.
HB 56 requires special districts (like recreation boards) and certain other local entities in Wyoming to submit annual financial reports to the state audit department by September 30 each year. The law establishes different oversight levels based on an entity's annual revenue or spending, and allows the audit department to accept reports from certified public accountants. Entities failing to file reports face consequences including public notices, cost assessments by counties, and potential dissolution by county commissioners. This applies to recreation districts, counties, cities/towns under 4,000 population, and other entities specified in Wyoming law.
HB 55 exempts airports in Wyoming counties outside incorporated cities or towns from a rule limiting retail liquor licenses within five miles of city limits. Normally, such counties could issue no more than three retail liquor licenses in that 5-mile zone, but airports are now allowed to operate liquor sales without counting toward that cap. The bill directly affects airports seeking liquor licenses in rural or unincorporated areas, removing a barrier to serving alcohol on-site. It became effective July 1, 2022, and makes no other changes to liquor licensing rules.
HB 53 establishes a formal process for Wyoming National Guard members and military department employees to report discrimination or harassment. It requires the Wyoming Military Department and the Department of Workforce Services to coordinate on counseling, mediation, and investigations for such claims, aligning with federal anti-discrimination laws. The bill appropriates $201,188 for the Department of Workforce Services to implement this program, including authorizing one full-time position through 2024. This directly affects military personnel and employees who can now file formal complaints under this new system.
HB 49 requires organizations spending over $1,000 on political activities to file a "statement of formation" detailing their name, addresses, formation date, and purpose. This applies to groups making independent expenditures (like ads supporting/opposing candidates) or electioneering communications (ads targeting voters within specific timeframes before elections). Organizations must file within 10 days of spending funds for these activities, or within 24 hours if acting last-minute before an election. The bill also increases penalties for failing to file and adds a perjury penalty for false statements. This directly affects political groups, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations operating in Wyoming elections.
HB 72 allows unsuccessful hunting license applicants in Wyoming to choose whether to donate a portion of their refund to specific wildlife funds. Applicants can elect at the time of application to have their refund deposited into either the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Income Account or the Game and Fish Access Account. The bill requires the department to provide this option on the application form and specifies that administrative costs for these donations will be covered by the trust account. This policy change directly affects hunters who apply for licenses but do not receive them, offering them a voluntary contribution mechanism for conservation funding. The bill became effective July 1, 2022.
HB 71 amends Wyoming law to increase penalties for driving with a suspended, revoked, or canceled license by including violations of similar laws in other states as "subsequent" offenses. It directly affects drivers who operate vehicles while their license is suspended, particularly those with prior suspensions in other jurisdictions. The key provision requires a minimum 7-day jail sentence (instead of probation) and a $200-$750 fine for such violations, with no eligibility for early release. This change expands the scope of prior offenses considered for enhanced penalties beyond Wyoming's own laws. The bill became effective July 1, 2022.
