HB 21 removes a sales tax exemption for one-way paging services in Wyoming. It specifically ends the tax exemption for businesses that transmit radio waves to one-way paging units, meaning these services will now be subject to sales tax. This change directly affects providers of one-way paging services, requiring them to collect sales tax on their offerings starting July 1, 2022. The bill makes no other changes to tax law or policy.
This bill appropriates $22,095,434 from Wyoming's general fund to cover the 2022-2024 operating costs of the state legislature. It funds salaries for legislative staff and lawmakers, travel expenses (both in-state and out-of-state), technology systems, administrative support, and membership dues for legislative organizations. The budget also includes specific allocations for new legislators' training compensation ($34,000) and reappropriates unspent funds from prior years for technology development ($125,000) and K-12 education-related legislative work. This is a standard budget bill that provides funding for legislative operations without creating new policies or affecting external entities.
This bill, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges in Wyoming to designate athletic teams based on students' biological sex at birth, as recorded on their birth certificates. It prohibits biological males from participating on teams designated for females, women, or girls, and mandates that schools must clearly label teams as male, female, or coed. The law also allows students denied athletic opportunities due to violations, or those facing retaliation for reporting issues, to pursue legal action for damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. Schools must implement specific rules by August 15, 2022, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2022.
This Wyoming bill (SF 39) reduces future cost-of-living adjustments for retired firemen and their dependents under the "Fire A" pension plan, directly affecting approximately 266 retirees and surviving spouses. It requires employers to make new contributions (previously halted since 1997) and creates a dedicated account funded by fire insurance premium taxes to address the plan's projected exhaustion by 2026. The bill also specifies that employer loan repayments must be withheld if funds aren't repaid, while maintaining existing benefit formulas except for the reduced COLA. These changes aim to stabilize the underfunded pension system without eliminating current benefits.
Wyoming's SF 31 redefines school absenteeism by classifying a child's willful absenteeism (due to a parent's refusal to ensure attendance) as child neglect under the Child Protection Act, and habitual truancy (five or more unexcused absences in a year) as a "child in need of supervision." School boards must define "unexcused absence" and "habitual truancy" in their policies, while attendance officers must notify parents of absences and file complaints against parents who willfully fail to ensure school attendance. Parents found guilty face fines of $5-$25 or up to 10 days in jail. The bill directly affects parents, school districts, and children with repeated unexcused absences.
HB 54 authorizes Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to lease state lands for recreational use and sell permits allowing public access to these areas. The bill establishes a system where funds from permit sales must be used for operations and maintenance of leased recreational sites, and permits may include restrictions like per-person or vehicle limits. It also allows the department to lease concessions (such as boat rentals or cabins) on leased lands under specific terms. The bill directly affects state parks management and recreational users who purchase permits or use concession services on state lands. This legislation modifies existing statutes (W.S. 36-4-103, 36-4-104, etc.) to clarify and expand the department's authority for managing recreational lands.
HB 85 creates a new felony offense for pregnant individuals who knowingly use methamphetamine or certain narcotics (like heroin or fentanyl) without a prescription from a healthcare provider. It directly affects pregnant people using these substances without medical authorization, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically targets non-prescribed use of Schedule I/II controlled substances during pregnancy, framing it as endangering the unborn child, and takes effect July 1, 2022. The bill does not address medical treatment or addiction support, focusing solely on criminal penalties for non-prescribed substance use.
HB 1 is Wyoming's two-year state budget bill for fiscal years 2022-2024, appropriating $84.55 million to fund state agencies and programs. It directly affects all state departments and offices receiving funding, including the Governor's Office, Homeland Security, and Natural Resources, by allocating specific sums for their operations and programs. Key provisions include $1.25 million for infrastructure grant efforts (with $650,000 effective immediately), requirements for reporting on grant outcomes, and defined budget categories for fund transfers and carryovers. The bill establishes spending limits, reporting requirements, and specific funding allocations for agencies without changing existing laws or creating new regulations.
HB 22 modifies Wyoming's tax exemption rules for industrial development projects. It requires developers of new industrial projects (initiated on or after July 1, 2022) to pay an annual fee instead of property taxes during the bond term. This fee must fully compensate state and local governments for 50% of the ad valorem taxes they would have collected. The fee is distributed to counties and other government entities in the same way as regular property tax revenue.
HB 78 requires public entities in Wyoming (like cities, towns, and school districts) to provide written explanations within 10 business days when rejecting a bid or denying a bidder the opportunity to submit a bid for public works projects. It specifically mandates that these written responses detail any deficient qualifications or responsibilities of the bidder, as outlined in amended Section 16-6-119. The bill does not change the criteria for rejecting bids but adds transparency to the process by requiring clear, documented reasons for decisions. This affects contractors bidding on public projects and ensures public entities follow a standardized communication process for contract denials.
Wyoming's SF 109 prohibits members and staff of the state gaming commission from engaging in, investing in, or pursuing any business regulated by the commission, including horse racing betting or other gaming activities. It requires immediate disclosure and divestment of any such interests if they exist, and mandates that affected individuals recuse themselves from related commission decisions. This applies directly to commission members and staff who own or have family interests in regulated businesses, such as racetracks or casinos. The law, effective July 1, 2022, strengthens ethics safeguards by preventing conflicts of interest in gaming regulation. It amends existing rules to clarify prohibitions and repeals a duplicate provision.
SF 93 requires Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to publish each legislator's detailed roll call voting records on the official legislative website. This includes specific data for every vote: year, bill number, catch title, sponsor, amendment number, vote type, result, and date. The bill directly affects all Wyoming legislators by mandating this transparency on their official profile pages. It became effective July 1, 2022, and does not alter voting procedures or policy outcomes - only the public accessibility of voting history.
