HB 135 creates Wyoming's "General Regulatory Sandbox Program," allowing businesses to temporarily test new products or services without full compliance with certain state regulations. It directly affects businesses seeking to innovate in Wyoming by requiring them to apply to the state council for limited, time-bound waivers of licensing or regulatory requirements. Key provisions include mandatory consumer safety assessments, requirements for businesses to maintain operations and records within Wyoming, and council oversight to ensure waivers don't violate federal law or endanger public health. The program aims to support business development while protecting consumers through structured testing protocols.
HB 51 prohibits Wyoming law enforcement from releasing mugshots taken during arrest processing (when someone is booked into jail) unless specific conditions are met. It directly affects arrested individuals who have not yet been convicted, preventing public sharing of their arrest photos. The law allows release only if the person is convicted of the offense, a judge approves it for legitimate law enforcement needs, or a criminal justice agency requests it to apprehend a fugitive or address an immediate safety threat. The bill takes effect July 1, 2022, and applies to all county jails and the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
Wyoming's HB 24 authorizes the state to manage wild horses and burros on state lands if the federal government fails to do so under federal law. It specifically allows the state to enter cooperative agreements with tribes (including the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes on the Wind River Reservation), other states, and private entities to implement management strategies. Key provisions include authorizing population control, fertility management, and expanding wild horse training/adoption programs - such as those using state correctional facilities. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
SF 99 allows Wyoming state agencies and local governments to deposit public funds into credit unions that meet state approval requirements, expanding options beyond traditional banks. The bill amends state law to explicitly include credit unions as "approved depositories" under the same rules as banks, requiring all deposits to be fully insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA) or FDIC. It maintains existing requirements for security, withdrawal terms (including 30-day notice for some accounts), and approval by the state board of deposits. This change directly affects state treasurers, county governments, and other political subdivisions managing public funds, giving them access to credit unions as a deposit option. The law took effect July 1, 2022.
This bill codifies Wyoming's existing education funding formula into law, creating a standardized system for distributing state education resources to public schools. It specifies how funding is allocated across categories like instructional materials, energy costs, non-professional staff (e.g., clerical workers), and professional staff (e.g., teachers), with calculations based on student enrollment and school type. For example, it sets teacher staffing ratios (like one teacher per 16 students in elementary schools over 49 enrollment) and minimum teacher requirements for different school configurations. The bill directly affects all Wyoming public schools by formalizing how state funds are distributed for staffing and resources under the current block grant model.
This bill changes Wyoming's sex offender registration law by counting periods when offenders weren't required to register (such as during incarceration or other exemptions) toward the 10- or 25-year waiting periods needed to seek relief from registration requirements. It affects sex offenders who have maintained a clean record for those periods and now qualify for relief based on total time (including non-registration periods). The bill requires petitioners to serve notices on the Division of Criminal Investigation and local prosecutors, who can file responses within 30 days. It applies to all offenders sentenced before, on, or after the law takes effect.
HB 140 requires landowners to obtain a permit from their county commission before creating a conservation easement, effective July 1, 2022. It limits all new conservation easements to a maximum 30-year duration (with possible renewal) and establishes a formal application process including survey requirements and a 45-day review timeline by the county board. The bill also mandates that county commissions adopt rules for implementation and specifies that fees for permits (capped at processing costs) fund the county general fund. This directly affects landowners seeking to create easements, county commissions managing permits, and the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Account, which cannot fund non-compliant easements.
HB 151 clarifies that Wyoming's state government, not local authorities, is responsible for annually valuing and assessing the property of independent power producers (companies generating or transmitting electricity for wholesale sale) at fair market value for tax purposes. This bill directly affects electricity generation and transmission facilities operated by these independent producers. The key provision amends state tax law to explicitly include such property under the state's assessment authority, removing ambiguity about who handles these valuations. The bill was set to take effect July 1, 2022, but did not pass the legislature.
Wyoming's SF 91, the "Massage Therapy Practice Act," proposes creating a regulatory framework for massage therapists in the state. It establishes a five-member Board of Massage Therapy within the Department of Health to oversee licensing, set professional standards, conduct background checks for applicants, and enforce rules. The bill defines "massage therapy" as manual soft tissue manipulation for therapeutic purposes (excluding medical diagnosis) and authorizes the board to collect fees to fund its operations. This bill directly affects massage therapists seeking or renewing licenses in Wyoming and would create new licensing requirements and oversight mechanisms. (Note: This is a proposed bill introduced in 2022 but not advanced beyond initial filing.)
HB 34 redirects state funds to support school district capital projects. It eliminates the state penitentiary capital construction account and requires annual transfers of $10 million from the strategic investments account to the school capital construction account, starting in 2022 and ending in 2038. The bill also mandates transferring all remaining funds from the school lands mineral royalties account and any unused penitentiary account funds to the same school capital construction account. These changes directly affect Wyoming school districts by providing dedicated funding for major maintenance and facility construction projects.
HB 144 establishes a $40 million grant program to fund active transportation and recreation projects across Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will administer 90% of the funds ($36 million) for projects like bike paths, sidewalks, safe routes to schools, and walkable downtown corridors, while the Department of State Parks will manage 10% ($4 million) for natural surface trails (hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking) and related planning. Applicants must provide a 20% local match and projects must align with specific eligible categories outlined in the bill. The program is funded through June 30, 2024, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury.
HB 139 prohibits Wyoming state agencies and local governments from using public funds or staff resources for projects involving permanent conservation easements or federal conservation efforts. It specifically restricts compliance with the Biden administration's goal to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030, requiring state agencies to host workshops on tax impacts of conservation easements and track local resolutions opposing the federal mandate. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to maintain online lists of jurisdictions supporting or opposing the 30x30 goal and designates a state coordinator for federal climate programs. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, landowners, and agricultural/mining industries by limiting state cooperation with federal conservation programs. The bill failed to pass in 2022 (30-30 vote).
