Wyoming's SF 87, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, declares that certain federal gun regulations within the state are unconstitutional and prohibits state officials from enforcing them. It defines "law abiding citizen" (excluding undocumented individuals) and allows civil lawsuits against officials who enforce federal gun laws deemed beyond federal authority. The bill asserts that federal actions restricting firearm possession, sale, or ownership within Wyoming exceed constitutional limits, except for regulations related to the military or active militia. This procedural bill, which failed to advance in 2022, does not change state gun laws but aims to block federal enforcement of gun regulations it deems invalid.
SF 107 would make the Wyoming Attorney General an elected statewide position starting in the 2022 general election, changing the current system where the governor appoints the role. The bill requires the attorney general to be elected for a four-year term, qualify as a practicing attorney with four years of experience, and be a Wyoming resident. It also updates election procedures to include the attorney general in the ballot order alongside other statewide elected officials like the governor and secretary of state. The change affects all Wyoming voters who will elect the state's chief legal officer and sets new qualifications for the position.
Wyoming's HB 101 clarifies that nonconsenting landowners (those whose property is included in an oil and gas drilling unit without their agreement) are entitled to a cost-free royalty interest equal to the acreage-weighted average fee royalty of leased tracts within that unit. This policy change directly affects landowners whose mineral rights are pooled into drilling units but who did not consent to the development. The bill requires the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to create implementing rules and applies only to new pooling orders issued after the law takes effect. It does not alter existing royalty agreements but ensures new nonconsenting owners receive a standardized royalty rate based on the unit's average lease terms.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a redistricting commission that would draw Wyoming's legislative district boundaries after each U.S. census, replacing the current process where the legislature handles redistricting. The commission would consist of five members appointed without regard to political affiliation (two by the governor, one by the Senate president, one by the House speaker, and one by the chief justice) and must create 60 house districts and 30 senate districts (each senate district covering two house districts) with populations within 5% of the state average. The commission would have 90 days to adopt a final plan requiring approval from three of its five members, with judicial review available through the Wyoming Supreme Court if errors are alleged. This change would repeal the current requirement that each county have at least one representative and one senator.
Wyoming's SF 64 (proposed in 2022) required public utilities operating coal-fired power plants over 200 megawatts to consider installing carbon capture technology if planning to retire those facilities. It gave utilities three options: install the technology themselves (with cost recovery rules), partner with a third party for installation, or sell the facility to a buyer who will install it, while requiring utilities to report on these plans. The bill also mandated the Public Service Commission to publish a list of retiring plants and hold hearings on third-party proposals for carbon capture. However, the bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 18, 2022, and never became law.
HB 142 updates Wyoming's rules for filling vacancies in elected offices. It requires special elections to fill vacancies for governor, state legislators, and congressional representatives within specific timeframes before general elections (60 days for governor, 3 months for state offices, 6 months for Congress). For district attorney vacancies, county commissioners must appoint replacements following the same process used for legislative vacancies. The bill also clarifies that special elections for congressional seats must occur on the first Tuesday after the 89th day before the general election, and ensures employees get time off to vote in these elections. These changes apply to federal and state offices covered under Wyoming Statutes §22-18-103 through §22-18-109.
HB 152 (Wyoming, 2022) would have changed primary elections by allowing voters to select any candidate regardless of party affiliation, removing political parties from the primary ballot process. It eliminated party control over filling vacancies (replacing party committees with the next highest vote-getter from the primary) and ended precinct committee elections at primaries. The bill also redefined "major" and "minor" political parties based on statewide vote percentages. This proposal failed to advance in the 2022 legislative session (14-46 vote against introduction) and never became law.
Wyoming's SF 110 would authorize the Game and Fish Commission to regulate commercially guided fishing boats by setting daily limits on how many boats can launch into specific river sections to protect fisheries. It directly affects fishing outfitters and guides (defined as those offering paid fishing services) operating in major river drainages like the Snake, Wind River, or North Platte. The bill requires the Commission to hold public hearings in affected communities before setting limits and establishes rules for tracking boat launches. It defines key terms and would take effect July 1, 2022.
HB 102 requires oil and gas applicants seeking a "pooling order" (which forces combined development of adjacent mineral rights) to first make good-faith lease offers to unleased mineral owners within the proposed area. It mandates that applicants provide evidence of these offers to Wyoming's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission before a pooling order can be approved. The law applies to all applications filed after its effective date (July 1, 2022), and pooling orders must expire after 12 months if drilling doesn't begin. This directly affects mineral owners who may now receive lease offers and oil/gas operators who must negotiate before forced pooling.
HB 69 allows Wyoming to use funds from its broadband development subaccount to match federal grants for broadband projects. It specifically authorizes up to $1.5 million annually (or 15% of the subaccount balance) to cover the state's share for federal grants aimed at expanding broadband access, improving internet opportunities, or supporting telehealth services for Wyoming residents and businesses. The bill also creates two temporary positions at the Wyoming Business Council to help secure federal grants and coordinate with broadband providers. These provisions affect residents seeking better internet access, businesses relying on connectivity, and the Wyoming Business Council through new grant application responsibilities. The bill does not create new taxes or spending but reallocates existing subaccount funds for matching grant purposes.
HB 116, "The People's House Endowment Act," creates a permanent trust fund for Wyoming's capitol complex. It establishes the "People's House Endowment Account," which can receive donations and federal grants, with 75% of investment earnings remaining in the endowment and 25% annually distributed to the Capitol Square Preservation Account. The bill appropriates $15 million from the general fund to the endowment, $10 million to the preservation account, and $200,000 specifically for matching private gifts to the endowment if requested. This act directly affects state treasury operations and Capitol Square maintenance funding.
Wyoming's HB 138 creates the Hope Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships to eligible Wyoming K-12 students. It directly affects Wyoming residents enrolled in public schools who qualify (e.g., attending public school for 45+ days annually), with funds usable at participating private schools. The program establishes a scholarship account funded through state education appropriations (2% of public school funding or per-student amounts), administered by a nine-member board including state education officials. Funds cover qualifying education expenses, with annual transfers from the state education budget to the scholarship program fund. The bill defines key terms like "eligible recipient" and "participating schools" but does not specify implementation timelines beyond the 2023 fiscal year.
