Wyoming's SF 103 prohibits state agencies, schools, and colleges from using public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or activities. The bill bans funding for DEI offices, hiring DEI staff, requiring DEI statements, giving preference based on race or gender, and mandating DEI training - unless required by federal law or court orders. Exceptions include academic courses, scholarly research, student organization activities, and data collection related to diversity efforts, as specified in the bill.
Wyoming's HB 286 establishes a fixed annual mountain lion hunting season running from September 1 to August 31 each year. It removes all previous restrictions, including hunt areas, mortality limits (statewide or per area), bag limits, and time restrictions - allowing mountain lions to be taken 24/7 with a valid license. Hunters holding valid antelope, deer, or elk licenses can now take mountain lions without needing a separate mountain lion permit, and the bill repeals prior "mountain lion pursuit seasons." The law also requires the Game and Fish Commission to issue possession tags for mountain lions taken and permits trapping/snaring under new rules. This bill directly affects hunters and wildlife management practices by significantly expanding hunting flexibility while removing regulatory limits.
HB 332 would have prohibited Wyoming counties from using public funds to pay for association membership fees, travel, lodging, or meals related to county participation in local or national county official associations. It would have required all documents related to county association activities (like agendas, financial reports, and communications) to be made public records and mandated that county officials document weekly time spent on such activities, submitting monthly reports to their county board. The bill directly affected county commissioners and elected county officials who engage with associations. It died in committee on March 4, 2025, and would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.
HB 322 clarifies that Wyoming's Secretary of State has the authority to create binding rules and directives for county election operations, directly affecting county clerks who serve as local election officers. The bill amends election statutes to require county clerks to follow all rules and written instructions issued by the Secretary of State under state election law. This establishes the Secretary of State as the central authority for uniform election administration across all counties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee in March 2025.
This Wyoming bill (SF 26) establishes legal protections for individuals defending military equipment. It allows state security officers (military department employees securing assets), Wyoming National Guard members on active duty, and military personnel to use reasonable force - including deadly force - as a defense when protecting military equipment during official duties. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability for these individuals acting within their duties, provided actions aren’t "palpably illegal, excessively violent, or malicious." It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 188 exempts home-based child care providers who care for up to four children from multiple families (with no more than two children under age two) at one parent's home from standard child care facility certification requirements. This directly affects informal caregivers operating in private residences, allowing them to provide care without full licensing while still meeting basic safety standards. The bill requires the Wyoming Department of Family Services to create implementing rules within 180 days. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, streamlining oversight for small-scale, family-shared home care arrangements. The legislation does not alter certification rules for licensed child care centers or larger facilities.
This bill increases the cost threshold requiring competitive bidding for purchases and projects by Wyoming water, sewer, and water/sewer districts. It raises the mandatory bidding requirement from $30,000 to $75,000 for contracts involving labor, materials, or supplies. Districts can now make purchases under $75,000 without competitive bidding, but must still follow bidding rules for $75,000+ projects and accept the lowest responsible bid. The law applies to projects initiated on or after July 1, 2025.
HB 28 revises Wyoming's commercial driver's license (CDL) rules to clarify disqualification standards and streamline processes. It adds texting while driving (using handheld devices) as a "serious traffic violation" for CDL holders, expands disqualification for under-21 drivers convicted of alcohol offenses, and specifies that expunged minor offense records (e.g., for underage drinking) still count toward CDL disqualification. The bill also allows the state to waive CDL knowledge/skills tests for applicants meeting federal DOT requirements. These changes directly affect commercial drivers under 21 and all CDL applicants seeking license issuance or renewal.
This bill amends Wyoming's cemetery regulations to set specific structural and aesthetic standards for columbariums - above-ground structures containing urns. It requires exterior walls, roofs, and doors to be made of durable materials like granite, concrete, or similar substances that ensure structural safety and weather resistance, with walls needing a minimum six-inch thickness. The bill directly affects cemetery operators planning or constructing new columbariums within established cemeteries. These changes aim to standardize construction quality and appearance without altering burial rules or creating new requirements for existing facilities.
HB 11 extends Wyoming's manufacturing sales and use tax exemptions for machinery used in manufacturing operations from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2037. It repeals outdated provisions in the use tax exemption to align them with the sales tax exemption rules. This directly affects manufacturers in Wyoming who purchase machinery for use in producing tangible goods within the state. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, providing continued tax relief for eligible manufacturing businesses.
HB 211 amends Wyoming law to allow hunters to pursue and take predatory wildlife (such as wolves, coyotes, or mountain lions) from vehicles, including cars, snowmobiles, and aircraft - previously prohibited for all wildlife. The bill creates a specific exception for predatory animals only, leaving general hunting from vehicles banned for non-predatory species. It also permits the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to exempt handicapped hunters from the vehicle-hunting restrictions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 289 removes restrictions on bed expansions for hospitals and nursing care facilities in Wyoming. It repeals existing limits that previously required state approval before adding beds, instead requiring health department reviews only for safety and health compliance. The bill mandates that the Department of Health report to lawmakers by September 2029 on how the changes affect facility construction and operations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
