HB 60 proposes creating the Colorado River Authority of Wyoming within the state engineer's office to manage the state's water resources in the Colorado River system. The authority, composed of nine members (including basin-specific county appointees, the state engineer, and a gubernatorial appointee), will develop management plans to protect Wyoming's water rights under existing compacts. It can establish advisory councils and provide input to the river commissioner, who will coordinate with the authority. The bill does not alter existing water rights or the state engineer's role, and the authority will meet annually with a five-member quorum required for decisions. This is a procedural bill establishing new governance, not yet considered by the legislature.
HB 240 amends Wyoming's initiative process to allow voters to approve funding through ballot measures (previously restricted). It requires the legislature to assign these funds in the next legislative session and mandates the Secretary of State to provide governor election voter counts to initiative committees upon request. The bill would take effect in 2024 only if a related constitutional amendment passes in the 2024 election. This procedural change affects initiative committees seeking to gather required data and the legislature’s handling of voter-approved appropriations.
Wyoming's HB 272 amends state law to expand the definitions of prostitution and soliciting prostitution to explicitly include "sexual contact" and "sexual intrusion" as defined in other statutes. This change directly affects individuals engaging in or offering money for sexual acts, as these activities would now fall under the existing misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months in jail or a $750 fine). The bill does not alter penalties or create new enforcement mechanisms - it simply updates the legal language to cover additional sexual acts. The amendment is set to take effect July 1, 2023.
HB 281 requires the state Board of Land Commissioners to obtain written consent from local governments (counties, cities, or towns) before designating state historic sites on their property. It mandates providing at least 30 days' written notice to the local governing body, with consent presumed if no objection is raised within that period. This bill directly affects local governments owning land potentially designated as historic sites, adding a procedural step to the state's designation process. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in the bill text.
Wyoming's HB 193 repeals energy standards requiring public utilities to provide "reliable and dispatchable low-carbon" electricity. The bill removes definitions for "dispatchable" and "reliable" energy from state law, effectively eliminating the previous requirement for utilities to meet specific low-carbon generation targets. It mandates that utilities refund customers for rates collected under the repealed standards (with exceptions for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date), and requires the Public Service Commission to issue implementing rules. This bill directly affects Wyoming's electricity providers and their customers by changing compliance requirements and financial obligations.
Wyoming's HB 259 would require runoff elections for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent, and federal offices if no candidate wins over 50% of votes in a party primary. The runoff would feature the top two candidates (determined by vote count or drawing lots for ties) and must be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August during general election years. The bill specifies a standardized ballot format for runoffs, including clear voting instructions and office groupings. All costs for runoffs would be covered by the secretary of state, who would reimburse counties using a dedicated account. This bill is proposed legislation (not yet enacted) and would take effect only if a related constitutional amendment is approved.
HB 155 changes Wyoming's election rules to require independent candidates and minor party candidates to file petitions 81 days before the major party primary election, aligning their deadline with the existing requirement for minor party candidates. This affects candidates running without major party affiliation in statewide and local elections. The bill amends Wyoming Statutes 22-4-304(c) (minor party candidates) and 22-5-307 (independent candidates) to standardize the filing timeline. The change takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 274 prohibits large social media platforms (with over 20 million active users monthly) from blocking or removing content based on a user's race, religion, or viewpoint. It applies specifically to Wyoming residents and content shared with other states that have similar free speech protections. The law does not restrict platforms from removing illegal content like hate speech or violence. It defines "censor" broadly to include actions such as deplatforming, demonetizing, or restricting visibility.
HJ 8 proposes constitutional changes to Wyoming's ballot initiative and referendum process. It would lower signature requirements from 15% to 5% of voters who chose the governor in the last election and eliminate the need for signatures in two-thirds of counties. The bill also changes the vote threshold to require more than 50% of voters supporting the measure (instead of 50% of all voters) and removes the ban on initiatives that dedicate funds or make spending decisions. These changes aim to make it easier for citizens to propose laws or reject legislation through direct voting.
HB 251 requires absentee ballots in Wyoming to include an official envelope inside the inner ballot envelope, where voters must provide identification information. Voters must submit either their Wyoming driver's license number, Wyoming ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number in this envelope. This bill directly affects all Wyoming voters who cast absentee ballots by mail, as it standardizes the identification requirements for returning ballots. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all absentee ballots processed after that date.
HB 266 requires Wyoming's legislature to approve any refugee resettlement plan before it takes effect, replacing the previous process of submitting plans directly to federal authorities. The governor must submit detailed plans by April 1, 2023, outlining how the state will support refugees' self-sufficiency, provide language/employment services, handle unaccompanied minors, address medical needs, and detail funding sources. A legislative committee will review the plans, hold public hearings, and recommend actions to the full legislature. This bill directly affects state agencies and the governor's office by adding legislative oversight to federal refugee resettlement programs.
HJ 9 proposes a constitutional amendment to adjust Wyoming's timeline for legislative redistricting after the federal census. Currently, the legislature must complete redistricting by December 10 following census data. The amendment would allow the legislature to set a new deadline, enabling primary elections to be held in May with runoff elections if needed. If redistricting is required, the legislature would still need to convene a special session of up to 10 days. This amendment must be approved by voters to take effect.
