Wyoming Bills

2021/Summaries/SF0063.pdf

2021/Summaries/SF0043.pdf

2021/Summaries/HB0053.pdf

Wyoming's SF 1002 (2020) establishes emergency measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It presumes work-related injuries for COVID-19 claims filed by December 31, 2020, and creates a temporary worker's compensation premium credit for employers who paid all required 2019 premiums and maintained good standing by June 15, 2020. The bill also authorizes a rent assistance program to prevent evictions for residential tenants who lost 25% or more rental income due to the pandemic, funded through the Wyoming Community Development Authority. Additionally, it allows the governor to implement a federal CARES Act short-time compensation program through March 15, 2021. These provisions directly affect employers, workers, and renters impacted by pandemic-related economic disruption.

Wyoming's SF 1001 allocates $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funds to address pandemic impacts, directly supporting residents, businesses, healthcare systems, and local governments facing economic hardship. The bill authorizes spending across four key areas: immediate COVID-19 response measures, direct economic relief for affected individuals and businesses, infrastructure projects to create jobs, and funding to maintain essential public services amid revenue shortfalls. It requires detailed reporting on fund usage and specifies that funds must align with CARES Act restrictions, prohibiting their use to cover general budget gaps. The legislation aims to provide emergency financial relief while ensuring responsible allocation of federal resources during the crisis.

Wyoming's HB 1004 creates a temporary business relief program using federal CARES Act funds to support small businesses impacted by pandemic-related closures. It provides $15,000 base payments plus $2,000 per full-time employee (or equivalent) to eligible businesses that were mandated to close by state orders starting March 15, 2020. To qualify, businesses must have been independently owned, headquartered in Wyoming, and employed 50 or fewer full-time workers as of March 31, 2020. The program requires businesses to apply and certify actual losses due to mandated closures, with payments administered by the Wyoming Business Council.

HB 1003 is an emergency budget law enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It directly affects Wyoming school districts and state agencies by temporarily adjusting how school funding reserves are calculated and enabling emergency fund transfers. Key provisions include raising the allowable school district reserve threshold from 15% to 25% for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, allowing the governor to transfer up to 50% of agency funds within departments or 25% between departments for pandemic response, and preventing unspent general funds from reverting to the state treasury during 2020-2022. These changes let school districts retain more funds and gave state agencies flexibility to redirect resources during the public health emergency. The law was effective immediately upon passage in May 2020.

HB 1002 is an emergency Wyoming bill addressing pandemic impacts. It creates a temporary program to prevent evictions by reimbursing property owners who lost 25% or more rental income due to COVID-19, using state funds and federal assistance. The bill also modifies worker's compensation to presume that COVID-19 contracted during work increases employment risk, and blocks employer experience rating charges for such claims. Additionally, it authorizes the governor to partner with federal agencies for short-term unemployment support under the CARES Act, with programs ending March 15, 2021.

HB 1001 authorizes Wyoming to spend $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funds to address the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It directs funding toward four priority areas: immediate emergency response (like hospital support), direct aid to affected businesses and residents, economic development projects (such as infrastructure), and replacing lost state/local government revenue. The bill requires state agencies to report on how funds are spent and ensures they align with federal guidelines. This funding directly supports Wyoming residents, local governments, and essential services during the crisis.