HB 53 amends Wyoming law to remove liability for government entities when peace officers negligently investigate crimes while acting within their official duties. It specifically states that criminal suspects cannot sue for damages resulting from such negligent investigations, directly affecting individuals who might have filed negligence claims against law enforcement. The bill modifies Wyoming Statute 1-39-112 to exclude negligent investigations from government liability under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. This change overrules a recent Wyoming Supreme Court decision (Palm-Egle v. Briggs) and applies to all claims arising on or after its effective date.
HB 281 requires hunters using private land for antelope, deer, or elk hunting to give landowners a coupon after the hunt - whether an animal was harvested or not. Landowners can then claim $16 per coupon by submitting a form by March 1st, proving the hunt occurred on their property (even without a harvest). The bill allows landowners to redirect payments to the state's animal damage management board instead of receiving cash directly. It applies to all such hunts on private land and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Wyoming's HB 104 establishes a $200 per-child tax credit for full-time Wyoming residents with children claimed as dependents. The credit is limited to taxes paid to Wyoming (capped at $200 per child) and requires applicants to prove residency, dependency claims, and no duplicate claims by others. The bill appropriates $5 million from the general fund to cover refunds, with funds expiring June 30, 2026, and refunds prorated if funds are insufficient. It applies to tax years starting in 2025, requiring applications by March 1 each year.
HB 184 requires electricity sellers to obtain a written agreement (a "customer allocation agreement") with both the customer and the utility that serves the customer's specific service area (certificated territory) before selling power for use within that utility's territory. This applies when electricity is delivered to a point outside the seller's service area but consumed inside another utility's territory. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for lost income, attorney fees, and other costs if this requirement is violated. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 269 establishes a licensure system for naturopathic medicine in Wyoming, requiring practitioners to graduate from accredited naturopathic programs (CNME-accredited in the U.S. or Canada) and pass the NABNE licensing exam. It creates the "Wyoming Board of Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine" with nine members, including three licensed naturopathic physicians, to oversee licensing, set practice standards, and enforce penalties for unlicensed practice. The bill directly affects naturopathic medicine practitioners, who must obtain a license by January 1, 2026, to legally practice. Key provisions include defining "naturopathic medicine," establishing board authority, and requiring continuing education for license holders.
HB 149 prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against adoption and foster care agencies that decline placements based on religious beliefs. It specifically protects religious organizations (including faith-based groups) that provide these services, ensuring they cannot be excluded or penalized for refusing to place children with same-sex couples or others due to sincerely held religious convictions. The law creates new legal protections requiring government entities to avoid actions that conflict with an agency’s religious practices, consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedents like *Fulton v. Philadelphia*. It directly affects adoption/foster care providers and government agencies managing child welfare services in Wyoming.
HB 95 creates a permanent "school generational account" within Wyoming's permanent land fund, designed to grow long-term through strategic investments. The bill mandates that earnings from this account (invested 85% in private equity and 15% in private credit) cannot be spent for at least 22 years, after which they must fund Wyoming's public school foundation program. This directly affects public schools by establishing a dedicated, long-term revenue stream, with spending strictly limited to authorized school funding purposes. The account is protected as "inviolable" perpetual school funds, meaning its principal cannot be diverted for other uses.
HB 49 amends Wyoming's Court Supervised Treatment Program Act to expand access to treatment for individuals with substance use disorders or mental health conditions involved in the justice system. It replaces "substance abuse" with "substance use" throughout the law, adds mental health treatment to program options, and allows treatment programs to accept participants from any Wyoming jurisdiction. The bill also permits public defenders to join treatment teams as advocates for participants and updates definitions to include terms like "dual diagnosis" (co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions). These changes aim to create more integrated treatment pathways within courts, focusing on recovery rather than incarceration for eligible individuals.
HB 195 prohibits medical facilities (like hospitals and clinics) and collection entities from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus starting July 1, 2025. This directly affects healthcare providers and debt collectors who handle unpaid medical bills, excluding debt from healthcare-specific credit cards. Violators face civil penalties equal to the amount of debt reported. The bill defines "medical debt" broadly but excludes credit card charges tied to healthcare services.
HB 12 provides a property tax exemption for industrial production equipment stored in Wyoming before installation. It directly affects businesses purchasing equipment for manufacturing, mining, or energy production, allowing them to defer taxes during storage at approved facilities for up to two reporting periods. Key conditions include requiring equipment to cost at least $50,000, excluding mobile machinery and raw materials, and mandating payment of sales/use tax upon removal from storage. The exemption expires July 1, 2025, and requires documentation to verify eligibility.
Wyoming's HB 34 directs the state to fund a $750,000 independent study of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to assess its operations. The study must evaluate the DOT's rules, staffing distribution, construction practices, and employee feedback through anonymous surveys. It requires the independent reviewer to identify potential efficiency improvements and provide actionable recommendations to the governor and DOT by July 2026. The bill directly affects Wyoming's DOT operations and its employees, with the goal of informing future policy changes based on the findings.
HB 284 requires hospitals licensed by Wyoming's Department of Health that receive public funding to offer minimum services, including emergency care, radiology, lab services, and nursing. It specifically mandates obstetrics, labor, and delivery services unless a hospital applies for a waiver. Hospitals seeking a waiver must prove financial hardship, insufficient patient volume to maintain staff competency, or lack of necessary personnel/equipment, and provide approval from local county commissioners or hospital boards. This bill directly affects public-funded hospitals providing inpatient acute care in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2025, if passed.
