HB 150 allows Wyoming meat processors licensed by federal or state authorities to sell compost made from non-edible animal parts (excluding certain high-risk materials like brain, spinal cord, or specific intestines from older cattle) as fertilizer, soil amendment, or soil conditioner. Processors must register this compost with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and follow existing commercial fertilizer regulations. The bill defines "specified risk materials" to exclude parts posing potential health risks and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects licensed meat processing facilities seeking to repurpose waste materials.
HB 161 would impose a severance tax on hydrogen production in Wyoming, specifically targeting hydrogen separated from ground water. It sets two tax rates: 3% for hydrogen from "by-product water" (as defined in existing law) and 6% for all other hydrogen production. The tax would be calculated based on the fair market value of the hydrogen, similar to how natural gas is taxed, and collected by the state department. The bill, which died in committee in March 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but is not currently law.
HB 260 establishes a grant program to help Wyoming cities and towns cover costs linked to specific criminal activities. It provides up to $5 million in initial funding (for fiscal year 2025-26) to qualifying local governments that meet criteria like increased jail costs from higher incarceration rates, reported violent crimes using national data systems, fentanyl-related cases, or prosecutions against nonresidents. Grants are limited to 10 jurisdictions annually, must be used solely for documented criminal activity costs, and require annual reports on fund usage. The program requires cities/towns to use national incident reporting systems to qualify and mandates the attorney general to administer applications and oversee spending.
HB 108 prohibits payment processors (like banks and credit card networks) from using special merchant codes to categorize firearm or ammunition retailers differently from general merchandise or sporting goods stores. It requires these businesses to be classified under standard retail codes, preventing financial institutions from treating them as high-risk. Violations carry a misdemeanor penalty of $1,000 per violation. The law directly affects firearm retailers and payment processors, taking effect July 1, 2025.
HB 262 would limit Wyoming counties' reserve funds to their average annual spending over the previous five years (excluding specific purpose taxes). Counties exceeding this limit must refund excess funds to residents who lived in the county for at least one year, calculated pro rata and paid by August 15 annually starting in 2025. The bill requires counties to report reserve calculations to the Department of Revenue by July 1 each year and mandates refunds for any excess funds held on July 1, 2025, and subsequent years. Noncompliance would trigger the state treasurer withholding twice the excess amount from county payments until refunds are processed.
This bill (SJ 9) proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Wyoming's constitution that would establish a fundamental right to individual privacy. It would create Article 1, Section 40 stating: "The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed." The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the state constitution. As a constitutional amendment proposal, it directly affects all Wyoming residents by potentially altering the state's foundational legal protections. (Note: The bill died in committee on March 3, 2025, and did not advance further.)
Wyoming's HB 193 requires sellers of real property to disclose whether ownership of the space beneath the land (pore space) has been severed from surface ownership in property sales. This affects all property sellers and buyers in Wyoming, particularly in areas where pore space rights may have been separated from surface rights. The bill clarifies that surface property conveyances automatically include pore space ownership unless explicitly severed or excluded, and mandates this disclosure in all property transactions starting July 1, 2025. It does not create new rights but standardizes existing practices into a clear disclosure requirement for buyers.
Wyoming's HB 201 allows the state treasurer to invest up to 3% of the general fund, mineral trust fund, and land fund in Bitcoin or Bitcoin-related exchange-traded products. The bill requires all investments to use a "secure custody solution" with strict security measures, including exclusive state control of private keys and geographically diverse data centers. It mandates annual reports to state committees detailing investment performance, security practices, and financial details. This directly affects how Wyoming manages its public funds, with the state treasurer responsible for implementing the rules and oversight. The bill does not authorize new spending but modifies existing investment policies for state funds.
Wyoming's HB 202, the "Fast Track Permits Act," sets strict deadlines for local governments (cities, counties) to review property development requests that fit within a property's existing zoning. It requires local entities to: (1) notify applicants within 15 days if a request is incomplete, (2) approve or deny complete requests within 60 days (with limited extensions), and (3) automatically approve requests if deadlines are missed. If a local government fails to meet the 60-day deadline, the request is approved by default, and applicants may receive a 10% fee reduction for missed requirements. The bill applies to standard development permits but excludes rezoning, subdivision, and conditional use requests, taking effect July 1, 2025.
HB 229 designates the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum in Laramie County as a state historic site managed by Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. The bill requires the department to create a strategic master plan for preservation and operations within one year, including partnerships with local entities, and authorizes fees to fund site maintenance, development, and staff. These fees must be deposited into the state parks account, with annual financial reports submitted to the legislature. The bill also specifies $3.3 million in existing funds for site operations, effective immediately upon enactment.
HB 169 creates a temporary property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners, reducing their tax bill by 50% on the first $1 million of their home's value for tax years 2025 and 2026. It applies to single-family residential properties like houses, mobile homes, and condos, directly benefiting homeowners who own these properties. The state will compensate local governments and schools for lost revenue using $125 million from the general fund, with funds expiring after June 2027. The exemption does not apply to tax year 2027 or later.
This bill requires all Wyoming hospitals to implement random drug and alcohol testing for employees and job applicants in safety-sensitive roles (like nurses or surgical staff). It mandates that employees testing positive be temporarily removed from such duties, undergo counseling through the Wyoming Professional Assistance Program, and provide a negative test before returning. The bill also clarifies that marijuana use remains unlawful under state and federal law regardless of local decriminalization, and excludes prescribed medications (not schedule 1 drugs) from treatment requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with immediate implementation for rulemaking provisions.
