This bill requires developers seeking industrial siting permits in Wyoming to notify specific tribal governments (the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Indian Reservation) when applying for permits. It mandates that state officials serve notice to these tribes within 7 days of a waiver request and within 10 days of a permit application, particularly for projects in the same or adjacent counties. The bill applies to all permit applications filed on or after July 1, 2025, and directs the Industrial Siting Council to create implementing rules. It directly affects developers and tribal governments by ensuring tribes are formally informed about potential industrial projects on or near tribal lands.
HB 40 revises Wyoming's sales and use tax laws to align use tax rules with sales tax provisions. It clarifies key definitions (like "vendor," now including remote sellers and digital marketing activities), extends the manufacturing machinery tax exemption until December 2027, and updates licensing requirements for businesses. The bill also introduces a new credit for businesses reporting taxes - allowing up to 1.95% of the first $6,250 in tax owed for reporting costs. These changes primarily affect businesses selling tangible goods in Wyoming, streamlining compliance and tax collection.
HB 38 amends Wyoming's ad valorem tax penalty rules, directing that penalties collected from taxpayers who fail to file specific tax statements must be paid to and credited to the State School Foundation Program account. The bill specifically changes how these penalty payments are handled under Wyoming Statute 39-13-108(c)(ii)(B), ensuring funds go directly to the school foundation program rather than other general state funds. This procedural change affects taxpayers who miss filing deadlines and ensures penalty revenue supports public education funding as specified by law.
This bill allows Wyoming county treasurers to accept applications and payments for wildlife conservation license plates, expanding the current process that only involved the state department. Vehicle owners who register non-commercial vehicles can pay a one-time $150 fee plus a $50 annual fee (waived the first year) to receive these plates, with optional voluntary donations for wildlife conservation related to transportation. All fees collected under this bill are directed to a new wildlife conservation account within the state highway fund. It directly affects Wyoming residents who register personal vehicles and wish to support wildlife conservation through their license plate choice.
HB 132 authorizes annual permits for commercial haulers transporting portable building units, building materials, forest products, baled hay, and combine headers in Wyoming. It increases the maximum width allowed for most loads from 150 to 168 inches (while keeping forest products at 112 inches), removes the 102-inch width limit for single load components, and raises annual permit fees from $50 to $200. The bill directly affects commercial trucking companies and construction firms that regularly transport these specific materials. Key provisions include updated definitions for "portable building unit" and "building material," require state rulemaking for implementation, and take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 45 removes otters from Wyoming's list of protected animals under hunting regulations. This change directly affects hunters and wildlife management by allowing regulated hunting of otters, which were previously protected. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 23-1-101(a)(ix) to delete "otter" from the definition of "protected animal," which previously included species like black-footed ferrets and lynx. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted. This is a substantive policy change altering hunting permissions, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
HB 86 updates how Wyoming manages public building maintenance and capital construction projects. It requires universities (like the University of Wyoming), school districts, and state agencies to create annual priority lists for major building projects and report on maintenance spending. The bill standardizes definitions for terms like "capital construction" and "major maintenance," and sets new deadlines for submitting these reports to the state construction department. These changes aim to improve planning, transparency, and accountability for public property upkeep across state and educational facilities.
This joint resolution (SJ 3) commemorates the 100th anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross becoming the first woman governor of the United States in 1925. It formally recognizes her historic achievement and legacy through a symbolic resolution passed by the Wyoming Legislature. The bill has no policy provisions or direct impact on citizens; it serves only as a ceremonial acknowledgment. Wyoming's legislature will transmit copies of the resolution to federal officials as part of the commemoration. This is a purely symbolic measure with no legislative or financial effects.
This bill requires Wyoming school districts to implement annual reading assessments for kindergarten through third grade students, using state-approved tools to screen for difficulties like dyslexia at least three times yearly. It eliminates the use of "group reading plans" in individualized intervention plans, mandating only individualized, evidence-based interventions for students not meeting reading benchmarks. Districts must report annually on whether 85% of students read at grade level by third grade, including data on students identified with reading challenges and the specific interventions used. Schools failing to meet the 85% goal must submit improvement plans addressing teacher training, student-teacher ratios, and evidence-based instructional strategies for K-3.
HB 17 amends Wyoming's career technical education equipment grant program for K-12 public school districts. It increases the maximum annual grant award from $50,000 to $75,000 and reduces the required timeframe for expending prior-year funds from five years to two years. The bill also adjusts eligibility rules to prioritize districts that haven't received a grant in the past five years. These changes aim to streamline access to funding for schools purchasing career/technical education equipment, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 23 repeals the requirement for drivers to physically surrender their licenses during suspensions, replacing it with a temporary license valid for 30 days that cannot be renewed. It clarifies that peace officers must provide a notice detailing a 20-day window to request a hearing before automatic suspension takes effect, and ensures hearings are scheduled within 45 days of a request. The bill also modifies procedures for under-21 drivers with alcohol concentrations of 0.02% or higher, requiring officers to submit signed statements and issue temporary licenses. These changes apply to all Wyoming drivers facing license suspensions or revocations related to alcohol-related offenses.
HB 90 amends Wyoming's safe haven law to change the age limit for newborns that can be left at designated safe haven locations (like hospitals or emergency services). The bill reduces the allowable age from 60 days to 14 days or younger, meaning only infants under two weeks old can be relinquished under this provision. This directly affects parents seeking to safely surrender newborns and the safe haven providers who accept them. The change takes effect July 1, 2024.
