HB 223, introduced in Wyoming's 2019 legislative session, proposed changing qualifications for county assessors by requiring them to own real property within their county. Currently, assessors only needed to be qualified electors; this bill would have added the property ownership requirement. If enacted, it would directly affect all future county assessor candidates in Wyoming. The bill died in committee and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented.
HB 232 requires horse racing permittees in Wyoming to contribute 10% of funds retained from historic pari-mutuel events to a "live event fund." This fund, administered by the pari-mutuel commission, must be used exclusively to enhance purses for live horse racing events at Wyoming tracks. The bill directly affects licensed horse racing venues by redirecting a portion of their historic event revenue toward improving prize money for current live races. It became effective July 1, 2019, though it died in committee before becoming law.
HB 65 amends Wyoming's procurement rules to require school districts to follow the same competitive bidding processes as other public entities for professional services. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $25,000 to $50,000 for professional services like architecture or engineering, meaning school districts must now obtain bids for projects over this amount instead of $25,000. The bill also updates notification requirements for larger projects and clarifies when school boards must interview multiple firms for contracts. These changes directly affect school districts and public entities purchasing professional services, streamlining procurement for larger projects while maintaining competitive processes for significant contracts.
HB 240 exempts drivers operating irrigation district vehicles from Wyoming's commercial vehicle licensing and regulatory requirements when used solely for operating or maintaining irrigation infrastructure. The bill specifically covers vehicles driven for tasks related to headgates, canals, laterals, ditches, pipelines, and reservoirs. This exemption applies to irrigation district employees performing routine facility maintenance and operations, removing a layer of administrative burden for these specific duties. The policy change was intended to take effect July 1, 2019, though the bill did not advance beyond committee.
HB 186 reduces the tax rate on out-of-state shipments of manufactured wine in Wyoming from 12% to 8% of the retail price. It requires out-of-state wine shippers to file monthly reports with the Liquor Division by the 10th of the following month, including shipment invoices, and pay the tax due. The bill takes effect July 1, 2019, and imposes a $25 late filing fee for reports submitted after the deadline. This directly affects businesses shipping wine into Wyoming from other states.
Wyoming's HB 262 would have created a new restricted license for "associate physicians" who are not in medical residency programs. This license would allow them to provide primary care only in medically underserved areas or to underserved populations, under mandatory collaborative agreements with supervising physicians. The bill required associate physicians to identify themselves as such, meet specific USMLE exam deadlines, and adhere to strict prescribing limitations for controlled substances. The bill died in committee in 2019 and never became law.
HB 183 repeals restrictions that previously banned concealed weapons in certain public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry concealed firearms in government meetings, the legislature, and most public schools (with exceptions for specific school district policies under existing law). It establishes that only the Wyoming state legislature can regulate firearms, weapons, and ammunition, preempting local governments from creating their own firearm restrictions. The bill explicitly preserves private property owners' rights to ban firearms on their land and maintains existing prohibitions in courtrooms. This directly affects concealed carry permit holders, local governments seeking to regulate firearms, and school districts managing firearm policies on school property.
HB 170 amends Wyoming law to require child protective service workers to complete training on specific federal and state child welfare laws. The bill directly affects all state-employed child protective service workers by mandating they understand key legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act, and Family First Prevention Services Act. This training requirement ensures workers are knowledgeable about legal standards governing child welfare practice. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.
HB 118 repeals Wyoming's state-administered family college savings program by removing the statutes (W.S. 4-10-912 and 21-16-809 through 21-16-818) that authorized the state treasurer to run it. This bill directly affects the state's ability to operate the program, eliminating the legal framework for its administration. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2019, ending the state's role in managing this specific savings initiative. No new program is created; the bill solely removes the existing authority.
HB 312 merges Wyoming's separate State Board of Barber Examiners and State Board of Cosmetology into a single unified "State Board of Barbers and Cosmetology." This bill affects licensed barbers, cosmetologists, and related professionals by combining their regulatory oversight under one board with updated membership requirements (six members total: three cosmetologists and three barbers). Key provisions include revising definitions (e.g., renaming "Board" to reflect the merger), standardizing licensing rules for both professions, and updating inspection procedures for salons and schools. The bill aims to streamline regulation while maintaining separate licensing standards for barbering and cosmetology services.
Wyoming's HB 261 clarifies the fee structure for oil and gas drilling permits. It modifies two sections of state law to specify that a $10,000 application fee for drilling permits (with $9,500 refundable upon starting drilling) is authorized under the commission's fee-setting authority. The bill directly affects oil and gas companies or individuals seeking to drill new wells in Wyoming. It is a procedural amendment to update fee references in existing law, not a substantive change to the fee amount or requirements. The bill was introduced in January 2019 but died in committee in February 2019.
Wyoming's HB 173 creates a dedicated court supervised treatment program account to fund court-referred treatment services, such as substance abuse or mental health programs. The bill ensures all interest earned on funds in the account stays within it, and the state Department of Corrections uses these funds to support eligible programs while keeping department implementation costs under 10% of total funding. This account provides continuous, dedicated funding for treatment programs without requiring annual legislative appropriations. The law took effect on July 1, 2019, directly affecting the Department of Corrections and the court-supervised treatment programs it administers.
