Wyoming's SF 164 adjusts state school funding for the 2019-2020 school year based on specific cost increases. It modifies the education resource block grant formula by applying adjustments to four categories: professional labor, nonprofessional labor, educational materials, and energy costs. Each adjustment uses 50% of published cost data (like wage indexes and price indices for supplies/power) to reflect inflation. The bill directly affects Wyoming public schools receiving state funding under this block grant model. It took effect July 1, 2019.
Wyoming's SF 129 eliminates several existing education reporting requirements for school districts, tribal councils, and the state superintendent. Specifically, it removes mandates for annual reports on statewide technology plans, school quality assessments, preschool program evaluations, tribal education expenditures, special education spending, and curriculum waivers. The bill directly affects school districts, tribal education programs, and state education officials who previously had to submit these detailed reports. This change reduces administrative burdens by removing these specific data collection and reporting obligations. The bill focuses on streamlining compliance rather than altering educational standards or funding.
SF 94 allows Wyoming's Secretary of State to refuse to file nomination applications for state and federal offices (such as legislators, judges, or U.S. representatives) if an applicant is deemed ineligible under law. If an application is refused, the Secretary must provide written notice by certified mail, and the applicant may appeal to district court within five days - requiring a ruling within five days. The bill also mandates that complaints alleging an applicant's ineligibility must include the complainant's name and address. This procedural bill affects candidates seeking office and clarifies administrative steps for handling nomination eligibility.
Wyoming's SF 82 establishes a legal framework for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) directives, allowing any adult with medical decision-making capacity to formally request no CPR in end-of-life situations. The bill enables individuals to have a DNR designation visibly marked on their Wyoming driver's license or ID card, alongside standardized medical bracelets or signed directives. It specifies that DNR orders apply to medical care except in cases of trauma (like car crashes), and protects emergency responders and healthcare providers who follow valid DNR directives in good faith. The law also creates standardized forms for creating, revoking, and removing DNR designations from licenses.
This bill allows businesses with retail liquor licenses in Wyoming to purchase alcohol directly from other retail liquor licensees for resale, up to a maximum of nine liters per day. It affects retail liquor stores that want to buy alcohol from other retail locations (instead of only from the state-run division) to resell. The key requirement is that sellers must record each purchase with the buyer's name, signature, date, and time, and keep these records for one year for potential state inspection. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.
SF 91 would have required Wyoming's community college commission to create a single, common application system for all University of Wyoming and community college admissions. It would have mandated that both the University of Wyoming and community colleges accept applications exclusively through this system starting with the 2021-2022 academic year. The bill aimed to simplify the application process for students seeking admission as freshmen or transfer students across Wyoming's public postsecondary institutions. However, the bill died in committee in February 2019 and was never enacted into law.
SF 157 would make the Wyoming Attorney General an elected statewide office, replacing the current system where the governor appoints the position. Starting with the 2022 general election, the attorney general would serve a four-year term and must have at least four years of legal practice in Wyoming. The bill designates the attorney general as one of five statewide elected officials (alongside governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and state treasurer) for state commissions and ballot listing. It repeals interim appointment rules, requires the attorney general to follow Wyoming's Ethics and Disclosure Act, and amends procedures for when the attorney general needs the governor's approval for certain actions.
Wyoming's SF 85, the Medicaid Fraud Control Act, creates a dedicated fraud unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse. The unit gains full access to all Medicaid records held by providers (such as hospitals and clinics) and can prosecute individuals who submit false claims or conceal material facts. It establishes criminal penalties: misdemeanor fines up to $750 or 6 months in jail for claims under $1,000, and felony penalties up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fines for claims $1,000 or more. Providers must certify the accuracy of all Medicaid applications, reports, and invoices under penalty of perjury. This directly affects Medicaid providers, the Attorney General's office, and anyone submitting Medicaid claims.
This bill provides $5.25 million to Wyoming's Department of Family Services and $15.18 million to the Department of Health for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The funds are specifically for programs recommended by the governor in his supplemental budget, directly supporting existing services in these departments. The bill requires strict use of funds for these designated purposes and sets an effective date of July 1, 2019, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund by June 30, 2020.
Wyoming's legislature passed a joint resolution (SJ 10) requesting Congress to change how federal lands are managed. It asks Congress to recognize Wyoming's input in decisions about using public lands for multiple purposes - including mining, recreation, and forest management - while ensuring environmental health. The resolution directs Wyoming state agencies to actively participate in federal land planning and provide comments on federal policies affecting land use. This is a procedural request, not a law, aiming to increase state influence over federal land management.
Wyoming's SF 140 allows federally licensed distillers to operate one additional sales location ("satellite") separate from their main manufacturing site, subject to local approval. Distillers selling alcohol not obtained through the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverages must pay the state a monthly assessment based on the profit they would have generated if they bought from the Division. The bill clarifies that local authorities can issue these permits (with possible $100 fees) and requires compliance with existing licensing rules, operating hours, and building regulations. It does not change Wyoming's rule that the Division remains the exclusive wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages. This directly affects licensed distillers seeking to expand retail sales within the state.
This bill appropriates $15 million from Wyoming's commercial air service improvement account to fund contracts supporting commercial air service within the state. The aeronautics commission must secure governor approval for contracts that include specific performance measures for air service delivery, with no more than $6 million spent annually per contract. Funds not used for contracts by June 30, 2020, revert to the improvement account, and unused funds from a 2019 deadline reappropriated to maintain existing service through 2020. The bill directly affects Wyoming's commercial air service providers and passengers by funding contract-based service enhancements.
