HB 206 changes Wyoming's voter identification rules for in-person voting. It requires all acceptable ID to include a photograph of the voter, repealing Medicaid and Medicare insurance cards as valid forms of identification. The bill directly affects voters who need to present ID at polling places or absentee voting locations. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.
SF 115 changes how people can challenge government agency decisions in court. It requires individuals to first use all agency-level appeals before seeking court review, specifies which district courts can handle these cases (based on where harm occurred or property is located), and explicitly excludes most public employment disputes from judicial review - unless the dispute involves a formal hearing or other law allows it. The law applies to agency actions taken on or after July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects citizens, businesses, and organizations seeking to contest agency decisions but does not alter substantive agency rules.
SF 190 requires all Wyoming counties to use paper ballots as the default method for in-person voting, with electronic ballot marking devices permitted only for voters with disabilities under federal accessibility rules. The bill mandates that voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship - such as a valid driver's license, passport, or birth certificate - to register to vote. It also establishes hand counting for certain recounts and adjusts election timelines to allow time for manual ballot counting after voting. These changes directly affect all Wyoming voters and county election officials managing voter registration and ballot processing.
Wyoming's HB 171 amends the legal definition of "explicit sexual conduct" under the state's child exploitation statute (W.S. 6-4-303(a)(iii)). The bill specifically expands the definition to include acts like genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, bestiality, masturbation, and lascivious exhibitions of genitals or breasts. This change directly affects how prosecutors define and prosecute cases involving the sexual exploitation of children in Wyoming. The amendment will take effect on July 1, 2025, strengthening the legal framework for addressing such crimes.
SF 155, the "Expanding Physician Access Act," creates a pathway for international physicians to obtain provisional medical licenses in Wyoming. It directly affects physicians licensed outside the U.S. who have completed required training, passed USMLE steps 1-3, and hold a job offer from a Wyoming health care provider (like hospitals or clinics). Key provisions include requiring background checks, proof of English fluency, and federal work authorization before practicing, with provisional licenses automatically converting to full licenses after three years of active practice without disciplinary action. The bill also mandates annual continuing education compliance for provisional license holders.
SF 164 adds three specific definitions to Wyoming's gaming laws related to pari-mutuel rodeo events. It defines "groom" (a person caring for rodeo animals), "rodeo contestant" (a competitor), and "rodeo stock contractor" (a person providing livestock). These definitions clarify who must obtain licenses and undergo background checks under the Wyoming Gaming Commission rules. The bill directly affects rodeo event staff, competitors, and livestock providers participating in events with betting. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
SF 27 expands Wyoming's National Guard referral program to include retired military service members and current military department employees as eligible for referral bonuses. The bill allows these individuals to refer new recruits by submitting contact information through a designated form, with bonuses paid only after the referred person completes enlistment. It clarifies definitions, such as requiring a "successful referral" to result in a new member joining the Guard, and specifies that recruits must already be Guard members before referring others. The program aims to boost recruitment through peer referrals while maintaining clear administrative rules. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill requires individuals who file business documents with Wyoming's Secretary of State on behalf of multiple businesses for compensation (but aren't direct employees of those businesses) to register with the Secretary of State after filing 10 documents in a calendar year. To register, they must submit a notarized application with personal details, a state ID copy, and pay a $50 fee (non-refundable if withdrawn). Failure to register results in a $500 penalty per violation, and the Secretary of State must keep registration records confidential except for court orders or criminal investigations. The bill appropriates $100,000 to develop a filing system for this registration, with most provisions taking effect January 1, 2026.
SF 187 increases retirement contribution rates for Wyoming public employees and their employers. It raises employee contributions to 9.5% of salary (from 9.25%) and employer contributions to 9.62% (from 9.37%) for most state workers, with firefighters at 7% employee and 7.12% employer contributions. The bill allocates $1.74 million from the general fund and $3.41 million from school funds to cover the higher employer costs, with payments deducted from employee paychecks and transferred monthly. These changes apply to state government employees, judges, firefighters, and school district workers for fiscal year 2026.
SF 144 creates the Wyoming-Ireland Trade Commission to promote economic collaboration between Wyoming and Ireland. The commission, composed of nine appointed members (including representatives from Wyoming businesses, higher education, and the Irish-American community), will focus on expanding trade, investment, and business/academic exchanges. It requires quarterly meetings, annual reports to the governor and legislature, and reimburses non-legislative members for travel and per diem expenses. This bill directly establishes a formal structure to advance Wyoming-Ireland economic partnerships, affecting businesses, educational institutions, and the Irish-American community through their representation on the commission.
SF 172 establishes Wyoming's participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing physical therapists licensed in Wyoming to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill creates a framework for mutual recognition of licenses between member states, requiring criminal background checks for new applicants and enabling states to share disciplinary information through a centralized data system. This directly affects licensed physical therapists seeking to practice across state lines, particularly military spouses relocating with their families, and improves patient access to physical therapy services. The compact preserves each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety while streamlining licensure for therapists.
HB 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.
