HB 307 amends Wyoming election law to regulate poll watchers, who are certified volunteers from political parties. The bill limits poll watchers to one per political party per polling place (with exceptions for multiple precincts), requires electronic certification to county clerks before voting begins, and specifies they may observe voter check-in, ballot counting, and polling place setup/shutdown without challenging voters or disrupting voting. It mandates polling places provide chairs for watchers and allows optional ID badges, while prohibiting removal for failure to schedule. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 173 modifies requirements for independent candidates running for partisan offices in Wyoming. It requires candidates to swear they are unaffiliated with major parties or not registered with one, increases the signature requirement from 2% to 5% of votes cast for the relevant office in the last general election, and extends the petition filing deadline from 70 to 81 days before the primary election. These changes directly affect independent candidates seeking statewide, county, or district offices. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
This Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 8) requests Congress to propose a constitutional amendment allowing states and Congress to establish reasonable limits on money spent to influence elections. It specifically seeks authority to distinguish between natural persons (individuals) and artificial entities like corporations, unions, or AI when setting these limits. The resolution argues that current Supreme Court interpretations equating unlimited spending with free speech undermine political equality, election integrity, and local representation. It does not create new laws but formally asks Congress to initiate a constitutional amendment process to address these concerns.
This is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 7) passed by the Wyoming Legislature to recognize the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) on its 50th anniversary in 2025. It commends NCSL for its role in supporting state legislatures and fostering bipartisan cooperation, as detailed in the resolution's preamble. The resolution directs Wyoming's Secretary of State to send copies to Wyoming's Congressional delegation and NCSL's leadership. It does not create new laws or affect any specific groups or policies.
HB 190 requires local governments (like cities or counties) to submit proposed bond election questions to Wyoming's Secretary of State for review and approval at least 130 days before a vote. The Secretary must approve or modify the wording to ensure it clearly states the bond's purpose, maximum amount, repayment term, and interest rate at least 120 days before the election. This change aims to standardize how bond questions are worded for voters, ensuring transparency about what projects or funding are being voted on. The bill does not change funding levels or create new bonds, only the process for how election questions are written and approved.
HB 324 makes employees of Wyoming's secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction "at-will" employees, meaning these officials can terminate them at any time without cause (except for illegal reasons). It exempts these employees from standard executive branch personnel rules, including compensation plans, job classifications, and discipline procedures. The bill does not affect existing employment contracts signed before July 1, 2025, and specifically states it won't override contracts that already specify employment terms. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill allocates over $143 million in state funds to address wildfire impacts in Wyoming from 2024. It provides $1 million for wildfire suppression coordination, $30 million to the state fire suppression account, and $100 million for restoring vegetation, habitats, and public infrastructure on both private and state lands, plus $10 million for water system repairs. A steering committee - including state agency representatives, legislators, and agricultural experts - will review grant applications and recommend fund distribution, with annual reports due until December 2026. The bill directly affects landowners, communities, state agencies, and wildfire-impacted areas by funding immediate restoration and prevention efforts.
HB 31 requires all Wyoming school districts to adopt formal safety and security policies, including threat assessment procedures, by their boards of trustees. These policies and drafts must remain confidential and not be public records, allowing school boards to discuss them in closed sessions. The bill also limits the state fire marshal's authority by prohibiting bans on door securement devices used under these policies, though the marshal may create rules for their proper use during threats or drills. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting school districts and the state fire marshal's regulatory role.
This bill amends Wyoming's sex offender registration law for individuals convicted of certain voyeurism crimes involving minors. It requires these offenders to report their current address in person to their county sheriff annually, instead of just mailing updates. During each annual visit, the sheriff must photograph the offender and send the photo and verification to the state within three days. The law applies specifically to those convicted under Wyoming statutes related to voyeurism with minor victims (e.g., W.S. 6-2-316(a)(i) and (iv)), and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SF 65 requires Wyoming state and local government entities (excluding judicial branch and law enforcement) to adopt policies governing the collection, security, and use of personal data. It prohibits selling or transferring personal data without resident consent, allows residents to request copies of their data or object to inaccuracies, and limits data collection to what’s necessary for government functions with a maximum 3-year retention period (unless justified by law). The bill defines key terms like "personal data" and "deidentified data," and mandates policy development by state agencies by January 2026, with local governments required to comply by July 2027. This directly affects all state agencies, counties, cities, and towns handling resident data.
This bill creates the Wyoming Generational Investment Account (WGIA), a permanent trust fund for state investments. Starting July 1, 2025, it requires annual transfers of $100 million from the legislative stabilization reserve into the WGIA. Funds must be invested to mirror an 85% private equity/15% private credit portfolio, with earnings from each transfer locked in for 30 years. After 30 years, 37.5% of investment earnings from each transfer must be deposited into the state's general fund, while the remainder stays invested in the WGIA. (SF 197)
