Wyoming's HB 64 modifies electrical safety regulations by changing how inspection fees are distributed and clarifying inspector certification requirements. It directs 95% of collected fees (previously 60%) to fund additional state electrical inspectors, while only 5% (previously 40%) goes to the general fund. Local governments seeking to enforce electrical codes must ensure inspectors hold certification from the International Code Council or International Association of Electrical Inspectors and are licensed as journeyman or master electricians by the state. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and directly affects electrical inspectors, local governments, and building owners requiring inspections.
HB 31 requires law enforcement agencies in Wyoming to provide specific portions of personnel files for peace officers, detention officers, corrections officers, and dispatchers to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission within 30 days of a written request. The Commission may only access these files for certification, suspension, revocation, or termination decisions and cannot disclose them to others except as required by law. This applies to all personnel files relevant to employment qualifications or certification standards under existing law. The bill amends several statutes to implement this requirement and takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 86 requires towing and recovery services to request a title search from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (DOT) within five business days if a vehicle remains in a recovery lot for more than five days. The DOT must then identify the vehicle owner and any lienholders (such as banks or finance companies holding a financial claim on the vehicle) within 5 business days for Wyoming-registered vehicles or 7 days for out-of-state vehicles. Towing services must notify these lienholders of the vehicle's location within one business day after receiving the DOT's information. This law directly affects towing companies, vehicle owners, and lienholders by creating a clearer process for resolving vehicle repossessions.
Wyoming's HB 70 allocates $105 million from the state general fund to local governments, primarily distributing funds to cities, towns, and counties. It provides a minimum $15,000 to municipalities with 35 or fewer residents and $35,000 to larger ones, with the remainder distributed using formulas based on sales tax revenue and property values. Special provisions reserve 5% of funds for cities/towns using a "revenue challenged" formula to address financial disparities. The bill establishes equal annual payments on August 15 and January 15 for two fiscal years, affecting all Wyoming municipalities and counties receiving state funding.
This bill creates a new legal right for vulnerable adults in Wyoming to sue anyone who exploits them. It allows vulnerable adults (or specific representatives like guardians, family members, caregivers, or nursing facilities) to seek compensation for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law applies to exploitation cases and permits lawsuits in any appropriate court. It takes effect on July 1, 2024.
This bill (SF 79) allows small malt beverage manufacturers (producing 25,000 barrels or less annually) to terminate distribution agreements with distributors without needing a specific reason. It requires manufacturers to pay distributors compensation equal to the franchise’s fair market value plus the cost of inventory held in warehouses or transit. Disputes over compensation are resolved through binding arbitration under specific rules, with costs shared equally unless a good-faith estimate was made. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, applying to new agreements and renewals of existing ones after that date.
Wyoming's SF 32 regulates hemp products by setting a strict 0.3% THC limit (measured dry weight) and banning synthetic substances or additives. It directly affects hemp producers, processors, and sellers, prohibiting the sale of products exceeding the THC threshold or containing synthetic cannabinoids. The bill defines "THC" broadly to include natural and synthetic forms, amends enforcement rules for inspections and testing, and imposes penalties like $250 disposal fees for noncompliant products or license revocation for repeated violations. These changes align hemp regulations with controlled substance laws while requiring new state rules for implementation.
Wyoming's SF 48 increases retirement contribution rates for Highway Patrol officers, Game and Fish Wardens, and Criminal Investigators. It raises the employee's required contribution from 14.56% to 18.92% of salary starting July 1, 2024, with specific transition periods for prior lower rates. The bill appropriates $262,000 from the general fund to cover the employer's share of increased contributions for the 2025-2026 fiscal biennium. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, and funds are restricted solely to this purpose.
This Wyoming bill (HB 145) defines "customer" to include natural persons or their agents/trustees for open banking purposes. It requires banks to obtain a customer's express written consent before sharing any data with third parties, and limits shared data to what is strictly necessary for the customer to receive a financial product or service. The law directly affects Wyoming residents who use banking services and banks offering open banking features. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not create new services but sets clear rules for data sharing.
HB 141 requires Wyoming's land board to verify if oil and gas lease applicants meet defined qualifications before issuing new leases on state lands. If the highest bidder is unqualified, the board must consider the next highest bid instead. Unqualified applicants face a civil penalty equal to their bid amount, recoverable by the attorney general. The law applies only to new leases and does not affect existing agreements.
HB 116 requires the Wyoming Sage Grouse Implementation Team to provide written notice to affected surface landowners at least 45 days before making recommendations to the governor that could impact their property rights. It also mandates a public comment opportunity in the impacted community at least 30 days prior to such recommendations. The bill directly affects landowners whose surface interests may be affected by sage grouse management decisions. These notice and comment requirements apply to all recommendations under the team's duties, ensuring landowners and the public have time to review and respond before decisions are submitted to the governor.
HB 83 requires Wyoming's public employee retirement system to calculate both employee and employer contribution rates using actuarial methods starting in 2027, replacing fixed percentages. Employees must pay 49.68% of the calculated rate, while employers (excluding firefighter entities) pay 50.32%, based on the system's actuarial valuation of retirement account assets and benefits. The bill mandates annual reports to state officials and local governments by April 15 each year, with contribution rates allowed to change by no more than ±0.5% annually. This directly affects all public employees and employers participating in Wyoming's retirement plan, including state agencies and school districts funded through education grants.
