This bill creates a new felony offense for intentionally using false documents (like fake deeds or leases) to wrongfully gain or keep a home or residence. It directly affects individuals who misuse fraudulent paperwork to claim or occupy residential property they don't legally own. The law defines "property" as residential real estate with a dwelling and specifies penalties of up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 299 amends Wyoming's gaming laws to allow the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes (on the Wind River Reservation) to operate online sports betting as "qualified gaming entities," directly affecting these tribes. It modifies geolocation requirements by exempting tribal operators from needing to verify a patron's physical location within Wyoming for wagers made on tribal lands. The bill also adds tribes to the definition of eligible operators and specifies that tribal online betting is not subject to the same location restrictions as other operators. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
This joint resolution proposes amending Wyoming's constitution to prohibit "foreign adversaries of the United States that pose a threat to national security" from owning real property in the state. It would specifically bar these entities from possessing, taxing, enjoying, or inheriting real estate, including surface, subsurface, airspace, or mineral interests. The amendment, if approved by voters, would require constitutional change rather than a new law. This affects only foreign entities designated as national security threats by U.S. standards, not all foreign property owners.
SF 126 establishes a K-8 public lab school on the University of Wyoming’s main campus to serve as a teacher training site and model classroom. It directly affects pre-service teachers (through UW’s education programs), students in the surrounding school district, and the University of Wyoming’s College of Education. Key provisions include creating a governing board with members from the local school district, UW, and community; requiring annual reports on student achievement and teacher placements; and mandating the school operate under state education standards while focusing on developing teaching practices. The bill specifies enrollment preferences for students in the resident school district and requires the school to report to the education committee starting in 2025.
Wyoming's SJ 1 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V. It asks for a convention limited to proposing amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce federal power over states, and limit terms for federal officials. The resolution includes specific safeguards, such as requiring two-thirds of states to agree on the same purpose before Congress acts, clarifying Congress only has the power to set a time and place for the convention, and stating states would vote one state, one vote. This procedural bill directly affects Wyoming's application to Congress and sets boundaries for any potential convention.
HB 235 creates a new categorical grant program to fund career and technical education (CTE) supplies, materials, and equipment for Wyoming public school districts. It provides funding calculated as $14,184.68 per full-time equivalent CTE teacher (based on district reports from the prior year), paid by February 15 of each school year. Funds must be used exclusively for CTE program supplies/equipment and cannot replace existing education funding. School districts must apply annually, report expenditures, and comply with department of education rules.
Wyoming's SF 98 requires candidates for school board trustee to have their political party affiliation printed on general election ballots. This applies directly to school board trustee candidates and modifies ballot requirements for nonpartisan offices. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2025. It does not change election rules for other offices but specifically adds party labels to school board candidate ballots.
This bill reduces the required minimum school year from 175 to 165 days for Wyoming public schools and mandates that the school year begin after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day, unless an alternative schedule is approved by the state board. School districts seeking alternative calendars must hold two public meetings before submitting proposals and annually evaluate their effectiveness. The bill also adjusts funding eligibility criteria, requiring districts to operate for at least 170 days (instead of 185) to qualify for full foundation account distribution. It applies to all Wyoming public school districts and takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the primary residence (including up to 25 acres of land) of certain veterans from property taxes. It directly affects veterans certified with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability, and their surviving spouses who haven't remarried and keep the property as their primary residence. If approved by voters, the amendment would add this exemption to Wyoming's constitution, requiring the legislature to implement it through general law. The change would provide tax relief for eligible veterans and surviving spouses by removing property tax liability on their primary homes.
HB 189 prohibits adults (18+) from engaging in a "pattern of communication" with minors (under 18) that includes obscene content defined as explicit sexual descriptions, requests for sexual images, or attempts to normalize adult-minor sexual contact. It specifically targets communications intended for personal sexual gratification, requiring two or more instances across any communication method (written, electronic, or verbal). Violations are felonies with penalties up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $20,000, plus social media restrictions and device forfeiture for convicted individuals. The law exempts school, college, or university activities involving sexual education. It directly affects adults communicating with minors in non-educational contexts and provides victims a civil lawsuit option.
HB 221 amends a prior Wyoming law (Chapter 105) related to bighorn and domestic sheep relocation by removing a delayed effective date tied to federal law. It sets the law to take effect on January 1, 2026, instead of requiring federal alignment, and repeals a duplicative provision. This change directly affects Wyoming's wildlife management program by establishing a fixed implementation date for the relocation rules. The bill does not alter the substance of the relocation policy but streamlines its effective date. It is a procedural adjustment to ensure the prior law takes effect without waiting for federal action.
HB 234 prohibits state and local governments from collecting or maintaining lists of privately owned firearms or their owners using specific merchant codes (like "firearms codes") in payment processing. It also bans payment processors from requiring such codes for firearm retailers or discriminating against them by charging higher fees or refusing transactions based on firearm sales. The bill directly affects firearm retailers, payment processors, and state agencies by restricting how firearm-related transaction data can be handled. Violations could lead to civil actions or criminal penalties, including misdemeanor charges for knowingly violating these provisions.
