This bill requires Wyoming school districts to notify parents or guardians about changes in a student's physical, mental, or emotional health that impact their school environment. It prohibits schools from restricting parental access to education and health records or preventing staff from sharing student well-being information. School districts must also provide parents options to decline health services and establish clear complaint procedures for non-compliance, with decisions required within 30 days. The law applies to all public school districts and takes effect for the 2024-2025 school year.
HB 32 updates Wyoming's rules for storing carbon dioxide underground (geologic sequestration). It specifically adds "pore space utilization" as a purpose for unitizing underground storage rights, clarifies definitions like "unit area" (the underground space being used), and requires applicants to detail how they'll share economic benefits with landowners whose pore space is pooled. The bill changes permit requirements to ensure applicants have legal rights to use surface land and storage space, and streamlines the process for creating unitization agreements that combine multiple landowners' rights. This directly affects landowners with underground rights, carbon storage companies, and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which reviews unitization applications.
HB 34 prioritizes funding for Wyoming's municipal solid waste facility closure and transfer projects using previously appropriated state funds. The bill establishes a ranked list of 16 projects (e.g., Upton's transfer project at $1.3M, Thermopolis' closure at $2.5M) with maximum spending limits, and authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to adjust the list for efficiency, project readiness, or environmental concerns. It specifically allocates $77,303 for a carcass management project and requires annual reports to legislative committees. This procedural bill replaces an older priority list without creating new policy, directly affecting municipal waste operators and local governments listed in the approved projects.
Wyoming's HB 27 requires law enforcement officers to notify the Department of Family Services (DFS) whenever they receive a report about a vulnerable adult suspected of abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation, abandonment, or self-neglect. This bill directly affects vulnerable adults (such as elderly or disabled individuals who cannot care for themselves) and law enforcement officers who handle such reports. The key provision mandates that officers must immediately contact DFS to assess the need for protective services, replacing previous notification requirements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.
HB 46 sets a 150-day timeline for resolving most cases in Wyoming's chancery court, requiring courts to settle the majority of complex civil disputes within 150 days of issuing a scheduling order. It directly affects parties filing disputes in chancery court (typically handling business, real estate, or contract cases) by establishing a concrete deadline for case resolution. The law applies to all chancery court cases filed on or after July 1, 2024, and becomes effective on that date.
HB 73 creates Wyoming's Long-Term Abandoned Mine Reclamation Account to manage federal funds for cleaning up coal mine sites. The account will hold up to 30% of federal funds received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (specifically Section 40701(c)), which must be used *only* for: treating acid mine drainage, preventing ground collapse from subsidence, and controlling coal mine fires. It repeals two older accounts, transferring their unspent funds to a reserve account, and limits state liability to the funds actually in the new account. This bill directly affects Wyoming's environmental management and federal grant utilization for abandoned mine cleanup.
HB 71 amends Wyoming's broadband development fund rules to allow the state to use these funds for two specific purposes: covering Wyoming's required share of matching funds for federal broadband programs (such as those under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), and paying up to $300,000 in administrative costs for the Wyoming Business Council. The bill directly affects the Wyoming Business Council, which administers these funds, and enables state participation in federal broadband initiatives. This clarifies existing fund usage without creating new programs or altering eligibility for broadband projects.
HB 66 requires Wyoming's workers' compensation program to provide annual cancer screenings for firefighters who have worked at least 10 years, including paid, volunteer, and municipal firefighters. It mandates specific screenings: annual mammograms for female firefighters, colon cancer screenings (including stool tests or colonoscopies), and prostate screenings for male firefighters, plus other screenings for cancers more common among firefighters. These screenings are considered work-related injuries under workers' compensation, covering up to 10 years after retirement. The bill creates a new "Aaron Booker Firefighter Cancer Screening Act" and amends existing statutes to implement these benefits.
This bill (SF 30) amends Wyoming law to explicitly include judges under the criminal offense of influencing, intimidating, or impeding jurors, witnesses, and officers. Previously, judges were not covered by this statute, but the amendment now makes it a felony to attempt to influence a judge while they are performing their official duties. The law carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both for violations. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024, ensuring judges receive the same legal protections as jurors, witnesses, and officers.
HB 26 amends Wyoming's adult protective services law to clarify time limits for emergency protective services orders. It specifies that such orders must expire after 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) and may be extended for up to 14 days, with a possible additional 30-day extension if the court deems it necessary to resolve the emergency. This change directly affects vulnerable adults facing abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation, abandonment, or self-neglect who require immediate protective interventions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 54 designates the third Tuesday in May as "Wyoming Reads Day" to recognize efforts supporting early childhood literacy, primarily honoring John and Sue Jorgensen. The bill requires public schools, state/local governments, and organizations to appropriately observe the day through celebrations that promote reading. It mandates the governor issue an annual proclamation for the observance but explicitly states the day does not authorize school or business closures, nor affect legal agreements or court proceedings. This is a ceremonial measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.
HB 74 requires Wyoming's Department of Health to adjust county contract payments when public health nursing salaries increase, ensuring counties providing these services receive corresponding budget increases. It directly affects public health nursing employees (through pay adjustments), counties delivering public health nursing services (via updated contracts), and county commissioners (who can form joint boards or use existing organizations for service delivery). Key provisions mandate budget adjustments tied to salary changes, allow counties to create joint powers boards for public health functions, and permit counties to use existing organizations for public health nursing services. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, establishing a formal process for budget coordination between the state and counties.
