This bill provides a property tax exemption for surviving parents of veterans who died while serving honorably in a war, conflict, or specified period (a "gold star veteran"), if there is no surviving spouse. To qualify, surviving parents must be Wyoming residents for at least three years and file a sworn claim with their county assessor by the fourth Monday in May, covering property they own or hold in a trust for their benefit. Divorced parents living separately may each claim the exemption in their respective counties. The Department of Revenue must create implementing rules, and the exemption takes effect July 1, 2025.
SF 52 amends Wyoming's insurance code to update requirements for insurers operating in the state. It expands the definition of "insurance transaction," requires insurers to update contact information with the insurance commissioner within 30 days of any change, and clarifies rules for reporting administrative actions. The bill repeals outdated requirements, including the need to deliver certificates of authority to the commissioner upon expiration and specific disclosure rules about disability insurance coverage of wellness benefits. These changes apply directly to all insurers holding licenses in Wyoming. The bill is currently in committee with a recommendation to pass.
Wyoming's SF 50 amends insurance holding company regulations to restrict how insurers and others can publicly discuss key financial metrics. It prohibits using group capital calculations, liquidity stress test results, or related information to rank insurers or make misleading statements about them. The bill also creates new definitions for terms like "group capital ratio" and clarifies that certain small financial transactions (under 0.5% of assets) don't require disclosure. This directly affects insurance companies and holding groups that must file these calculations with regulators. The law aims to prevent public confusion while allowing insurers to rebut false statements about their financial data.
HB 79 requires local governments in Wyoming to meet two conditions for bond elections held on days other than general elections: (1) a majority of voters must support the bond, and (2) at least 50% plus one of the qualified voters who participated in the previous general election must cast ballots. This directly affects cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions seeking to issue bonds for projects like infrastructure or facilities. The bill does not change rules for bond elections held on general election days, and applies only to elections starting July 1, 2025. It aims to ensure broader voter participation for non-general election bond measures.
HB 117 authorizes state funding for specific water development projects in Wyoming, directly affecting regional water districts and the state's water development office. It allocates $405,000 for the Big Horn Regional JPB South Transmission Project (to provide municipal/rural water supply), $875,000 for aerial cloud seeding in the Medicine Bow/Sierra Madre ranges, and $322,143 for ground-based cloud seeding in the Wind River/Sierra Madre ranges. The bill provides grants from Water Development Account I, requires project sponsors to cover 50% of costs for the Big Horn project and 63% of operational costs for cloud seeding from other sources, and sets expiration dates for unspent funds. These provisions aim to enhance water infrastructure and snowpack augmentation through targeted state funding and cost-sharing agreements.
Wyoming's SF 103 prohibits state agencies, schools, and colleges from using public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or activities. The bill bans funding for DEI offices, hiring DEI staff, requiring DEI statements, giving preference based on race or gender, and mandating DEI training - unless required by federal law or court orders. Exceptions include academic courses, scholarly research, student organization activities, and data collection related to diversity efforts, as specified in the bill.
Wyoming's HB 286 establishes a fixed annual mountain lion hunting season running from September 1 to August 31 each year. It removes all previous restrictions, including hunt areas, mortality limits (statewide or per area), bag limits, and time restrictions - allowing mountain lions to be taken 24/7 with a valid license. Hunters holding valid antelope, deer, or elk licenses can now take mountain lions without needing a separate mountain lion permit, and the bill repeals prior "mountain lion pursuit seasons." The law also requires the Game and Fish Commission to issue possession tags for mountain lions taken and permits trapping/snaring under new rules. This bill directly affects hunters and wildlife management practices by significantly expanding hunting flexibility while removing regulatory limits.
HB 332 would have prohibited Wyoming counties from using public funds to pay for association membership fees, travel, lodging, or meals related to county participation in local or national county official associations. It would have required all documents related to county association activities (like agendas, financial reports, and communications) to be made public records and mandated that county officials document weekly time spent on such activities, submitting monthly reports to their county board. The bill directly affected county commissioners and elected county officials who engage with associations. It died in committee on March 4, 2025, and would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.
HB 322 clarifies that Wyoming's Secretary of State has the authority to create binding rules and directives for county election operations, directly affecting county clerks who serve as local election officers. The bill amends election statutes to require county clerks to follow all rules and written instructions issued by the Secretary of State under state election law. This establishes the Secretary of State as the central authority for uniform election administration across all counties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee in March 2025.
HB 249 requires runoff elections for Wyoming's governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent of public instruction, and federal offices when no primary candidate receives over 50% of the vote. If a runoff is needed, the top two candidates from the primary advance to a runoff held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August, with ballot rules specifying how voters mark choices for candidates or write-ins. The bill creates a runoff election account funded by the state to cover costs, including reimbursement to counties for runoff administration. It directly affects voters and candidates in primary elections for these specific statewide and federal offices by changing nomination procedures when no majority is achieved.
This Wyoming bill (SF 26) establishes legal protections for individuals defending military equipment. It allows state security officers (military department employees securing assets), Wyoming National Guard members on active duty, and military personnel to use reasonable force - including deadly force - as a defense when protecting military equipment during official duties. The bill also grants immunity from civil or criminal liability for these individuals acting within their duties, provided actions aren’t "palpably illegal, excessively violent, or malicious." It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 188 exempts home-based child care providers who care for up to four children from multiple families (with no more than two children under age two) at one parent's home from standard child care facility certification requirements. This directly affects informal caregivers operating in private residences, allowing them to provide care without full licensing while still meeting basic safety standards. The bill requires the Wyoming Department of Family Services to create implementing rules within 180 days. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, streamlining oversight for small-scale, family-shared home care arrangements. The legislation does not alter certification rules for licensed child care centers or larger facilities.
