This bill requires Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality to conduct water quality testing before limited mining operations begin if the department believes drinking water sources might be impacted. It applies specifically to small-scale mining (15 acres or less) for materials like sand, gravel, or limestone, where operators must notify state agencies and nearby landowners 30 days in advance. The department may delay operations to complete required testing, and the Environmental Quality Council must create implementing rules. The law updates existing notification requirements for these operations without changing their basic scope.
HB 225 allows people attending Wyoming legislative meetings to park on streets without time limits during official sessions. It specifically prohibits local ordinances from restricting parking duration: (1) within the Capitol complex during active legislative or committee meetings, and (2) within one-half mile of any official meeting location during those sessions. The law applies to all attendees, including the public and legislators, and takes effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly modifies parking regulations to accommodate meeting attendance without imposing time restrictions.
Wyoming's SF 124 would require employers to verify the immigration status of potential employees before hiring and report unauthorized workers to law enforcement. It mandates that law enforcement officers ask about immigration status during detentions and notify federal agencies when encountering unauthorized aliens. The bill also requires verification of lawful presence for individuals applying for state or local public benefits (excluding emergency medical care and disaster relief). These provisions directly affect employers, law enforcement agencies, and immigrants seeking public benefits or employment in Wyoming. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee with a recommendation for amendment.
HB 210 prohibits individuals or businesses from charging fees for advising or assisting veterans with benefits claims, except as permitted under federal law. It requires all service providers to use written agreements with specific disclosures - clearly stating they are not affiliated with the VA or state veterans' agencies - and to avoid guaranteeing specific benefits. The bill mandates that fees comply with federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 14.636) and bans excessive charges, while requiring providers to inform veterans about free alternatives like county veterans' service offices. This law applies to new agreements starting July 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans seeking benefits help and the organizations offering such services.
This Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 10) clarifies that taxation and spending authority belongs solely to the state legislature and governor (executive branch), not the courts. It allows the legislature to delegate local taxing power to counties/cities (with elected officials serving ≤4-year terms) and delegate routine debt payments to the executive branch, with courts enforcing these tasks. For public school funding, it requires the legislature to create a judicially reviewable funding formula, but the appropriation amount itself cannot be challenged in court. If funding falls short, school spending would be reduced uniformly across all districts. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect.
HB 263 creates a state program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming cities, towns, and special districts for improvements to public water and wastewater systems. The program covers upfront planning costs, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and regional system integration, with eligibility requiring projects to align with existing state water programs or charge consumer rates. Funding comes from borrowing up to $50 million annually from the legislative stabilization reserve, to be repaid using future revenue distributions. The State Loan and Investment Board administers applications, reviews projects based on population, repayment ability, and system efficiency, and reports annually to legislative committees. This directly affects local governments managing community water infrastructure.
This bill (SF 128) removes the sales tax on electricity sold by public utilities for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects all electricity consumers, including households and businesses, by eliminating a tax they currently pay on their electricity bills. The key mechanism is amending Wyoming’s tax code (W.S. 39-15-103 and 39-15-105) to create a specific exemption for electricity sales. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill creates a "Residential Property Tax Reduction Account" to fund property tax refunds for Wyoming homeowners. It directly affects primary residence owners who paid property taxes in the prior year, capping refunds at $13,300 per household. Key mechanisms include funding the account from unappropriated general fund balances (exceeding 5% of projected receipts) and mineral trust earnings, with refunds paid proportionally if funds are insufficient. Refunds will begin for 2025 taxes in 2026, with even years capped at half the account balance and odd years using the full balance. The program defines "primary residence" as where a homeowner lived at least six months of the tax year.
HB 292 requires the governor to recommend setting aside 10% of estimated general fund revenue for the next two-year budget period into a dedicated budget reserve account. At the end of each biennium, any unspent general fund money (after covering expenses) is automatically transferred to this reserve. The reserve funds are invested by the state treasurer, with earnings returned to the general fund, and cannot expire. Spending from the reserve requires a new legislative appropriation, ensuring the state maintains a financial buffer for future budget needs.
Wyoming's HB 197 limits fees that local governments can charge developers to fund affordable or workforce housing. It caps these fees at 4% of construction costs (or less based on impact studies), exempts the first 3,000 square feet of single-family homes and 1,750 square feet of multi-family units, and prohibits fees for agricultural land subdivisions. Developers must receive written fee notices within 30 days and can request a detailed, individualized explanation of the fee calculation from local authorities. The law applies to all cities, towns, and counties issuing land use permits for residential or commercial projects.
This constitutional amendment shifts primary responsibility for building public school facilities to local school districts, requiring voter approval for capital projects. It mandates state funding to equalize costs so districts pay no more than a statewide average tax burden (based on per-person valuation), using mechanisms like statewide mill levies. The state may also provide additional funds to address financial hardships for school districts. This change replaces a system previously required by a 2001 court ruling that placed full responsibility on the state, which relied on declining coal lease revenue.
This Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 2) demands that the U.S. Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming's boundaries - currently covering over 46% of the state's surface and 69% of its subsurface resources - to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional right to "equal footing" as a state admitted to the Union. It cites the state's 1890 admission act and the U.S. Constitution's Admissions and Property Clauses, arguing that continued federal control violates Wyoming's sovereignty. The resolution specifically asks Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 2025, proposes that transferred lands become state public lands, and offers to negotiate cession of lands deemed nationally significant. As a non-binding resolution, it serves as a formal request to Congress, not a legislative action with immediate effect.
