This bill increases the cost threshold requiring competitive bidding for purchases and projects by Wyoming water, sewer, and water/sewer districts. It raises the mandatory bidding requirement from $30,000 to $75,000 for contracts involving labor, materials, or supplies. Districts can now make purchases under $75,000 without competitive bidding, but must still follow bidding rules for $75,000+ projects and accept the lowest responsible bid. The law applies to projects initiated on or after July 1, 2025.
HB 28 revises Wyoming's commercial driver's license (CDL) rules to clarify disqualification standards and streamline processes. It adds texting while driving (using handheld devices) as a "serious traffic violation" for CDL holders, expands disqualification for under-21 drivers convicted of alcohol offenses, and specifies that expunged minor offense records (e.g., for underage drinking) still count toward CDL disqualification. The bill also allows the state to waive CDL knowledge/skills tests for applicants meeting federal DOT requirements. These changes directly affect commercial drivers under 21 and all CDL applicants seeking license issuance or renewal.
This bill amends Wyoming's cemetery regulations to set specific structural and aesthetic standards for columbariums - above-ground structures containing urns. It requires exterior walls, roofs, and doors to be made of durable materials like granite, concrete, or similar substances that ensure structural safety and weather resistance, with walls needing a minimum six-inch thickness. The bill directly affects cemetery operators planning or constructing new columbariums within established cemeteries. These changes aim to standardize construction quality and appearance without altering burial rules or creating new requirements for existing facilities.
HB 11 extends Wyoming's manufacturing sales and use tax exemptions for machinery used in manufacturing operations from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2037. It repeals outdated provisions in the use tax exemption to align them with the sales tax exemption rules. This directly affects manufacturers in Wyoming who purchase machinery for use in producing tangible goods within the state. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, providing continued tax relief for eligible manufacturing businesses.
HB 33 redirects all sales and use tax revenue collected from motor vehicle and trailer purchases directly to the highway fund, instead of first flowing through the general fund. This affects vehicle buyers (who pay the tax) and ensures highway funding receives all applicable tax revenue starting July 1, 2025. The bill amends existing tax distribution rules to require this direct transfer for all qualifying sales after the effective date. It does not change tax rates or create new taxes, only reallocating existing revenue streams to highway infrastructure.
HB 211 amends Wyoming law to allow hunters to pursue and take predatory wildlife (such as wolves, coyotes, or mountain lions) from vehicles, including cars, snowmobiles, and aircraft - previously prohibited for all wildlife. The bill creates a specific exception for predatory animals only, leaving general hunting from vehicles banned for non-predatory species. It also permits the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to exempt handicapped hunters from the vehicle-hunting restrictions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 289 removes restrictions on bed expansions for hospitals and nursing care facilities in Wyoming. It repeals existing limits that previously required state approval before adding beds, instead requiring health department reviews only for safety and health compliance. The bill mandates that the Department of Health report to lawmakers by September 2029 on how the changes affect facility construction and operations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 275 amends Wyoming's felony animal cruelty law to specifically address wildlife. It makes it a felony to intentionally torture, torment, or mutilate wildlife *after* it has been captured ("reduced to possession"), while allowing immediate killing of captured wildlife without violation. The bill adds penalties including license revocation for hunters or trappers convicted under this provision and clarifies that trap owners aren't required to check traps before the time mandated by wildlife regulations. It also removes a reporting requirement for wildlife taken by animal damage control agents.
HB 331 restricts how people can hunt or kill wildlife on public lands in Wyoming. It prohibits using vehicles (like cars or snowmobiles) to hunt, shoot, or kill any wildlife except predatory animals (such as coyotes or wolves) on public lands. On private lands, the bill allows vehicle use to hunt predatory animals only. The law also bans harassing, injuring, or killing wildlife with vehicles on public lands and requires the Game and Fish Commission to create implementing rules. It does not affect government agency operations or handicapped hunters under specific exemptions.
Wyoming's HB 305 allows counties to impose an optional tax on solar electricity production. The tax, capped at $5 per megawatt-hour or 5% of annual gross earnings (whichever is higher), applies to solar electricity sold or traded, but exempts government-owned facilities and personal use. Counties collect the tax from producers and distribute all revenue to their general fund, with 50% shared if production occurs within city boundaries. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, though it died in committee in March 2025.
HB 311 modifies Wyoming's sales tax exemption for power and fuel used in transportation. It clarifies that companies transporting goods via pipeline or railroad can claim the tax exemption for power/fuel consumed directly in moving those goods, regardless of who owns the transported items. The bill also specifies that the exemption does not apply to gasoline, gasohol, or diesel fuel used on public highways. The Department of Revenue must create rules to implement this change, with the main provision taking effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 129 changes the schedule for distributing school funds in Wyoming counties. It removes the requirement for county treasurers to distribute funds on June 20 (or the last business day before) each year, leaving only the regular monthly distributions. This directly affects county treasurers and school districts, as they will no longer process this specific annual transfer. The bill amends existing law to streamline fund transfers, with immediate effective date upon enactment.
