Wyoming's SF 76, the Digital Asset Registration Act, creates a state registry for digital assets like cryptocurrency or NFTs. It allows Wyoming residents or Wyoming-based businesses to register digital assets with the Secretary of State for a $300 fee, establishing Wyoming as the legal location for those assets under state law. Registration requires proof of ownership, a $300 fee (renewable for $150), and verification of no conflicting registrations. The Secretary of State maintains a public record of all registered assets and can cancel registrations if ownership is disputed or fraud is found. The bill does not grant new ownership rights but provides a legal framework for asset location and transfer within Wyoming.
This bill amends Wyoming cities' and towns' requirements for public improvement contracts and property purchases. It removes the need to publish bid advertisements in newspapers, adjusts the threshold for requiring competitive bidding from $35,000 to $250,000 for vehicle purchases, and modifies the forms and amounts of financial guarantees (like bonds) required for contracts. The changes apply to all contracts initiated on or after July 1, 2023, directly affecting how municipalities procure construction, services, and property. The bill streamlines procurement processes while maintaining documentation requirements for cases where fewer than three bids are obtained.
HB 74 creates a Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund to support public outdoor access and infrastructure. It establishes two accounts: a principal "trust account" (for donations and grants) and an "income account" (for earnings), with funds distributed as follows: 80% annually for grants to local, state, or tribal governments to improve trails, parks, and public access facilities, and 20% for administrative costs. The Wyoming Parks and Cultural Resources Commission manages the fund, must report yearly on grants and spending to the governor and legislature, and requires matching funds for some projects. This bill directly affects communities receiving infrastructure grants and state agencies managing outdoor recreation resources.
Wyoming's SF 66 consolidates school funding accounts by eliminating the "school major maintenance subaccount" and "school lands mineral royalties account." It redirects specific revenue streams - particularly excess federal lease bonus payments (after $7.5 million annually) and funds from the strategic investments account - to the public school capital construction account. This directly affects public schools by providing dedicated funding for facility upgrades and construction projects, rather than operational costs. The bill clarifies how mineral royalty earnings and federal payments are distributed, ensuring consistent annual transfers to capital construction without creating new revenue sources.
SF 83 modifies how Wyoming school districts and charter schools manage leased K-12 facilities. It requires lease agreements to separately track and report funds dedicated to major facility maintenance, ensuring these funds are used only for that purpose and not diverted elsewhere. Districts must get approval before spending maintenance funds, and they can be reimbursed if leased space isn't counted in square footage calculations for maintenance funding. The bill applies to all districts leasing facilities and takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 76 amends various Wyoming licensing board statutes by removing outdated language, obsolete dates, and redundant requirements. It specifically eliminates the state board's requirement to conduct cosmetology exams, updates continuing education rules for occupational therapists, and removes references to an accreditation committee for respiratory care practitioners. The bill affects multiple licensed professions, including cosmetology, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and real estate, by modernizing administrative procedures without creating new obligations. Key changes streamline existing rules by deleting expired provisions while maintaining current licensing processes. The bill takes effect upon enactment, with no new financial or operational impacts on licensees.
Wyoming's SF 94 codifies the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into state law, directly affecting Indian children and their tribes in custody cases. The bill establishes that tribes have primary authority over child custody proceedings for Indian children living on reservations or with significant tribal ties, requiring state courts to transfer cases to tribal courts when appropriate. It mandates that state courts notify tribes, parents, and Indian custodians at least 10 days before decisions on shelter care or parental rights termination, and requires Wyoming to honor tribal court decisions in these matters. The law defines key terms like "Indian child" (under 18 and a tribal member or eligible for membership) and "tribal court" to ensure consistent application.
HB 89 redirects excess state revenue above specific thresholds ($459 million for 2023 and $429.2 million for 2024) into a new Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account instead of distributing it to Wyoming’s public school foundation program. The bill requires the state treasurer to maintain a minimum balance in this reserve and prohibits using these funds for other purposes, making them "inviolate." It modifies how mineral trust fund investment returns are allocated, shifting money that would have supported schools toward state budget stabilization. This change directly affects school funding distributions and state treasury management of permanent trust funds.
This bill changes the date when unspent funds from Wyoming's Hathaway scholarship expenditure account must be transferred to the reserve account. Specifically, it shifts the transfer deadline from the end of each fiscal year to October 15 each year, effective for 2023 and beyond. This directly affects the management of scholarship funds under Wyoming's Hathaway program, ensuring timely allocation to the reserve account. The change streamlines administrative processing without altering scholarship eligibility or funding amounts.
HB 14 increases the civil case filing fee in Wyoming district courts from $120 to $160 for plaintiffs filing original civil actions or reopening cases. The $40 increase is allocated specifically to fund court automation systems and $10 supports indigent civil legal services. This change applies to all civil matters filed or commenced in district court and takes effect July 1, 2023. The bill directly affects individuals and entities initiating or reopening civil lawsuits in Wyoming's district courts.
Wyoming's HB 144 establishes rules for how tax revenues collected from senior citizen service districts must be spent. It requires these funds to support specific programs for seniors, including operational costs for senior centers, expanded services like nutrition, health, transportation, and in-home care, and maintenance/upgrades for income-restricted senior housing facilities. The bill explicitly prohibits using these funds for real property purchases or capital construction. It takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies directly to senior centers and housing providers within designated districts.
Wyoming's SF 153 strengthens election security by requiring counties to audit up to 5% of ballots after each election to verify results. It changes absentee ballot distribution timelines (45 days before election for military voters, 28 days for others) and mandates that electronic voting systems maintain an "air gap" (physical isolation from networks/internet). The bill also requires election records and ballots to be transported in sealed, locked containers with unique numbered seals. A $100,000 appropriation funds county training and consultant services for implementation. These changes directly affect county clerks, election administrators, and electronic voting systems statewide.
