HB 16 allows Wyoming's Secretary of State to charge a fee of up to $5,000 to expedite the filing of certain documents. This applies specifically to filings under Wyoming statutes related to business registrations (Title 17), elections (Title 34), and land records (Title 40, Chapters 1-2). The Secretary of State will establish the exact fee structure and process through rules, considering costs and impacts on filings. The bill does not change which filings get priority based on submission timing. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Wyoming's SF 70 authorizes state funding for five specific water infrastructure projects in 2026, directly affecting communities like Alpine, Gillette, and LaGrange, as well as agricultural districts. The bill provides grants covering up to 50% of project costs (with sponsors contributing the remaining 50%) from the Water Development Account I, including $210,000 for Alpine's pipeline, $2.56 million for Gillette's tank, and $370,000 for LaGrange's well connection. It also includes funding for a cloud-seeding program to enhance snowpack and a forest management project, requiring sponsors to secure 100% of operational costs for the cloud-seeding initiative. All appropriated funds must be spent by July 2031, with unspent amounts reverting to the Water Development Account I.
SF 95 authorizes Wyoming's Department of Motor Vehicles to partner with third-party organizations (like businesses or community centers) to provide specific driver's license and motor vehicle services, such as written and driving tests. The bill creates a "Motor Vehicle Division Partner Program" requiring the department to establish rules for third-party provider qualifications, training, background checks, and monitoring to ensure service quality and security. It specifies that these third parties are not considered government entities and must follow all federal and state laws. The program aims to expand service access points while maintaining regulatory oversight through defined standards and fee structures. (Effective July 1, 2026.)
HB 75 establishes licensing requirements for businesses operating virtual currency kiosks in Wyoming. It requires operators to either hold a Wyoming money transmitter license or be a licensed financial institution, prohibiting unlicensed operation. The bill creates penalties for violations, including up to 3 years in jail or a $10,000 fine, and directs the banking commissioner to create rules for kiosk operations. It takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting businesses seeking to offer virtual currency exchange services through physical kiosks in the state.
Wyoming's HB 128 provides a 5-year severance tax exemption for oil and gas operators using certified advanced extraction methods (tertiary production) between July 2026 and July 2031. It directly affects oil and gas producers who implement qualifying projects approved by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission after July 1, 2026. The bill requires annual reports by the Commission and Department detailing production volumes, qualifying operators, wells, and the tax savings from the exemption. This exemption applies specifically to severance taxes under Wyoming law, with reports due each November 1 from 2026 through 2036.
HB 122 establishes Wyoming's program to manage federal rural health transformation funds, creating a permanent "perpetuity fund" to hold and grow these resources. It requires the state to distribute 4% annually from the fund's value (starting July 2026) to support rural health initiatives, with oversight by a 9-member advisory committee appointed by the governor. The bill directly affects rural health providers and communities by governing how federal funds are allocated, invested, and reported. Key mechanisms include mandatory annual fund distributions, committee approval of major expenditures over $500,000, and governance rules for fiscal accountability. This is a procedural framework for managing existing federal funds, not a new service or benefit.
HB 87 allocates approximately $3.7 million for water development studies across Wyoming, directly affecting local water districts and the state's water development commission. It authorizes Level I reconnaissance (preliminary assessments) and Level II feasibility studies for both new water projects (like the Grover Water Master Plan in Lincoln County) and rehabilitation efforts (such as the Shoshone Irrigation District plan in Park County). The bill requires project reports to the legislature before the 2028 session and mandates unspent funds to revert to water accounts by July 2029. It also provides $175,000 for the Office of Water Programs. The legislation focuses on funding specific planning studies, not on building infrastructure or changing water rights.
Wyoming's HB 105 appropriates $31.66 million from the state education fund for K-12 school facility maintenance and repairs, primarily benefiting public school districts across the state (e.g., Big Horn #3 High School, Sheridan #2 Junior High). It also allocates $6.33 million for charter school lease expenses for the 2026-2028 school years. Funds must be spent by specified deadlines (July 2026-June 2028), with unspent amounts reverting to the education fund. The bill requires schools to meet safety/security standards to access grant funds and mandates annual progress reports to state committees.
SF 107 creates a statewide electronic system for processing motor vehicle registrations and license plates in Wyoming. The Department of Transportation must implement this system by July 1, 2028, to handle all registration transactions (like renewals and transfers), plate issuance, and fee processing for registration, specialty plates, and sales taxes. County treasurers are required to use this system for their vehicle registration duties instead of older methods, and the state may charge a $5 transaction fee to cover system costs. The bill also mandates electronic record-sharing between counties and the state, with development part of replacing the existing revenue system.
Wyoming's SF 102 requires the Wyoming Energy Authority to complete a two-phase study of the state's electricity transmission system. Phase one (due November 2027) analyzes how three load growth scenarios (low, moderate, high) would impact current infrastructure through 2046, identifying potential bottlenecks and solutions. Phase two (due September 2028) examines integrating Wyoming's grid into regional markets and evaluates economic benefits for each scenario. The study will inform future legislative recommendations on transmission needs and upgrades.
Wyoming's SF 90 limits fees charged by school districts for non-school activities using district property, such as youth clubs or community groups. It requires these fees to be capped at the actual hourly costs incurred by the district (including staff, equipment, and utilities) and mandates an itemized cost statement within 15 days of a request. The bill applies to all such rentals starting July 1, 2026, and does not affect contracts signed before that date. This policy ensures transparency and cost-based pricing for facility rentals, directly affecting community groups and organizations seeking to use school spaces.
SF 105 redefines "customer" in Wyoming real estate law as a person who has not established an agency relationship with a broker, such as someone viewing properties without formal representation. It requires real estate licensees to provide written disclosures about agency relationships before discussing transactions, clarifying that customers do not need to sign agency agreements to tour properties and are not entitled to confidentiality. The bill specifies that these disclosures must include key details about the customer relationship and include a signature line for acknowledgment, though the acknowledgment alone does not create a binding contract. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to all new transactions after that date.
