HB 140 requires health insurers in Wyoming to reimburse mental health and substance use disorder benefits delivered through the American Medical Association's defined Collaborative Care Model. This model mandates that care must be provided by a team including a primary care provider, a care manager, and a psychiatric consultant. The law applies to individual and group health insurance policies issued, renewed, or modified on or after July 1, 2023, but excludes state-funded plans. Insurers must cover these services as specified, while retaining standard medical management authority.
Wyoming's SF 71 modifies state loan programs by lowering maximum loan amounts for farm, infrastructure, and road projects. It removes the $50 million limit on permanent funds for beginning agriculture producer farm loans, sets a 3% minimum interest rate for all farm loans, and prohibits new loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and student dormitory loans. The bill also ends all new state loan board loans after April 1, 2023, while maintaining lower interest rates (8% or the 10-year Treasury yield) for beginning farmers for 10 years. These changes directly affect farmers, local governments (cities, counties, school districts), and community colleges by altering loan access, interest rates, and program eligibility.
SF 140 aligns Wyoming's building codes with federal refrigerant standards by prohibiting state or local restrictions on refrigerants approved under federal law (42 U.S.C. 7671k). The bill directly affects building code enforcement agencies and HVAC installers by removing potential local barriers to using federally-approved refrigerants. It requires that equipment containing permissible refrigerants must still comply with all other applicable building and safety laws. The law became effective July 1, 2023, with no new requirements for refrigerant types.
HB 38 creates the Wyoming National Guard Member Referral Incentive Program, which allows current Wyoming National Guard members to earn a monetary bonus of up to $500 for successfully referring new recruits who complete enlistment. To qualify, a member must submit a referral form with the prospect's contact details, and the referred person must sign an enlistment contract (not already a Guard member). The program requires annual reporting to the legislature, includes funding for a dedicated staff position ($144,000) and referral bonuses ($808,000), and expires on July 1, 2026. This directly affects current Guard members who refer new recruits, with no broader public impact.
HB 59 extends tuition assistance benefits for Wyoming National Guard members, allowing them to cover higher education costs in exchange for longer service commitments. It requires members to commit to six years of active service plus two additional years after completing their education, and permits transferring unused benefits to spouses or dependents if the member agrees to serve four more years. Payments cover tuition and mandatory fees (up to 100% of costs, combining with federal aid if used), paid directly to educational institutions after enrollment verification. The bill affects current and future Guard members, their spouses, and dependents who meet residency and service requirements.
Wyoming's HB 67 creates a special decal for honorably discharged women veterans to attach to their existing veteran license plates. It directly affects eligible Wyoming women veterans who already qualify for veteran plates, requiring them to submit proof of service and gender to apply. The decal must be placed in the lower left corner of the plate, with a $5 administrative fee per vehicle, and the program became effective July 1, 2023. This is a recognition measure, not a new plate type, and does not alter existing veteran plate eligibility requirements.
This bill raises the monetary threshold for improvements on leased state lands from $2,000 to $4,000 per section, meaning lessees (like ranchers or farmers) can now make most minor improvements without needing prior approval from the state lands director. It updates the method for calculating payment to landowners for existing improvements when a lease is renewed or transferred. Lessees must still pay for improvements exceeding the threshold or remove them within 120 days of lease expiration. The changes apply to all state land leases in Wyoming and take effect July 1, 2023.
Wyoming's HB 47 requires all electronic voting systems used in state and county elections to be certified by the Secretary of State. Vendors must submit applications proving federal election assistance commission certification, compliance with voluntary voting guidelines, and escrow of source code, along with a valid Wyoming business certificate. Counties must maintain detailed inventories of all voting systems, including serial numbers, software versions, and firmware details. The law, effective July 1, 2023, directly affects voting system vendors and county election officials by standardizing certification and inventory requirements.
Wyoming's HB 180 requires the state veterinarian to notify livestock owners within three days when an animal tests positive for brucellosis. It mandates the Wyoming Livestock Board to create a communication protocol sharing test results with affected livestock producers, veterinarians, and brand inspectors in the same county. The bill also specifies that adjacent landowners, local veterinarians, and owners of potentially exposed animals may receive limited information to manage disease outbreaks. These changes amend existing statutes to standardize reporting and notification procedures for brucellosis, directly affecting livestock owners and veterinarians in Wyoming.
HB 101 amends Wyoming's trust laws to modernize administration and clarify roles. It updates definitions (like "qualified trustee" and "power of appointment"), changes who can modify or terminate trusts (allowing settlors, trustees, and beneficiaries to initiate proceedings), and revises procedures for filling trustee vacancies. The bill also clarifies that trust protectors or advisors directing trustee actions are not automatically fiduciaries, reducing liability for trustees following such directions. These changes directly affect trust creators, trustees, beneficiaries, and advisors managing or using Wyoming trusts.
HB 284 amends Wyoming law to classify debt buyers as collection agencies, bringing them under existing regulatory requirements. It defines "debt buyer" as any person regularly purchasing charged-off consumer debt for collection (whether collecting directly, hiring third parties, or using attorneys). This means debt buyers operating in Wyoming must now comply with the same rules as traditional collection agencies when collecting debts from consumers. The law applies to all debt buyers conducting business in the state, effective July 1, 2023.
HB 229 allows Wyoming's Department of Revenue and county treasurers to collect sales and use taxes electronically. It updates tax filing rules to explicitly permit vendors (businesses selling taxable goods/services) and taxpayers to submit returns and pay taxes online or via electronic methods, rather than only by mail or in person. The bill specifically clarifies that county treasurers may accept electronic payments for vehicle registration taxes during initial registration. It does not change tax rates or obligations, only modernizing the payment process for existing requirements. This affects all businesses collecting sales tax and individuals purchasing taxable items in Wyoming.
