HB 186 appropriates $40 million from Wyoming's general fund to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system trust fund, as specified in existing law (W.S. 35-25-506). The funding directly supports Wyoming's 988 suicide prevention hotline operations and is restricted to that purpose. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not create new policy but provides dedicated financial resources for the existing crisis hotline service.
HB 38 requires voters in Wyoming to have lived in the state for at least 30 days before an election to vote for state or local offices. This applies to all elections except presidential races, which maintain their existing shorter residency rule. The bill amends multiple election statutes to include this 30-day residency requirement in the definition of a "qualified elector." It directly affects anyone registering to vote for state or local positions, not federal elections, and requires voters to confirm residency during registration.
HB 79 allows Wyoming's Secretary of State to charge a fee - up to $5,000 - to expedite the filing of certain documents under specific statutes (titles 17, 34, and 40, chapters 1-2). It directly affects individuals or entities filing documents like business registrations or land records with the Secretary of State's office. The bill establishes a fee structure based on actual costs, but clarifies that expedited filings do not change the document's official filing date or timing. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
This bill (SF 85) removes the sales tax on electricity sales to public utilities and providers for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects electricity providers and consumers by eliminating this tax, but only if Wyoming imposes a 3.5% tax on the annual gross energy earnings from electricity produced in the state. The key provision requires an equivalent alternative tax on electricity production to take effect alongside the sales tax repeal. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, if passed.
S No report prior to CoW Cutoff
SF 31 requires individuals convicted of specific obscenity-related offenses involving minors to register as sex offenders. It adds offenses like knowingly distributing obscene material to minors (W.S. 6-4-302(a)(iii)) to the list of crimes triggering registration. Offenders must verify their address in person every six months and undergo annual photo verification if their appearance changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
This bill (SF 129) allocates state funds for specific capital construction projects across Wyoming state agencies, including building renovations and new facilities like the Guernsey Entry, FE Warren Power, and veterans home renovations. It specifies exact funding amounts for each project (e.g., $51 million for FE Warren Power), requires matching private funds for some projects, and mandates that unspent funds revert to their original accounts upon project completion. The bill includes strict rules about fund usage, such as prioritizing renovations for certain buildings and capping total expenditures for projects like the veterans' home. The bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 16, 2024, and never advanced further.
Wyoming's SF 91 continues a regulatory reduction task force established in 2023 through 2025. The task force includes 12 members: six legislators (three from each chamber, with co-chairs), three industry representatives (oil/gas, mining, agriculture), one business advocate, one local government representative, and one building industry member, plus nonvoting government agency staff. It requires annual reports by October 1st to the governor and legislature, identifying regulatory burden reductions for Wyoming industries and proposing legislative changes. The bill provides $55,000 in funding for task force operations through June 2026 and terminates the task force on December 31, 2025.
SF 112, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, would have created an Education Savings Account (ESA) program providing $6,000 annually per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to cover education expenses. It directly affected Wyoming students in grades K-12 who hadn't graduated or earned a high school equivalency, allowing parents to use funds for tuition at qualified private schools, online programs, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer would manage the accounts, funded by state appropriations (not local taxes), with excess funds above $30 million transferred to school foundation programs. The bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 16, 2024, and never became law.
HB 130 would change Wyoming driver's license expiration rules, extending the standard renewal period from every 5 years to every 7 years. It also allows certain licensees - active-duty military personnel, government employees stationed out of state, and their dependents - to renew licenses without a test every 7 years, provided their license hasn't been suspended in the prior 7 years. The bill applies to licenses issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2024. Note: This bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 16, 2024, and is not currently law.
SF 104 amends Wyoming law to change how wind and solar energy facilities on state lands are permitted. It requires county commissioners to obtain written consent from grazing and agricultural leaseholders before approving such facilities, especially when projects are near residential structures (within specific distance limits). The bill mandates that leaseholders be notified about proposed projects and allows them to participate as formal parties in the permitting process. Additionally, it updates definitions to include leaseholders as "affected landowners" and sets clear setback requirements for facilities near homes.
Wyoming's SF 124 prohibits teachers and their labor organizations from striking or encouraging strikes, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. The bill imposes a $5,000 civil penalty per day for violations, denies pay to striking teachers, and allows school districts to seek court injunctions to stop strikes. It requires the Department of Workforce Services to implement rules by July 2024 and creates a legal process for enforcing the strike ban. The bill failed its introduction in the Wyoming Senate on February 16, 2024, with a 17-14 vote.
