HB 21 requires applicants seeking to lease Wyoming state lands for grazing or agricultural purposes to have an actual and necessary use of the land or forage. This new requirement is added to existing qualifications, which include paying annual rent at fair market value and having no significant violations of state land laws. The bill amends state land leasing law (W.S. 36-5-105) to mandate this use condition, replacing previous eligibility standards for such leases. It became effective July 1, 2023, directly affecting ranchers, farmers, and other applicants pursuing grazing or agricultural land leases.
SF 29 updates Wyoming's brucellosis management rules for livestock. It changes the requirement for permanently branding cattle with a "B" after a positive test from mandatory to discretionary, giving producers more flexibility. The bill also revises testing procedures for cattle, modifies documentation needed to receive compensation for testing, and requires the Wyoming Livestock Board to create new rules by July 1, 2023. These changes directly affect Wyoming livestock producers who manage animals in brucellosis surveillance areas. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, except for the rulemaking requirement, which is immediate.
HB 174 removes the $20,000 value limit on homestead exemptions for Wyoming homeowners. This bill directly affects residents who claim homestead exemptions, allowing properties of any value to be protected from creditors. The key provision amends Wyoming's civil procedure code (W.S. 1-20-101) to eliminate the previous cap, meaning homeowners can now shield the full value of their primary residence. The change takes effect July 1, 2023. This is a straightforward policy update to the homestead exemption law, with no additional provisions or complex mechanisms.
HB 148 amends Wyoming law to allow commercial airports with retail liquor licenses to contract with other businesses for food and beverage services - including liquor sales - without transferring the license. The bill specifies that alcoholic beverage sales may only occur in the terminal building and connected concourses where passengers transfer between aircraft. This change provides airports with greater flexibility in managing concession operations while maintaining location restrictions on liquor sales. The law takes effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill amends Wyoming law to generally prohibit off-road recreational vehicles from operating on or near interstate highways, with specific exceptions for designated trails. It allows operation only on trails adjacent to interstates that have physical barriers, are officially designated under state law, and are marked as off-road vehicle trails. Operators must hold a valid driver's license for the vehicle type, display a required license plate or decal, and cross interstates only at designated, clearly marked crossings. The rule applies to all off-road recreational vehicles and takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 165, "Living organ donor protection," prohibits Wyoming insurance companies from discriminating against individuals who have donated an organ while alive. The bill makes it illegal for insurers to deny, cancel, or increase premiums for life or long-term care insurance solely based on a person's status as a living organ donor, or to reduce coverage benefits without proven additional health risks. It also prevents insurers from requiring donors to forgo future donations as a condition of coverage. The law applies to all such insurance policies issued in Wyoming on or after July 1, 2023.
HB 31 allows Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to act as "local education agencies" for applying to state and federal education grants, directly affecting BOCES and participating school districts. It requires BOCES to obtain approval from at least two school districts (via their boards) before applying for grants on their behalf, and ensures districts opting out can still apply individually for the same grants. The bill updates Wyoming law to define BOCES as eligible grant applicants under specific conditions and clarifies that school districts remain responsible for meeting grant requirements. It does not change existing grant eligibility but streamlines how cooperative education services access funding.
SF 58 designates the Sutton archaeological site in Platte County as a state archaeological site under Wyoming law. The bill requires the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to manage the site, which encompasses 46.382 acres in section 6, township 27, range 65, mineral survey no. 196, including the Mollie Gibson, Crown, and 1901 patented claims. This designation takes effect on July 1, 2023, formalizing the site's status and management responsibilities.
HB 27 eliminates Wyoming's requirement for a statewide consolidated school facility remediation schedule and removes the associated rulemaking authority for the School Commission. The bill repeals Section 21-15-117(a)(vi) of the Wyoming Statutes, which previously mandated the creation of this consolidated schedule to prioritize building needs. It directly affects the Wyoming School Commission and school districts that used this process to assess and rank facility repairs. The change takes effect July 1, 2023, streamlining the process by removing one layer of statewide prioritization.
Wyoming's SF 37 adds podiatry services provided by licensed podiatrists to the list of medical services covered under the state's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance and Services Act). This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need foot care and licensed podiatrists seeking reimbursement through Medicaid. The key provision authorizes $56,500 in state funds and $56,500 in federal funds specifically for these services during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The funding is restricted to podiatry services only and must be spent within that period, with unspent funds reverting to the state. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 62 allows Wyoming state-chartered banks to share customer financial data with third-party apps or services, but only with the customer's explicit written consent. It defines key terms like "customer data" (including banking and transaction details) and "open banking" (secure digital access via customer permission). The law requires banks to comply with all data protection laws and mandates the banking commissioner to create rules for data security by July 1, 2024. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, with rulemaking starting immediately after enactment.
SF 65 repeals a law that paid local registrars for processing vital records (such as births, deaths, and marriages) in Wyoming. It requires all payments owed under the repealed law to be made before the bill's effective date. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, ensuring existing payment obligations are fulfilled. This directly affects local registrars who handled vital records registration under the previous compensation system.
