Wyoming's HB 114 reauthorizes a program that helps teachers in shortage areas repay student loans by teaching in specific subjects. It targets educators in special education, math, science, world languages, reading, or English as a second language who complete teacher training at the University of Wyoming. Participants can repay loans without cash by teaching at least 50% of their time in these subjects for two years after graduation. The bill appropriates $2 million (2024-2026) for the program, with 15% allocated for administration. Annual reports will track the program's impact on teacher shortages in targeted areas.
Wyoming's HB 151 prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against firearm retailers by using or requiring special payment codes (like those for firearm sales) to distinguish them from other businesses. It bans financial institutions from keeping records of firearm purchases or owners, or disclosing payment information tied to these codes unless required by law. The bill also prevents banks from refusing payment transactions solely based on a firearm merchant code. Violations could lead to civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident, enforced through the Attorney General's office. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 109 would repeal a three-year tax exemption for wind energy production in Wyoming. It directly affects wind energy producers who currently benefit from this exemption, ending the tax break for new projects after the bill's effective date. The bill specifies that the existing exemption would still apply to wind turbines that began generating electricity for sale before the bill takes effect. The bill failed its House introduction on February 15, 2024, with a vote of 36-25-1.
HB 179 clarifies that state park superintendents, assistant superintendents, and full-time park rangers at Wyoming state parks, recreation areas, archaeological sites, and historic sites qualify as peace officers when acting within their assigned sites or assisting other peace officers. The bill amends existing definitions in Wyoming law to explicitly include these staff members under "peace officer" status, granting them the same legal authority as other peace officers within their jurisdiction. This change specifically affects park personnel who enforce laws and respond to incidents on state-managed lands. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2024, but failed committee review in February 2024.
Wyoming's SJ 4 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments focused on fiscal restraint, limiting federal power, and setting term limits for federal officials. The resolution specifies that the convention must not consider changes to the Bill of Rights and must operate with each state having one vote. The bill failed to pass during introduction in the Wyoming Senate on February 15, 2024, with 17 votes in favor and 14 against. This procedural resolution does not directly change laws but seeks to initiate a state-driven process for potential constitutional amendments.
H Failed Introduction 35-26-1-0-0
HB 119 would create a grant program to help Wyoming school districts hire additional mental health staff, including school counselors, nurses, and community mental health providers, for K-12 students during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The program, funded by a $37 million appropriation, would provide grants calculated at $206 per student based on each district’s previous year’s enrollment, with applications due by June 30 annually. School districts receiving grants must report on fund usage and student impact, and the state education department would submit annual effectiveness reports to the legislature by 2025.
This bill creates the "Wyoming Dividend Account" within the state's legislative stabilization fund. It would allow the legislature to distribute cash payments to qualifying Wyoming residents annually, based on specific eligibility criteria (e.g., full-year residency, no felony convictions in the prior year, not claimed as a dependent on federal taxes). Funding for these payments would come from 0.5% of annual investment earnings from Wyoming's mineral trust fund, with the remainder going to other state accounts. The bill failed to advance in the legislature (12-19 vote on February 14, 2024) and was never enacted.
HB 51 amends Wyoming's public indecency law to specifically prohibit exposing intimate parts in public places with the intent to intimidate or harass others, in addition to the existing prohibition for sexual arousal. This directly affects individuals who expose intimate parts in view of others intending to cause fear or distress. The key change adds "intimidate or harass" as a separate prohibited intent under the law, expanding the circumstances where such exposure becomes a criminal offense. The bill would take effect July 1, 2024, if enacted. The bill failed committee passage in February 2024.
HB 47 creates a state grant program to help government entities clean up illegal trash dumps. It allows cities, counties, tribes (like the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho), or other local governments to apply for grants up to $125,000 to fund cleanup efforts at sites where waste was dumped illegally. Applicants must provide a 10% local match, describe the dumpsite and cleanup plan, and agree to use funds only for remediation. The program is funded through a dedicated account, with annual reports required on grant usage. This bill directly affects communities dealing with illegal dumping by providing financial support for cleanup.
HB 87 amends Wyoming's livestock disease reporting rules to clarify how brucellosis test results must be shared. It requires the Wyoming Livestock Board to provide positive brucellosis test results directly to animal owners within 3 days and to all county brand inspectors and veterinarians within 7 days of receiving preliminary lab results. These changes apply specifically to livestock owners, veterinarians, and brand inspectors in counties where a positive test occurs. The bill does not alter disease control measures but ensures timely, targeted information sharing to manage outbreaks. The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
HB 53 amends Wyoming law to clarify the process for declaring and managing public health emergencies. It requires the governor to immediately call the legislature into session within two days of declaring an emergency, allowing lawmakers to vote remotely via video/audio conference to either confirm the emergency or end it. The bill updates the definition of "public health emergency" to include epidemics, pandemics, or biological threats posing significant health risks, and specifies that healthcare provider exemptions (like out-of-state physical therapists or acupuncturists) during emergencies apply only to declarations after July 1, 2024. These changes directly affect the governor, legislature, and healthcare providers seeking temporary practice authorization during declared emergencies.
