Wyoming's HB 321 amends election laws to prioritize political party lists when appointing election judges and filling vacancies. County clerks must now give priority to registered electors from major and minor political parties (as submitted by county chairmen) over municipal clerk lists when appointing judges or filling vacancies before or during an election. This directly affects county clerks, election judges, and voters who may be appointed as judges. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and apply to all county-level election judge appointments and vacancy fillings.
HB 278 (Wyoming bill) requires county clerks to publicly test voting machines before elections and make these tests accessible to the public. It mandates posting public notices 5 days before testing (or 24 hours before re-tests), allowing political party representatives and the public to observe accuracy checks and counter resets. The bill removes the previous presumption that machines were properly prepared, instead requiring documented testing that verifies counters start at zero and accurately count votes. These changes apply directly to Wyoming county clerks and election officials managing voting systems.
HB 296 requires Wyoming's Legislature to study and fix how legislative districts are drawn to comply with the state constitution and federal law. It mandates that a committee study apportionment during the 2025 interim, gather public input, and report by December 2025, ensuring districts follow county lines and include at least one senator and representative per county as required by Wyoming Constitution Article 3, Sections 3 and 48. The bill addresses long-standing violations where districts since 1992 ignored county boundaries and failed to guarantee minimum representation per county, which also conflicts with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This process will lead to proposed legislation for constitutional redistricting during the 2026 budget session.
HB 336 requires parents voluntarily giving up parental rights to sign a written acknowledgment stating that termination does not end their child support obligations. This acknowledgment must be signed by the parent and become part of the court record. The bill clarifies that courts retain full authority to modify, enforce, or terminate child support under existing law. It applies to all voluntary parental rights terminations in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 120 allows individuals facing certain administrative penalties in Wyoming to request a jury trial during contested case hearings. It applies when someone is subject to a sanction of $20 or more, loss of a significant liberty interest (like freedom or property rights), or denial/suspension of a license. The bill requires agencies to notify people of this right and mandates a six-person jury trial, with the jury's decision becoming the final outcome. This changes the process by introducing jury trials into administrative hearings for specified cases, rather than having decisions made solely by agency officials.
HB 251 creates a new misdemeanor crime for operating a drone below 200 feet over someone else's private property without permission. The bill specifically targets drones weighing 55 pounds or less (including attached items) and prohibits unauthorized flights over private land or residences. Violators face up to six months in jail, a $750 fine, or both. This law directly affects drone operators who fly near homes or private property without the landowner's consent, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 204 increases fees for nonresident fishing licenses in Wyoming. It raises the annual license from $100 to $110, the daily license from $12 to $14, and the five-day license from $54 to $60. These changes directly affect out-of-state anglers who purchase fishing licenses in Wyoming. The fee increases will take effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill requires Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality to conduct water quality testing before limited mining operations begin if the department believes drinking water sources might be impacted. It applies specifically to small-scale mining (15 acres or less) for materials like sand, gravel, or limestone, where operators must notify state agencies and nearby landowners 30 days in advance. The department may delay operations to complete required testing, and the Environmental Quality Council must create implementing rules. The law updates existing notification requirements for these operations without changing their basic scope.
SF 133 (Wyoming) creates a legal right for parents to challenge government actions that infringe on parental rights in court. It amends state law to allow parents to assert violations of parental rights as a defense or claim in any judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the government is a party. The bill specifies that parents may seek remedies like court orders, compensation, and attorney fees if their rights are violated. This directly affects parents and government entities in Wyoming, making government liability possible for such violations starting July 1, 2025. The law does not change parental rights themselves but provides new legal tools to enforce them.
HB 225 allows people attending Wyoming legislative meetings to park on streets without time limits during official sessions. It specifically prohibits local ordinances from restricting parking duration: (1) within the Capitol complex during active legislative or committee meetings, and (2) within one-half mile of any official meeting location during those sessions. The law applies to all attendees, including the public and legislators, and takes effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly modifies parking regulations to accommodate meeting attendance without imposing time restrictions.
HB 210 prohibits individuals or businesses from charging fees for advising or assisting veterans with benefits claims, except as permitted under federal law. It requires all service providers to use written agreements with specific disclosures - clearly stating they are not affiliated with the VA or state veterans' agencies - and to avoid guaranteeing specific benefits. The bill mandates that fees comply with federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 14.636) and bans excessive charges, while requiring providers to inform veterans about free alternatives like county veterans' service offices. This law applies to new agreements starting July 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans seeking benefits help and the organizations offering such services.
This Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 10) clarifies that taxation and spending authority belongs solely to the state legislature and governor (executive branch), not the courts. It allows the legislature to delegate local taxing power to counties/cities (with elected officials serving ≤4-year terms) and delegate routine debt payments to the executive branch, with courts enforcing these tasks. For public school funding, it requires the legislature to create a judicially reviewable funding formula, but the appropriation amount itself cannot be challenged in court. If funding falls short, school spending would be reduced uniformly across all districts. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect.
