This bill designates July 20 of each year as "Moon Landing Day" in Wyoming to honor astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and the team behind the 1969 moon landing. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging state and local governments, plus organizations, to observe the day through appropriate activities. The bill explicitly states it does not authorize public schools, businesses, or government offices to close, nor does it affect commercial or legal proceedings. This is a purely commemorative measure with no new legal requirements or impacts on daily operations.
HB 96 extends existing property insurance coverage to beneficiaries who inherit property through a transfer on death deed (TODD) after the original owner's death. For 60 days after title transfers, the new owner is automatically covered as if they were the named insured, without needing new insurance. The bill requires beneficiaries to notify insurers within 60 days of inheritance and mandates insurers to send written notices 20 days before coverage ends, specifying the exact lapse date. This applies only to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2023, directly affecting TODD beneficiaries, property owners using this tool, and insurers.
HB 104 allows Wyoming hunters to use artificial light technologies - including thermal or infrared imaging - for night hunting of predatory animals (like coyotes or wolves) on both private and public land. It directly affects landowners (with written permission), residents managing property, and hunters on public land. The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to create specific rules governing the permitted technology and hunting methods. The changes take effect July 1, 2023, with rulemaking provisions active immediately upon enactment.
2023/Summaries/HB0001.pdf
Wyoming's SF 10 creates an interstate compact allowing licensed professional counselors from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill establishes mutual recognition of licenses, preserves Wyoming's authority to license counselors within its borders, and requires counselors to follow the practice laws of the state where the client is located during service. This directly affects licensed professional counselors seeking to work in multiple states, including those relocating for military reasons or providing telehealth services. The compact aims to improve public access to counseling services while maintaining state regulatory oversight for public safety.
HB 44 allows Wyoming's Transportation Commission to use alternative contracting methods for road and bridge projects funded by the state highway system, bypassing standard public bidding requirements for eligible projects. This applies to construction work using "alternate design and construction delivery methods" as defined in Wyoming law (W.S. 16-6-701), directly affecting projects costing over $275,000 that adopt these methods. The bill requires the Commission to adopt implementing rules by October 1, 2023, and waives standard procurement rules (like public bidding for projects over $275,000) when alternative methods are used. It does not change existing rules for projects using traditional contracting.
HB 279 requires voters to present acceptable identification when applying for an absentee ballot in person at a county election office. It directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots through in-person applications, not mail-in or election-day voting. The bill amends election laws to specify that voters must provide ID meeting the definition in Wyoming Statute 22-1-102(a)(xxxix)(B) for this process. The requirement became effective July 1, 2023. This change modifies the application procedure but does not alter requirements for mail-in ballots or in-person voting at polling places.
This bill (HB 134) changes Wyoming's rules for how alcohol retailers and distillers can purchase alcohol. It allows retail liquor license holders to buy up to nine liters per week of alcohol directly from other retail licensees or from distillers (federally licensed manufacturers), removing previous restrictions. The change directly affects licensed liquor stores and distillers by expanding their options for sourcing inventory. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter tax collection or licensing fees.
Wyoming's HB 7 raises the minimum marriage age to 18 by making all marriages involving people under 16 automatically invalid (void). It removes the previous exception that allowed judicial approval for under-16 marriages, which previously made such unions voidable rather than void. The bill affects minors under 16, their families seeking marriage licenses, and county clerks or judges who previously processed such requests. It takes effect July 1, 2023, and maintains existing requirements for 16-17-year-olds (parental consent + court approval).
This bill (SF 43) creates a new process for counties in Wyoming to establish emergency medical services (EMS) districts. Instead of requiring a public petition, county commissioners can now form or modify EMS districts through a resolution, after reviewing proposed boundaries with the county assessor and Department of Revenue. The bill specifies that county commissioners must appoint 3-9 local residents to lead these districts (serving 3-year staggered terms), and sets tax limits: districts formed via resolution can levy up to 4 mills (with voter approval), while others are capped at 2 mills. It directly affects counties and residents within EMS districts by changing how these services are organized and funded.
HB 127 requires Wyoming health care facilities to allow in-person visits from clergy members (like priests, ministers, or religious counselors) during public health emergencies, at the request of patients or their authorized family members. It prohibits facilities from blocking these visits unless clergy refuse to follow safety rules set by health authorities (such as CDC or state health officer guidelines). The law applies to all patients/residents in facilities defined under state health codes, including hospitals and nursing homes. It takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 65 establishes Wyoming's implementation of the national 988 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. It requires the Department of Health to designate crisis centers by July 2023 to provide 24/7, year-round crisis services statewide, meeting national standards for cultural competence and specialized care. The bill creates a 988 Trust Fund for funding, mandates mobile crisis teams with trauma-informed training, and sets rules for privacy, information sharing, and collaboration between crisis centers and healthcare providers. This directly affects Wyoming residents in mental health crises, crisis centers, and healthcare providers coordinating emergency behavioral health responses.
