This bill (SF 69) allows Wyoming court clerks to digitize physical court records instead of keeping paper copies, directly affecting county court offices. It amends Wyoming Statute 5-7-103 to explicitly permit scanning and retaining digital copies in a case management system, while removing the requirement to store physical documents. The change applies to most court cases but excludes probate matters, and clerks must follow specific disposal rules (W.S. 9-2-411) for original documents. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 86 prohibits requiring individuals to disclose their private cryptographic keys for accessing digital assets (like cryptocurrency) or digital identities in any legal proceeding in Wyoming. The law allows authorities to compel the production of the digital asset or related information without the private key, but only when a public key is unavailable to access the information. This directly affects people and businesses using digital assets secured by private keys, such as cryptocurrency holders or digital identity users. The bill, effective July 1, 2023, defines a "private key" as a unique cryptographic element held by a person and paired with a public key.
Wyoming's SF 176 allows two or more existing solid waste disposal districts to merge into a single district. It outlines specific procedures for consolidation, including initiation via county commissioner resolution (without elections for districts in the same county) or through existing statutory processes. The bill prevents changes to district boundaries, requires county commissioner approval for multi-county consolidations, and sets rules for appointing directors based on population. It also maintains existing tax limits for the consolidated district and applies standard special district consolidation rules. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
This bill limits where skill-based amusement games (games requiring skill to win prizes, like certain video games) can be located in Wyoming. It requires these games to be placed only in designated "establishments" (defined as locations selling alcohol or operating truck stops with specific size/fuel requirements), prohibits access by people under 21, and mandates age-restricted signage. Existing operators with games in non-compliant locations before September 14, 2022, may continue operating if they meet other requirements. The law took effect April 1, 2023.
HB 160 allows Wyoming veterans with a "veteran designation" on their driver's license to use it as proof of service instead of the military form DD 214. This directly affects Wyoming veterans who have the designation on their license when interacting with local government entities (like city offices or county services). The bill requires these entities to accept the designated driver's license as valid proof, though they may still request the DD 214 if additional documentation is needed. The law took effect on July 1, 2023.
HB 35 amends Wyoming law to create a certification exception for certain part-time preschool facilities. It directly affects small preschools enrolling fewer than eight children over 36 months old or fewer than ten children over 48 months old, provided they meet five specific conditions: no medication administration, no food preparation, children must be toilet-trained (no diapers), limited to 10 weekly hours of attendance, and compliance with local health/safety/fire codes. The bill requires the Department of Family Services to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2023, with some provisions effective immediately upon enactment. This changes certification requirements for qualifying facilities without altering broader childcare regulations.
This bill prohibits posting unauthorized signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal lands where lawful wildlife hunting is permitted. It specifically targets signs placed with intent to hinder hunting activities on public lands. Landowners retain the right to prevent trespass on private property, which is explicitly excluded from the law. The law applies to all public lands used for hunting and takes effect July 1, 2023.
SF 78 requires Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services to provide secondary students with information about apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs, including available financial assistance and participant rights. School boards must establish guidelines for these programs, offer school credit for completion, and annually inform high school students about opportunities. The bill directly affects all Wyoming public high schools and students seeking career-focused training pathways. It mandates these steps to connect classroom learning with paid work experience, effective July 2023. The law also requires annual reports to state committees on implementation progress.
HB 82 changes Wyoming's rules for mental health examinations of criminal defendants. It specifically requires that defendants charged only with misdemeanors cannot be examined on an inpatient basis at the Wyoming State Hospital; instead, their examinations must be outpatient at the state hospital, a local mental health center, or their detention facility. Courts must choose examination sites considering factors like location, examiner availability, and security needs. This directly affects misdemeanor defendants and the courts managing their cases, with the rule taking effect July 1, 2023. Felony cases remain unaffected by this amendment.
HB 19 creates a task force to study how Wyoming can incorporate protections from the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 into state law. The task force includes tribal representatives (Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho councils), state officials, family law attorneys, and legislative members. It must study federal ICWA, other states' laws, and existing Wyoming protections, then recommend legislative changes by July 1, 2024. The group will receive $80,000 in funding ($40,000 for non-legislative members, $40,000 for legislative staff) and dissolve December 31, 2024. This bill directly affects tribal communities and child welfare systems by examining legal pathways to strengthen protections for Indian children.
HB 24 sets maximum annual salaries for investment staff at the Wyoming State Treasurer's office and Wyoming Retirement System. It establishes specific caps: $300,000 for chief investment officers, $226,800 for senior investment officers, $158,400 for investment officers, $111,600 for senior analysts, and $84,000 for analysts. The bill also authorizes up to $10,000 in relocation expense reimbursement for new hires moving to Wyoming to fill these specific investment roles, provided they establish residency. These changes take effect July 1, 2023.
Wyoming's SF 6 modernizes insurance rebate rules by clarifying and updating statutes governing insurance pricing and incentives. The bill specifically adds new provisions to prohibit unfair discrimination when insurers offer non-insurance products (like risk management tools or financial planning services) as incentives for purchasing or renewing policies. It requires these offered products or services to be reasonably priced relative to premiums, directly related to insurance coverage, and based on documented objective criteria. This change primarily affects insurance companies and agents who provide additional services as part of policy incentives, ensuring such practices align with fair pricing standards.
