This bill (SF 56) would require Wyoming county commissioners to decline certifying tax levies for special districts (like fire or water districts) if those districts have accumulated reserves exceeding three times their current adopted budget. It directly affects special districts that rely on local property taxes for funding. The key provision sets a specific financial threshold (3x the budget) that triggers the commissioner's ability to block tax increases. The bill would take effect January 1, 2025, if passed.
SF 71 updates annual salaries for Wyoming judges and justices to reflect 2023 general session rates, effective July 1, 2024. It sets new salaries at $187,250 for supreme court justices, $171,200 for district court judges, and $153,700 for circuit court judges. The bill also authorizes housing cost-of-living assistance for judges and justices living in counties with housing costs significantly above the state average, with rules developed by the supreme court. This assistance must align with existing state employee housing policies established by the Department of Administration and Information.
Wyoming's HB 22 revises the state's sales tax code to modernize rules for digital products, clarify tax exemptions, and update business reporting requirements. It specifies that digital products (like streaming services) are only taxable if they don't grant permanent access, clarifies "vendor" definitions to include remote sellers and marketplaces, and modifies exemptions for transportation fuel and recreation facility admissions. The bill also updates licensing fees ($60 for new vendors), reporting rules, and extends a manufacturing equipment tax exemption until December 31, 2027. These changes directly affect businesses selling taxable goods or services, including retailers, digital service providers, and vendors subject to Wyoming's sales tax collection rules.
HB 135 allocates $185 million in state funds for specific capital construction projects across Wyoming state agencies, including $55.8 million for facilities like the Guernsey Entry, FE Warren Power, and agriculture facilities, and $33.34 million from private funding for the Enzi Center. It specifies that funds must be used solely for designated projects, with unspent amounts reverting to original accounts unless otherwise stated. The bill also authorizes the Gillette Community College District to accept property transfers from the city of Gillette for campus expansion. This appropriation bill directly affects state agencies managing construction projects and institutions receiving facility transfers.
Wyoming's HB 17 would require outfitters and professional fishing guides to register their boats, vehicles, and trailers with the state's Game and Fish Commission if operating in waterways where the Commission sets limits on guided boat numbers. The bill mandates an annual fee for registration and requires displaying a sticker on each registered boat and vehicle. It directly affects commercial fishing guides and outfitters who charge for guiding services, aiming to protect fisheries and fishing experiences by managing boat density. The law would take effect July 1, 2024, if passed.
SF 40 creates the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund and establishes a 9-member board to manage it. The board, appointed by the governor with tribal and regional representation, will distribute funds through grants for outdoor recreation and tourism projects. Key provisions include setting criteria for small/large projects (prioritizing multi-partner initiatives), requiring consultation with tribes and local communities, and mandating annual reports on fund usage. The trust fund directly affects state parks, local tourism entities, and tribal nations by providing structured funding for recreation infrastructure and tourism development.
HB 39, titled "Campaign reporting," proposed new requirements for campaign committees to disclose financial information. The bill would have directly affected political campaigns and candidates by mandating specific reporting timelines and details about donations and expenditures. It failed to advance past the introduction stage, receiving a vote of 37-23 against it on February 12, 2024. The bill aimed to increase transparency in campaign finance but did not become law. (Note: Specific reporting mechanisms were not detailed in the provided context.)
Wyoming's HB 37 creates two new election-related offenses: a misdemeanor for intimidating voters or election officials through verbal threats of violence, harm, or economic retaliation (e.g., threatening to fire someone over voting choices), and a felony for more severe intimidation involving similar threats. The bill directly affects individuals who use such threats to prevent free voting or interfere with election administration. Key provisions define specific threatening conduct (like soliciting campaign contributions through threats of violence) and establish penalties of up to six months in jail or $1,000 fines for misdemeanors, and up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines for felonies. The law would apply to all elections in Wyoming, including local, state, and federal races, and takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 41 proposes a change to Wyoming's residency rules for candidates running for the state legislature. It clarifies that candidates must have lived in their specific legislative district for at least one year before the election. However, if new district boundaries aren't finalized before filing opens, candidates may instead show one year of residency in any county within that district. The bill failed to pass in the legislature (40-20 vote) and would have taken effect July 1, 2024, if enacted. This is a procedural eligibility rule affecting only individuals seeking legislative office.
HB 6 creates a new $2,500 penalty for drivers of light and high profile vehicles (such as trucks or buses) who ignore highway closure signs. The driver must pay the fine immediately upon violation, and a conviction counts as reckless driving under commercial driver's license rules. This can lead to a 90-day license suspension for a first offense, six months for a second offense within five years, or license revocation after two prior offenses. The bill directly affects commercial vehicle operators and drivers of taller/wider vehicles, as violations impact their ability to legally operate commercially.
HB 2 increases nonresident fishing license fees in Wyoming: annual licenses rise from $100 to $110, daily licenses from $12 to $14, and five-day licenses from $54 to $60. It directly affects nonresidents (including tourists and out-of-state anglers) who purchase these licenses. The bill, which would have taken effect July 1, 2024, failed to pass during its introduction on February 12, 2024, with a vote of 39-22-1. The amendment targets specific fee schedules under Wyoming Statute 23-2-201.
This bill requires Wyoming's Department of Health to continue paying behavioral health service claims for low-income individuals without insurance coverage for mental health or substance use treatment (defined as those earning under 200% of the federal poverty level) in the same manner as before prior reforms. It mandates the department to collect data on potential savings from pursuing third-party billing (like private insurance) before state payments and report these findings to a legislative committee by September 2025. The bill also updates definitions to exclude people with insurance covering these services after July 1, 2026, and takes effect July 1, 2024. It does not change current service delivery but establishes new reporting and data collection requirements for state payments.
