HB 45 removes the mandatory retirement age for Wyoming State Highway Patrol officers, Game and Fish Wardens, and Criminal Investigators. It allows these retired peace officers to be rehired by the state under existing provisions of the Wyoming Retirement Act. The bill repeals the previous requirement that officers retire at a specific age and takes effect July 1, 2023. This change directly affects current and future peace officers in these specific roles by providing flexibility in retirement and reemployment options.
SF 5 requires Wyoming insurers writing health care malpractice coverage to report annual claims data to the insurance commissioner, effective July 1, 2023. Insurers must submit reports by March 1 each year containing specific claim details for the prior calendar year, but only if the commissioner provides at least three months' notice. The bill grants the commissioner discretion to mandate these reports, modifying existing insurance code requirements. This directly affects health care malpractice insurers operating in Wyoming by establishing new annual reporting obligations.
Wyoming's SF 15 removes the one-year employment requirement for state employees who serve in military roles. The bill directly affects state employees who are members of the National Guard, military reserves, or active duty, allowing them immediate eligibility for unpaid leave without losing seniority, benefits, or job status. Key provisions amend Wyoming Statute 19-11-108(b) to eliminate the prior waiting period, making military leave available from day one of employment. The change takes effect July 1, 2023.
This bill requires financial institutions (like banks and investment firms) to report suspected financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to Wyoming's Department of Family Services. It mandates that staff at these institutions notify the department if they suspect exploitation - defined as unauthorized use of a vulnerable adult's money or property - and creates internal policies for handling such reports. Financial institutions may also temporarily block transactions involving vulnerable adults' accounts (up to 30 days) if reporting exploitation, and they can notify third parties like family members about suspected exploitation. The law directly affects vulnerable adults, financial institutions, and the Department of Family Services, with no new penalties or funding specified.
Wyoming's SF 26 adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, allowing licensed psychologists from other participating states to provide telepsychology services to Wyoming residents and offer temporary in-person care (up to 30 days per year) without needing a Wyoming license. The bill establishes a system for states to recognize each other's licenses, requires background checks for license applicants, and creates a shared database for tracking licensure and disciplinary actions. This directly affects out-of-state psychologists seeking to serve Wyoming patients and Wyoming residents accessing cross-state mental health services, while ensuring public safety through standardized practice rules.
This Wyoming bill updates the state's workers' compensation law to align with the latest North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) manual. It specifically redesignates certain industries as "extrahazardous" for coverage purposes, including wholesale trade of farm products (NAICS 4225), chemicals (4226), and petroleum (4227), as well as retail food stores (4452) and fire protection services (NAICS 92215-92216). These changes ensure workers in these sectors automatically qualify for workers' compensation coverage under the state's extrahazardous employment rules. The bill took effect July 1, 2023, and directly affects employees in the listed industries.
Wyoming's SF 18 amends death benefit formulas for surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, state highway patrol members, and other sworn personnel. It clarifies that death benefits for spouses will be calculated using the *greater of* the officer's highest average salary at death or their final actual salary (gross pay in the last full month of service), replacing prior ambiguous language. For officers dying in the line of duty, spouses receive 62.5% of salary (or 2.5% × years of service, whichever is greater) plus 6% of salary per child under 18. For officers dying outside duty or retired officers, benefits include 50% of salary plus 6% per child, with all benefits capped at 100% of the officer's final salary. This directly affects surviving spouses and dependent children of eligible law enforcement personnel.
This bill requires Wyoming's livestock disease control programs to include all producers, specifically including those on the Wind River Indian Reservation, in testing, containment, and reimbursement services. It mandates cooperative agreements between the state livestock board, state veterinarian, and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes for disease management on tribal lands. The bill also expands the governor's authority to negotiate brucellosis containment with federal agencies and tribes to maintain Wyoming's brucellosis-free status. These changes clarify that tribal producers qualify for the same disease disposal procedures, indemnification, and livestock sale rules as other Wyoming producers under state and federal regulations.
This bill requires off-road recreational vehicles (ORVs) to carry at least $25,000 in liability insurance and be equipped with mirrors and horns when operated on public roads, streets, or highways in Wyoming. It directly affects ORV owners and operators who use public roadways, clarifying that ORVs may only be driven on designated trails approved by the Department of State Parks. The law amends existing vehicle safety and insurance rules to extend these requirements to ORVs, effective July 1, 2023.
HB 39 amends Wyoming law to allow the Department of Transportation to accept military discharge documentation directly from the U.S. armed forces as proof of honorable veteran status, instead of requiring certification from the Wyoming Veterans' Commission. This change affects veterans who wish to have a "Veteran" designation (shown as a "V" or "Veteran" on the license) on their Wyoming driver's license or ID card. The bill updates the application process (W.S. 31-7-111) and the designation requirement (W.S. 31-7-141) to streamline verification. The change takes effect July 1, 2023, making the process more direct for veterans seeking this designation.
This bill appropriates $1.2 million from Wyoming's general fund to fund lawsuits defending the state's coal export operations and coal-fired power plants. The funds, available from 2021 through June 2030, specifically cover legal costs to challenge federal or state laws that impede coal exports or cause early closures of Wyoming coal-fired facilities. The governor's office must deposit these funds into a dedicated account and report annually on litigation expenses and case status to state committees. It directly affects Wyoming's coal industry by providing financial resources to legally defend coal export and power generation operations against regulatory actions.
Wyoming's SF 20 amends driver's license and ID card regulations by removing the requirement for a color photograph. The bill changes existing law (W.S. 31-7-115(a)(iii)(D) and 31-8-102(a)(vi)) to specify that photos must be "full facial digital" without the "color" requirement. This change directly affects all Wyoming residents applying for or renewing driver's licenses or state ID cards. The law became effective July 1, 2023.
