HB 34 creates a two-year grant program for Wyoming public school districts to fund mental health services for K-12 students. Districts can apply for competitive grants of up to $120,000 annually (totaling $11.52 million in funding), with funds administered by the state Department of Education and separate from existing education funding. To qualify, districts must submit proposals detailing mental health needs, service plans, and timelines, and report on service impact and student outcomes. The program specifically targets K-12 public schools in Wyoming, with grants available for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
HB 124 imposes a tax on electricity produced from wind and solar resources in Wyoming for sale or trade. It directly affects wind and solar electricity producers who sell power within the state, requiring them to pay a tax per megawatt-hour at the point where electricity connects to transmission lines. Producers must report their annual electricity output by February 1 each year. The tax applies to solar electricity sold after January 1, 2024, while existing wind electricity production tax rules remain in effect. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.
SF 82 reallocates $50 million in American Rescue Plan Direct (ARPD) funds specifically for eligible water and sewer infrastructure projects in Wyoming. This funding supports local governments and water utilities to upgrade or maintain drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities. The bill amends prior appropriations to designate this exact amount under "Eligible Water & Sewer Projects" (line item 060) within the state's ARPD budget. It directly affects communities needing infrastructure improvements to meet public health and environmental standards. The policy change is a targeted allocation within existing pandemic relief funding, with no new tax or fee requirements.
SF 168 creates a new alternative teaching certification pathway for K-12 teachers in Wyoming. It requires applicants to hold a bachelor's degree and complete an approved alternative certification program (operating in at least five states for ten years) and pass a subject-area teaching skills test. The certification covers 11 specific subjects, including math, science, English, history, special education, and career technical education. Teachers receive certification only for the subject areas and grade levels they successfully complete through the program.
HB 126 amends Wyoming's criminal trespass law to clarify that property owners or their agents may use reasonable physical force to stop someone trespassing on their land. It specifies this force must be necessary to end what the owner reasonably believes is ongoing trespass. The bill does not change existing self-defense laws, as stated in Section (e). The law takes effect July 1, 2023, directly affecting landowners and their authorized representatives facing trespassers.
HB 119 authorizes Wyoming prescribers (physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and advanced practice nurses) and pharmacists to prescribe and dispense FDA-approved medications for off-label uses - treatments not specified in the drug's FDA labeling - without facing disciplinary action from licensing boards or employers. The bill explicitly excludes Schedule I/II controlled substances under federal law. It provides legal immunity from civil lawsuits or professional discipline for healthcare providers acting under these provisions, defining "off-label indication" as using approved drugs for unapproved medical purposes. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.
This bill modifies Wyoming's net metering rules for small-scale renewable energy systems (like rooftop solar). It exempts existing systems (operational before July 1, 2024) from new rules until 2039, while requiring the Public Service Commission to establish a new compensation system for systems installed on or after that date. The new system must prevent rate subsidies where small generators' electricity costs are covered by other customers. Utilities will no longer be obligated to compensate new small generators under the old net metering terms, and the Commission must hold public hearings and adopt rules by April 2024. The bill affects homeowners and businesses with small renewable energy installations who generate excess electricity for the grid.
This Wyoming bill (SF 34) creates a new criminal offense for flying small drones over private property in a way that significantly disrupts a landowner's use or enjoyment of their land. It defines "small unmanned aircraft" using federal aviation rules from 2022 and applies directly to drone operators and property owners. Violators face penalties of up to $750 in fines, six months in jail, or both. The law establishes a clear legal standard for drone-related trespass on private property.
Wyoming's SF 142 requires public utilities to offer coal-fired power plants for sale specifically for carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects. The bill establishes rules for selling carbon dioxide streams (e.g., for enhanced oil recovery), mandates bonding to cover future decommissioning and cleanup costs, and sets definitions for key terms like "carbon capture customer" (oil/gas companies using CO2 streams). It aims to make captured carbon dioxide available for industrial use while preventing rate hikes for electricity customers. The law also requires studies and reports on implementation, targeting coal plant operators and oil/gas industry stakeholders directly affected by the new requirements.
Wyoming's SF 130, the "Educational Freedom Act," requires public K-12 schools to teach constitutional principles while ensuring all instruction aligns with seven specific "principles of individual freedom." These principles include affirming equality under the law, prohibiting discrimination based on race or gender, stating that merit-based rewards aren't racist, and requiring age-appropriate discussions about racism, slavery, and sexism. The bill directly affects teachers (instructional personnel) and school administrators, who must ensure curricula and policies comply with these principles and avoid content that contradicts them. It also mandates that any classroom material conflicting with Wyoming's constitutional equality provisions must be explicitly identified to students.
HB 286 consolidates Wyoming's Department of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and the Office of the State Chief Information Officer into a new division within the Department of Administration and Information. This transfer affects all state agencies that use technology services, as they will now report to this unified division for telecommunications, software, and equipment management. The bill mandates the transfer of all personnel, funds, equipment, and responsibilities, requires a budget submission process for fiscal year 2024, and establishes new definitions and rules for the consolidated division's operations. The key change is eliminating separate tech offices to streamline state technology administration under one department.
Wyoming's HB 83 authorizes the governor to negotiate written agreements with tribes regarding hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering rights based on treaty or federal rights on state lands. The bill requires tribes to adopt enforceable game codes, align seasons with state regulations (except for ceremonial purposes), share harvest data, and comply with state conservation rules. It ensures tribal members without valid licenses follow state laws outside the Wind River Reservation and clarifies that agreements do not override private property rights without owner permission. The law mandates a report to the legislature after each agreement is finalized and grants state agencies rulemaking authority for implementation.
