HJ 3 is a Wyoming joint resolution expressing support for state and local government involvement in federal rulemaking. It does not create new laws but formally commits the Wyoming Legislature to oppose specific federal rules and plans (like the BLM's Rock Springs resource management plan) that the resolution claims negatively impact Wyoming's agriculture, energy, mineral, and recreation industries. The resolution requires the Wyoming Secretary of State to send this position to federal officials, including Congress and the White House. As a procedural resolution, it focuses on expressing legislative opposition rather than changing federal policy.
HB 77 amends Wyoming's simple assault and domestic assault laws to explicitly include "threatening or menacing conduct" that causes someone to reasonably fear immediate physical harm. It expands the definition so that making another person feel in danger of being physically hurt - through words, gestures, or actions - now qualifies as assault, not just physical attempts. This change directly affects individuals accused of simple assault or domestic assault in Wyoming, applying to all offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024. The bill does not alter penalties but clarifies that verbal threats or menacing behavior alone can constitute a crime.
HB 81 removes mandatory fiscal training requirements for state public officers in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2024. It specifically eliminates the requirement that public officers complete minimum fiscal training within one year of taking office and excludes members of governing bodies (like city councils or school boards) from the definition of "public officer" under this law. The bill repeals existing provisions that required the state auditor to establish training rules and monitor compliance. This change directly affects state-level officials handling public funds, removing a compliance obligation that previously applied to them.
This bill requires Wyoming school districts to notify parents or guardians about changes in a student's physical, mental, or emotional health that impact their school environment. It prohibits schools from restricting parental access to education and health records or preventing staff from sharing student well-being information. School districts must also provide parents options to decline health services and establish clear complaint procedures for non-compliance, with decisions required within 30 days. The law applies to all public school districts and takes effect for the 2024-2025 school year.
HB 32 updates Wyoming's rules for storing carbon dioxide underground (geologic sequestration). It specifically adds "pore space utilization" as a purpose for unitizing underground storage rights, clarifies definitions like "unit area" (the underground space being used), and requires applicants to detail how they'll share economic benefits with landowners whose pore space is pooled. The bill changes permit requirements to ensure applicants have legal rights to use surface land and storage space, and streamlines the process for creating unitization agreements that combine multiple landowners' rights. This directly affects landowners with underground rights, carbon storage companies, and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which reviews unitization applications.
HB 24 repeals Wyoming's requirement for health care facilities to obtain formal department approval before expanding beds or building additions. It changes the process so facilities only need to submit plans for the Department of Health's written comments, rather than prior approval. The bill also removes specific bed expansion limits for nursing homes and hospitals. This change takes effect July 1, 2024, directly affecting health care providers planning facility expansions.
Wyoming's HB 27 requires law enforcement officers to notify the Department of Family Services (DFS) whenever they receive a report about a vulnerable adult suspected of abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation, abandonment, or self-neglect. This bill directly affects vulnerable adults (such as elderly or disabled individuals who cannot care for themselves) and law enforcement officers who handle such reports. The key provision mandates that officers must immediately contact DFS to assess the need for protective services, replacing previous notification requirements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.
HB 46 sets a 150-day timeline for resolving most cases in Wyoming's chancery court, requiring courts to settle the majority of complex civil disputes within 150 days of issuing a scheduling order. It directly affects parties filing disputes in chancery court (typically handling business, real estate, or contract cases) by establishing a concrete deadline for case resolution. The law applies to all chancery court cases filed on or after July 1, 2024, and becomes effective on that date.
HB 73 creates Wyoming's Long-Term Abandoned Mine Reclamation Account to manage federal funds for cleaning up coal mine sites. The account will hold up to 30% of federal funds received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (specifically Section 40701(c)), which must be used *only* for: treating acid mine drainage, preventing ground collapse from subsidence, and controlling coal mine fires. It repeals two older accounts, transferring their unspent funds to a reserve account, and limits state liability to the funds actually in the new account. This bill directly affects Wyoming's environmental management and federal grant utilization for abandoned mine cleanup.
HB 71 amends Wyoming's broadband development fund rules to allow the state to use these funds for two specific purposes: covering Wyoming's required share of matching funds for federal broadband programs (such as those under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), and paying up to $300,000 in administrative costs for the Wyoming Business Council. The bill directly affects the Wyoming Business Council, which administers these funds, and enables state participation in federal broadband initiatives. This clarifies existing fund usage without creating new programs or altering eligibility for broadband projects.
SF 1 is the state's 2024-2026 general budget bill, allocating $56.4 million in state funds to support essential government operations and programs. It specifies exact funding amounts for agencies like the Office of the Governor ($9.1 million), Homeland Security ($5.3 million), and the WY Innov. Partnership ($15 million), with conditions such as requiring matching funds for wild horse management on tribal lands. The bill also defines key terms for tracking funds (e.g., "special revenue fund") and sets strict rules, like prohibiting $20,000 for emergency response meetings from being used for other purposes. This budget directly affects all state agencies receiving these appropriations and governs their spending for the two-year fiscal period.
SF 102 prohibits foreign entities designated as "foreign adversaries" (including governments or companies from specified countries) from owning or acquiring real property within 10 miles of critical infrastructure or military installations in Wyoming. It requires such entities to divest property within 8 months of notice, with court-ordered sales and forfeiture of proceeds to the state if they fail to comply. The law mandates registration of foreign ownership with the Secretary of State, requires inclusion of ownership prohibitions in tax documents, and defines key terms like "critical infrastructure" and "significant interest" (25%+ ownership). These provisions apply directly to foreign governments, their entities, or U.S. entities controlled by them, aiming to protect infrastructure security through enforceable ownership restrictions.
