HB 132 creates a permanent Wyoming Housing Trust Fund using $15 million from the state general fund to address affordable housing shortages. The fund's principal is protected as a perpetual trust, with investment earnings credited to a separate earnings account. A legislative study (required by Section 2) will determine how to distribute these earnings to affordable housing projects. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and directly affects Wyoming residents facing housing affordability challenges.
SF 105 requires public utilities in Wyoming to have a written customer allocation agreement with both utilities before providing service to a customer located within another utility's designated service territory. This directly affects utilities that might otherwise serve customers in areas legally assigned to another provider, such as when a customer's point of delivery is outside one utility's territory but consumption occurs within it. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for damages, lost income, and legal fees if this rule is violated. It became effective July 1, 2023, and aims to clarify service territory boundaries for utilities.
This bill changes how Wyoming calculates the maximum duration of unemployment benefits. It bases the maximum benefit period (ranging from 12 to 23 weeks) on the state's average unemployment rate: 12 weeks if the rate is 5% or lower, plus one additional week for every 0.5% above 5%, capped at 23 weeks if the rate reaches 10.5% or higher. The change applies only to unemployment claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects Wyoming residents who qualify for unemployment insurance by adjusting how long they can receive benefits based on statewide job market conditions.
Wyoming's HB 253, the "Credit Card Defense Act," requires merchants selling firearms or ammunition in the state to use a "sporting goods" merchant category code for all transactions, instead of codes specifying firearms. Financial institutions, credit cards, and payment processors must not collect or generate personally identifying information beyond this category code for such purchases. The law directly affects firearm retailers, banks, and payment processors handling these transactions in Wyoming. It mandates that all relevant financial institutions adopt this coding standard by July 1, 2023, to limit transaction data collection related to firearm purchases.
HB 230 establishes a 60-day deadline for Wyoming's Department of Transportation to impose driver's license penalties after a conviction for offenses like driving under the influence (DUI). Specifically, the department must initiate administrative actions - such as license revocation, suspension, or requiring an ignition interlock device - within 60 days of a court's conviction order or deferral of prosecution, or the penalty cannot take effect. This bill does not change the penalties themselves but ensures they are applied within a clear timeframe, directly affecting individuals convicted of traffic offenses and the department's enforcement process.
HB 40 would allow Wyoming counties and municipalities to create airport districts to operate local airports. These districts would be established through county commission resolutions, requiring lands not already in existing airport areas or under separate county/municipal operation. The bill specifies that districts would be governed by appointed boards (3-9 members), could issue bonds, collect assessments, and use fuel tax funds, while requiring cooperation with the state aeronautics commission. It would create a new governmental entity with powers similar to municipal corporations for managing airport facilities and finances.
SF 156, a proposed Wyoming bill, would have required oil and gas operators to negotiate in good faith with mineral owners who are not already under lease or contract before applying for drilling units. This amendment to Wyoming law (W.S. 30-5-109) aimed to directly affect operators and uncontracted mineral owners by establishing a formal negotiation step. The bill did not become law, as it died in committee in February 2023 without further legislative action. It focused on procedural requirements for drilling applications, not on altering mineral rights or financial terms.
HB 75 requires property owners in Wyoming to mark gates and access points with at least 50 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink paint to legally prohibit trespassing. It directly affects landowners (especially those with property along public roads), recreational users like hunters and anglers, and state agencies. The bill specifies that metal fence posts must be fully painted above ground, exempts public road entrances, and mandates the Game and Fish Commission and State Parks Department to include trespassing notice rules in permit materials and develop signs for public road entries. This standardizes property marking to clarify boundaries and reduce accidental trespassing on private land.
HB 158 requires Wyoming public agencies (like cities, towns, and school districts) to provide written explanations for rejecting bids or denying bidders the opportunity to compete for public works contracts. The bill mandates that agencies must send this written response within 10 business days, detailing the qualifications or reasons that led to the rejection. It specifically applies to all public works contracts, including those over $500,000, and ensures transparency in the procurement process. This change modifies existing laws to make written justifications for bid decisions a standard requirement.
HB 246 would require Wyoming to observe Mountain Standard Time year-round, eliminating the state's participation in Daylight Saving Time. The bill repeals previous laws that permitted time changes and establishes Mountain Standard Time as the state's permanent uniform time zone for all government operations and political subdivisions. This change directly affects state agencies, local governments, schools, and businesses across Wyoming by removing the need to adjust clocks in spring and fall. The bill's main provisions would take effect on November 5, 2023, unless it becomes law before that date.
HB 131 creates a legislative task force to study Wyoming's state lands and investment systems. The task force, composed of 7 legislative members and 3 governor-appointed members, will examine the structure and duties of the state loan and investment board and the office of state lands and investments, including grant programs, land leases, and fund management. It must identify governance issues and recommend potential changes to the legislature by 2025. The bill appropriates $50,000 for legislative members' travel and $25,000 for governor-appointed members' expenses, with the task force terminating January 1, 2025. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy changes.
This bill would create an annual tax holiday during the first weekend in August, exempting sales tax on school-related items like clothing (under $100 per item), school supplies (under $50 per item), computers, computer hardware, software, and sports equipment. It excludes expensive items (e.g., computers over $1,500), accessories like jewelry, resale purchases, and rentals. The holiday would run from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday each August, applying to both in-store and layaway purchases made during that window. The bill was introduced in 2023 but died in committee before becoming law.
