HB 102 amends Wyoming's election law to change how losing candidates request vote recounts. It requires candidates seeking a recount to submit an affidavit with specific facts proving "probable cause" of fraud or error, rather than a general claim. If the affidavit lacks sufficient detail, the request is denied, and candidates may appeal the denial to a court. The bill directly affects losing candidates in elections who wish to challenge results through a recount process. It takes effect July 1, 2023.
This proposed constitutional amendment (SJ 10) seeks to remove the Wyoming Legislature's authority to set "reasonable and necessary restrictions" on individuals' rights to make healthcare decisions and direct payment for care. It would repeal Article 1, Section 38(c) of the Wyoming Constitution, which currently allows the legislature to define such restrictions. The amendment would directly affect all Wyoming residents by eliminating legislative power to limit personal healthcare choices and payment decisions. If approved, it would change the constitutional framework governing healthcare autonomy, though it does not create new rights - it removes existing legislative authority to impose restrictions.
HB 268 updates Wyoming's Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act to modernize rules for agreements where consumers pay to eventually own items (like furniture or electronics). It requires merchants to provide clear digital disclosures - such as termination rights and mandatory warnings about optional damage waivers - in prominent formats (10pt bold or boxed text), and allows digital agreements for online transactions. The bill also mandates separate business licenses for physical locations versus online operations and grants regulators authority to inspect records and impose fines up to $2,500 per violation. These changes directly affect consumers (by improving transparency) and merchants (by standardizing disclosures and licensing).
This bill (SF 85) restructures how Wyoming allocates school-related funds by eliminating the "school major maintenance subaccount" within the strategic investments account and modifying revenue distribution rules. It increases the percentage of certain mineral royalty revenues (from 44.8% to 47.5%) distributed to the public school foundation program, while adjusting how federal lease bonus payments are split - allocating 40% to public schools and 10% (up to $1.6M annually) to community colleges. These changes directly affect public schools, community colleges, and the state treasurer’s handling of funds from school lands, mineral royalties, and federal leases. The bill also clarifies transfer timing between accounts like the school capital construction fund and the public school foundation program.
This bill creates a new "tavern and entertainment liquor license" for establishments that primarily serve food and entertainment, not alcohol. To qualify, at least 60% of an establishment's revenue must come from food services, entertainment, or a combination of both - not alcohol sales. Licensees must submit annual sales reports separating food/entertainment revenue from alcohol sales, pay an annual fee of $1,500-$10,500, and cannot transfer the license or sell alcohol for off-premises consumption. The license applies to venues defined as "tavern and entertainment establishments" under Wyoming law, requiring local licensing authorities to enforce these revenue and operational rules.
SF 165 creates a mental health telehealth pilot program for Wyoming public school students in grades K-12. It authorizes the Department of Education to contract with a telehealth provider to offer free counseling services starting January 1, 2024, using $250,000 in state funding. The bill requires strict confidentiality for student participation and mandates a report to legislative committees by June 2025 on program implementation. The program will end when funds are exhausted or June 30, 2027, whichever comes first. This directly affects students by providing accessible mental health support within their schools.
HB 282 created Wyoming's Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Initiative and a new board to strengthen the state's critical systems against prolonged disruptions like extended power outages. The bill targeted infrastructure including water, transportation, electrical grids, oil/gas facilities, and telecommunications, requiring systems to remain functional during "grid-down events" (months-long outages). The appointed board - comprising Homeland Security, utilities, oil/gas, telecom, and defense representatives - would coordinate with federal programs (like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) to adopt defense technologies, ensure water/wastewater systems operate without power, and leverage federal funding for resilience upgrades. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and never became law.
This Wyoming bill (SF 177) would have repealed a legal exception allowing educational institutions and libraries to possess materials without facing charges for "promoting obscenity." It specifically targeted Section 6-4-302(c)(ii) of Wyoming law, which previously exempted such materials from the obscenity offense. The repeal would have meant that educational and library materials could no longer automatically avoid being classified as promoting obscenity under state law. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and never became law.
This bill (SF 27) amends Wyoming law to explicitly allow the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Northern Arapaho Tribe to apply for participation in state emergency insect management programs. It updates the application process to include these tribes directly, alongside state agencies and political subdivisions, by requiring applications to be filed with the Department of Agriculture. The tribes would need to demonstrate compliance with established standards for these programs. The bill was designed to ensure tribal inclusion in existing pest control efforts, though it died in committee in 2023 and never became law.
Wyoming's SF 126 creates new exemptions from barber and cosmetology licensing requirements for specific services. It exempts professionals performing "blow dry styling," "natural hair braiding," "eyelash extension application," "makeup application," and "threading" from standard licensing, as long as these services are provided for cosmetic purposes only (not medical treatment). The bill defines each exempt service clearly - like specifying blow dry styling cannot involve hair cutting or chemical treatments - and separates these from full cosmetology practice. This directly affects hair stylists, braiders, and makeup artists who can now offer these specific services without obtaining a full cosmetology or barber license.
HB 68 requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in marked school zone crosswalks. It allows schools to install video systems to monitor compliance, operating only during school hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days). If a driver’s identity is unknown, the vehicle’s registered owner faces a $195 fine (not counted as a moving violation), and video evidence can be used in court but must be deleted after one year. The bill affects drivers in school zones and vehicle owners, with specific protections for owners who didn’t consent to the driver or sold the vehicle before the violation. It became law effective July 1, 2023, though it died in committee before passing.
HB 48 allocates $40 million from Wyoming's general fund to create two grant programs focused on active transportation and recreation. Ninety percent of the funds (for the Wyoming Department of Transportation) supports projects like bike paths, school pedestrian routes, sidewalks, and walkable downtown corridors, while ten percent (for the Department of State Parks) funds natural surface trails for hiking and horseback riding. All projects require a 20% local match from applicants and must be administered by state agencies by June 30, 2025. The bill directly affects local governments, school districts, and community organizations seeking to improve safe, non-motorized travel infrastructure.
