This Wyoming bill (SF 64) amends a state law defining "manufacturer" for malt beverages. It specifies that certain regulations governing relationships between malt beverage distributors and manufacturers will not apply to small manufacturers producing fewer than 50,000 barrels annually. The change directly affects small craft breweries and malt beverage producers below this production threshold, exempting them from specific distributor-related rules under Wyoming law. The bill was introduced in 2022 but died in committee and never took effect.
This bill clarifies the process for mineral producers to pay monthly ad valorem taxes (taxes based on the value of minerals produced) in Wyoming. It specifies that producers must report production by the 25th of the second month after production and pay taxes by the 25th of the third month, with payments calculated using the previous year's county mill levy rate. Funds collected are distributed monthly by the state department to county treasurers, who then allocate them to local taxing entities based on the production year. The changes take effect July 1, 2023, and apply to all mineral and mine producers in the state.
This Wyoming bill (SF 119, "Defend the Guard Act") prohibits deploying Wyoming National Guard members to active combat roles without a formal U.S. Congress declaration of war. It directly affects all Wyoming National Guard members and requires the governor to prevent such deployments. The law allows domestic deployments under Title 32 for civil support missions within the U.S. but mandates that combat deployments only occur after a congressional war declaration or specific constitutional authorization (enforcing laws, repelling invasion, or suppressing insurrection). The bill became effective July 1, 2023.
HB 95, the "Working Animal Protection Act," prohibits Wyoming cities, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing local ordinances that ban, terminate, or unduly restrict the use of "working animals" in lawful commerce or animal enterprises. It directly affects local governments and individuals using animals for specific duties like ranching, transportation, tourism, or human service (excluding food/fiber animals like cattle or chickens). Key provisions define "working animal" broadly but explicitly exclude livestock raised for food/fiber, and allow local zoning, public health, and safety rules to remain in effect. The law supersedes conflicting local policies but does not override state animal care or public safety laws. It became effective July 1, 2023.
This Wyoming bill amends burial-transit permit rules to allow temporary permits for two specific scenarios: (1) removing bodies across state lines for organ/bone/skin donation (requiring return for final disposition), and (2) moving bodies for coroner examinations (also requiring return). It updates the definition of "final disposition" to include newer methods like alkaline hydrolysis and clarifies that permits require electronic death certificates and compliance with health regulations. The changes directly affect funeral directors, coroners, and medical donation programs by streamlining interstate movement for these limited purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
This constitutional amendment (SJ 12) would create a separate property class for residential real estate in Wyoming’s tax system. It freezes the valuation of most residential property as of January 1, 2019 (or construction cost for homes built after 2019), requiring property taxes to be based on that fixed value until an addition/improvement is made or ownership transfers after 2025. The amendment would also allow the legislature to adjust this base value for inflation. It requires voter approval to become part of Wyoming’s constitution.
This bill requires Wyoming-based limited liability companies (LLCs) and foreign LLCs authorized to operate in Wyoming to file annual reports with the Secretary of State. The reports must include details on the company's Wyoming assets, property, and capital, plus the identity and contact information of any "beneficial owner" (defined as someone owning 50% or more of the company's profit interests). Companies must also pay an annual license fee of $60 or 0.0002% of reported assets, whichever is greater. The bill applies directly to all LLCs operating in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2023.
HB 122 establishes a licensing system for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) in Wyoming, directly affecting AAs seeking to practice and supervising anesthesiologists. The bill requires AAs to graduate from approved programs, pass national certification exams, and work under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who must be physically present during procedures. Key provisions define the AA's scope of practice - including performing preoperative evaluations, airway management, administering anesthesia, and managing medications - all while working within the supervising anesthesiologist's approved scope and requiring their co-signature within 24 hours. This creates formal requirements for licensure, supervision, and practice boundaries, replacing the previous unregulated status for AAs in the state.
SF 161 repeals a Wyoming law (W.S. 20-7-101) that allowed grandparents to seek court-ordered visitation with a child even when fit parents objected. The bill aims to resolve conflicts between parental rights (protected under W.S. 14-2-206) and grandparents' visitation rights, ensuring parental decisions about their child’s care take priority. It also amends adoption procedures to require affidavits about existing visitation rights and specifies that the repeal does not affect grandparents’ visitation rights granted before the law takes effect. This directly affects parents making custody decisions and grandparents seeking visitation against parental wishes.
SF 170 amends Wyoming's water rights law to explicitly recognize storing water for drought contingency or interstate water compact compliance as a beneficial use. This change directly affects water rights holders (including agricultural, municipal, and industrial users) who manage stored water for drought planning or to meet obligations under interstate water agreements. The key provision adds these storage purposes to the legal definition of "beneficial use," allowing such storage to be counted under existing water rights without requiring new permits. This clarifies that water stored for these purposes qualifies as a legitimate use under Wyoming's water management system, effective July 1, 2023.
HB 278 requires Wyoming's game and fish department, state lands office, and state parks department to update digital maps showing public access points (like trails, roads, and fishing/hunting water access) on state-owned lands. The maps must include boundaries, seasonal restrictions, and vehicle type limits for all relevant easements, excluding pipelines, short-term (≤3-year) easements, and transportation department easements. These updated maps must be publicly available by January 1, 2025, and refreshed annually. The bill directly affects state agencies managing public access and outdoor recreation resources.
SF 46 adjusts how Wyoming community colleges receive state funding to account for inflation. It allows the Community College Commission to request an external cost adjustment every two years starting in 2024, reflecting inflation in fixed and variable operational costs. The bill requires the Commission to submit specific inflation data, report on tuition/fee changes, and ensure any additional funding is distributed proportionally based on existing allocation formulas. This directly affects Wyoming's community colleges by creating a formal process to seek funding increases tied to rising costs.
