This bill amends Wyoming tax law to clarify that most real property owned by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission is exempt from property taxes. It specifically exempts property used for wildlife management or employee residences, while requiring a special tax for property used for other purposes (calculated as if it were subject to standard property tax based on fair market value). The changes apply to properties owned by the commission and take effect January 1, 2027, with no impact on taxes assessed before that date. The bill directly affects how the Game and Fish Commission's land and buildings are taxed under state law.
Wyoming's HB 23 requires public school districts to allow students residing in the district (but not enrolled full-time as students) to participate in grades 6-12 extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The bill applies to activities sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association and excludes students under suspension or expulsion. School districts must permit this participation without charging additional fees beyond standard activity costs. The law directly affects non-enrolled resident students and school districts managing these programs.
HB 24 amends Wyoming's timeline for reviewing charter school applications, directly affecting new charter school applicants and local school districts or state bodies acting as authorizers. It requires authorizers to notify applicants within 30 days whether an application is complete, hold a public hearing within 60 days of receiving a complete application, and make a final approval or denial decision within 120 days of receipt. The bill does not change the requirements for community or parental support, but streamlines the review process by setting specific deadlines. This legislation applies to new applications submitted after its effective date.
Wyoming's HB 28 amends the legal definition of "explicit sexual conduct" under the state's child exploitation law. It adds specific examples like bestiality, masturbation, and sadistic/masochistic abuse to the existing definition, clarifying what constitutes the crime. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling child exploitation cases by providing a more detailed standard for charging offenders. The updated definition takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 25 repeals a requirement that students receiving Wyoming's Tomorrow scholarships must maintain continuous enrollment to keep their funding. This change directly affects scholarship recipients by allowing them to pause their education (e.g., for medical reasons, family needs) without losing eligibility. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and removes Section 21-16-1904(c)(iv) from Wyoming law.
HB 26 exempts vehicles owned by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes (Wind River Indian Reservation) from Wyoming's county and state vehicle registration fees. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include tribal government vehicles under the exemption list, which previously covered federal/state/local governments and certain districts. This change applies only to vehicles used for tribal operations, not commercial activity. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects tribal governments' operational costs for their official vehicles.
HB 83 increases penalties for individuals who fail to comply with legislative subpoenas in Wyoming. It raises the maximum fine from $100 to $750 (while keeping the same six-month jail term) for violating subpoena requirements. This bill directly affects witnesses, officials, or others summoned by the Wyoming legislature who refuse to testify or provide documents. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill repeals the expiration date (sunset) for Wyoming's property tax exemption that benefits long-term homeowners, making the exemption permanent. It directly affects homeowners who have owned their primary residence in Wyoming for a specified period, typically 10 or more years under existing law. The key provision removes the scheduled end date for this tax break, ensuring eligible homeowners continue to receive the exemption without needing future legislative action. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies statewide to qualifying properties.
Wyoming's HB 116 prohibits the industrial production of hydrogen by separating water molecules (hydrogen and oxygen atoms) from being considered a "beneficial use" of water under state law. This directly affects companies seeking permits for hydrogen production facilities that rely on molecular water destruction. The bill requires the state engineer to reject such water use applications, with exceptions for wastewater or by-product water use. It applies to all new permit applications filed on or after July 1, 2026, and does not retroactively invalidate existing permits issued before that date.
This bill amends Wyoming law to allow the Secretary of State to directly file verified complaints with the governor against county clerks for violations of the Wyoming Election Code. It specifically adds the Secretary of State as a valid complainant (alongside qualified electors and county commissioners) for removal proceedings targeting county clerks' election-related misconduct. The change clarifies that county clerks can be held accountable through removal actions for election code violations, rather than requiring other parties to initiate the process. This policy change directly affects county clerks' accountability for election administration errors or violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 157 creates a civil lawsuit right for parents if Wyoming state agencies or local governments infringe their parental rights under Wyoming law (specifically W.S. 14-2-206). It removes standard government immunity and waives the typical 2-year notice requirement for filing such claims. Parents who win these lawsuits can recover attorney fees and court costs. The law applies to state agencies and political subdivisions (like school districts) and takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 84 amends Wyoming law to explicitly include submitting a false post-election ballot audit as falsifying election documents. It directly affects election officials or auditors who submit such audits to the secretary of state under existing rules. The key provision adds a new subsection (v) to the falsification statute, making it a violation to submit a false audit report with intent to deceive. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, if enacted.
