HB 304 prohibits trespassing on state-leased cultivated cropland for hunting or fishing without authorization from the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners. It directly affects individuals who enter such land without permission for recreational hunting or fishing activities. The bill adds a new violation to existing law, making this trespass a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $750, up to six months in jail, or both, plus restitution for damages. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 341 establishes Wyoming's Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program to provide food benefits to eligible children during summer months when school is not in session. The Department of Family Services will administer the program using the federal EBT system, leveraging data from the National School Lunch Program to identify qualifying households. It authorizes $1.14 million in state funds and $1.14 million in federal funds for administrative costs through June 2027. This ensures continued access to nutrition assistance for children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
HB 179 transfers a 28.94-acre parcel of land in Fremont County (previously held by the Department of Health for the Wyoming State Training School) to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The bill authorizes the Department of Health to convey the surface rights without cost, except for survey, title insurance, and closing costs paid by the DOT. The remaining portion of the parcel will stay with the Department of Health for future transfer to a municipality for residential housing. This is a procedural land transfer bill with no new policy provisions, affecting only the specific land parcel and the two state departments involved.
This bill repeals a state tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as cigars and smokeless tobacco. It directly affects businesses that sell these non-cigarette tobacco products by removing their tax obligation and eliminating a requirement to dispose of confiscated cigarettes. The bill also amends definitions related to "cigarettes" and "wholesalers" in Wyoming's tax code and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025. These changes simplify tax compliance for affected businesses without altering the existing cigarette tax.
HB 170 clarifies when documents filed by nonprofit corporations and statutory trusts in Wyoming become effective. It amends two sections of Wyoming law to specify that documents are effective at the time they are received for filing, as shown by the secretary of state's endorsement date and time on the original document. This procedural change directly affects nonprofit organizations and statutory trusts that file documents with the state. The bill does not alter substantive requirements but updates the legal language to remove ambiguity about effective dates. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
SF 76 requires Wyoming property transfers involving "prohibited foreign parties" near critical infrastructure to undergo review and approval by the Office of Homeland Security. It directly affects foreign entities seeking to buy or sell real estate within designated critical infrastructure zones, mandating detailed applications about property use, ownership, and proximity. The bill establishes a 180-day review process (extendable to 270 days) during which officials assess security risks, proximity to infrastructure, and potential impacts on state security. Exceptions apply for resident aliens, and approved transactions require a formal approval letter, while denied applications must be documented in writing.
HB 107 creates the Wyoming Generational Investment Account, a permanent state trust fund designed to manage long-term investments of state funds. Starting July 1, 2025, the state must transfer $100 million annually from the legislative stabilization reserve into this account, with investment earnings from each transfer becoming available for the general fund 14 years later. The account must be invested per specific risk guidelines (85% private equity, 15% private credit), prohibiting withdrawals of principal or earnings for 14 years. The state treasurer must report annually on investments and projected earnings to legislative committees. This bill directly affects state financial management, not individual citizens or businesses.
This bill authorizes Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission to set hunting license application fees within specified limits: $5-$20 for residents and $15-$75 for non-residents. It removes a requirement that 25% of collected fees be reserved for property damage compensation, allowing the commission to manage those funds flexibly. The commission must establish specific fee rules by July 1, 2025, to implement these changes. The policy affects all hunters applying for licenses and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 143 increases Wyoming's grant for the LaPrele Dam rehabilitation project from $30 million to $90 million, with the state covering up to 100% of actual development costs. The bill transfers $60 million from the legislative stabilization reserve account to the water development account II to fund this project. It directly affects the dam's sponsor (likely a state agency or local entity managing the project) by providing additional funding for design and construction. The total project budget remains $182 million, with unspent funds reverting to the legislative stabilization reserve by July 1, 2032.
HB 140, the Continuity of Permitting Act, ensures that building permit and land use applications pending at the time a county annexes land into a city or town remain under the county's handling until they are approved or denied. After a decision is made, jurisdiction transfers to the newly annexed city or town. This directly affects property owners, developers, and local governments with pending applications during annexation events. The law applies to all such applications filed on or after July 1, 2025, preventing delays or confusion during the transition.
SF 35 increases Wyoming's maximum liability limits for government claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. It raises the cap from $250,000 to $500,000 per claimant for a single incident, and from $500,000 to $1,000,000 for all claims arising from one occurrence. This affects government entities (like cities or counties) and individuals filing claims against them, as it sets higher limits on how much the government must pay for certain claims. The changes apply to claims based on incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2025.
HB 257 establishes a formal apprenticeship program for aspiring barbers in Wyoming, directly affecting apprentices, licensed barbers who supervise them, and the Barber Examiners Board. The bill requires apprentices to complete 1,600 hours of training (1-2 years), including 36 hours of safety and sanitation training, hold a high school diploma, pay a registration fee, and pass an exam to qualify for a barber license. Licensed barbers may supervise no more than two apprentices at a time in a licensed barbershop. The program takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires the Board to create implementing rules.
