HB 210 prohibits individuals or businesses from charging fees for advising or assisting veterans with benefits claims, except as permitted under federal law. It requires all service providers to use written agreements with specific disclosures - clearly stating they are not affiliated with the VA or state veterans' agencies - and to avoid guaranteeing specific benefits. The bill mandates that fees comply with federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 14.636) and bans excessive charges, while requiring providers to inform veterans about free alternatives like county veterans' service offices. This law applies to new agreements starting July 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans seeking benefits help and the organizations offering such services.
This Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 10) clarifies that taxation and spending authority belongs solely to the state legislature and governor (executive branch), not the courts. It allows the legislature to delegate local taxing power to counties/cities (with elected officials serving ≤4-year terms) and delegate routine debt payments to the executive branch, with courts enforcing these tasks. For public school funding, it requires the legislature to create a judicially reviewable funding formula, but the appropriation amount itself cannot be challenged in court. If funding falls short, school spending would be reduced uniformly across all districts. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect.
HB 263 creates a state program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming cities, towns, and special districts for improvements to public water and wastewater systems. The program covers upfront planning costs, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and regional system integration, with eligibility requiring projects to align with existing state water programs or charge consumer rates. Funding comes from borrowing up to $50 million annually from the legislative stabilization reserve, to be repaid using future revenue distributions. The State Loan and Investment Board administers applications, reviews projects based on population, repayment ability, and system efficiency, and reports annually to legislative committees. This directly affects local governments managing community water infrastructure.
This bill (SF 128) removes the sales tax on electricity sold by public utilities for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects all electricity consumers, including households and businesses, by eliminating a tax they currently pay on their electricity bills. The key mechanism is amending Wyoming’s tax code (W.S. 39-15-103 and 39-15-105) to create a specific exemption for electricity sales. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill creates a "Residential Property Tax Reduction Account" to fund property tax refunds for Wyoming homeowners. It directly affects primary residence owners who paid property taxes in the prior year, capping refunds at $13,300 per household. Key mechanisms include funding the account from unappropriated general fund balances (exceeding 5% of projected receipts) and mineral trust earnings, with refunds paid proportionally if funds are insufficient. Refunds will begin for 2025 taxes in 2026, with even years capped at half the account balance and odd years using the full balance. The program defines "primary residence" as where a homeowner lived at least six months of the tax year.
HB 292 requires the governor to recommend setting aside 10% of estimated general fund revenue for the next two-year budget period into a dedicated budget reserve account. At the end of each biennium, any unspent general fund money (after covering expenses) is automatically transferred to this reserve. The reserve funds are invested by the state treasurer, with earnings returned to the general fund, and cannot expire. Spending from the reserve requires a new legislative appropriation, ensuring the state maintains a financial buffer for future budget needs.
Wyoming's HB 197 limits fees that local governments can charge developers to fund affordable or workforce housing. It caps these fees at 4% of construction costs (or less based on impact studies), exempts the first 3,000 square feet of single-family homes and 1,750 square feet of multi-family units, and prohibits fees for agricultural land subdivisions. Developers must receive written fee notices within 30 days and can request a detailed, individualized explanation of the fee calculation from local authorities. The law applies to all cities, towns, and counties issuing land use permits for residential or commercial projects.
This constitutional amendment shifts primary responsibility for building public school facilities to local school districts, requiring voter approval for capital projects. It mandates state funding to equalize costs so districts pay no more than a statewide average tax burden (based on per-person valuation), using mechanisms like statewide mill levies. The state may also provide additional funds to address financial hardships for school districts. This change replaces a system previously required by a 2001 court ruling that placed full responsibility on the state, which relied on declining coal lease revenue.
This Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 2) demands that the U.S. Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming's boundaries - currently covering over 46% of the state's surface and 69% of its subsurface resources - to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional right to "equal footing" as a state admitted to the Union. It cites the state's 1890 admission act and the U.S. Constitution's Admissions and Property Clauses, arguing that continued federal control violates Wyoming's sovereignty. The resolution specifically asks Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 2025, proposes that transferred lands become state public lands, and offers to negotiate cession of lands deemed nationally significant. As a non-binding resolution, it serves as a formal request to Congress, not a legislative action with immediate effect.
This bill (SF 185) requires Wyoming public entities (like cities, counties, school districts, and the state) to sell government-owned property not used for "governmental purposes" after 10 consecutive years of non-use, with a deadline of January 1, 2027. It defines "governmental purpose" to include health/safety facilities, education, infrastructure, and administrative buildings, but explicitly excludes recreational properties (like campgrounds and movie theaters), leased commercial spaces, and idle land. Property required by law (such as state lands managed by the Board of Land Commissioners) is exempt from this requirement. The law aims to ensure government assets are used for public services or sold, reducing unused public holdings.
Wyoming's SF 150 creates a property tax exemption for real estate and equipment (like buildings and training tools) used exclusively by for-profit trade schools for educational purposes in the state. To qualify, schools must be registered in Wyoming, located within the state, offer career-focused training aligned with workforce needs, and maintain national accreditation. The exemption applies only to property used for teaching - commercial uses like retail space don't qualify - and requires annual reporting to the state. Schools must apply for the exemption, which lasts five years and requires renewal before expiration. This policy aims to support workforce development by reducing operating costs for qualifying institutions.
This bill revises Wyoming's net metering rules to distinguish between existing and new small solar/wind energy systems. It requires utilities to compensate *new* small customer-generators (systems operational after January 1, 2026) under a compensation system established by the Public Service Commission, while preserving current rules for *existing* systems (operational before December 31, 2025). Cooperatives must adopt new rates for new generators by January 1, 2026, and file them with the Commission. The bill also changes annual credit rollovers, requiring unused credits to be sold to utilities at their avoided cost rate. These changes directly affect residential and small business energy producers installing new systems after 2025.
