This bill repeals restrictions that previously prohibited concealed weapons in government meetings and legislative sessions. It allows Wyoming residents with valid concealed carry permits to carry concealed weapons in those locations, specifically in "any meeting of a governmental entity" and "any meeting of the legislature or a committee thereof." The State Building Commission must create implementing rules within 30 days of the bill's effective date. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, removing existing prohibitions without additional conditions for permit holders.
HB 146 prohibits former Wyoming state legislators from engaging in lobbying for two years after leaving office, with exceptions for lobbying on their own behalf. The bill increases penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist, raising fines from $200 to $5,000 for violations. It applies to legislators leaving office on or after July 1, 2023, and requires registration for any lobbying activity covered under existing rules. The law aims to limit post-office lobbying by former legislators while strengthening registration requirements for all lobbyists.
SF 90 creates the Wyoming Property Tax Relief Authority to provide property tax loans to eligible homeowners. The authority, governed by a 5-member board appointed by the governor, will administer a loan program to help Wyoming residents with primary residences who face increased property tax burdens. Key provisions include authorizing the authority to borrow funds, issue bonds (not state obligations), and require assessment notices to inform homeowners about the loan program. All loan applications will be kept confidential under the Public Records Act.
HB 261 creates a new misdemeanor offense for disturbing peace in health care facilities, applying to individuals who cause unreasonably loud noise, use threatening or abusive language, or engage in violent actions with knowledge they will disturb others. The law specifically covers facilities including hospitals, clinics, and offices of licensed health care providers like doctors, dentists, and nurses. Violations carry penalties of up to 90 days in jail, a $750 fine, or both. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and defines "health care facility" per existing Wyoming law to include all licensed provider settings.
HB 139 would have created a new criminal offense in Wyoming for knowingly making personal information about election officials or their immediate family available online when that information poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety. The bill defined "personal information" to include home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, photos, and details about a person's home or vehicle. This provision specifically targeted doxing (publicly sharing private details to intimidate) as a form of election-related intimidation. The law was intended to take effect on July 1, 2023, but the bill died in committee and did not become law.
Wyoming's SF 145 modifies state budgeting rules to strengthen fiscal stability. It creates new protections for reserve accounts, requiring them to maintain larger balances and making their balances "inviolable" (protected from use). The bill sets a $60 million cap on temporary interfund loans between state funds and adds requirements for certifications before investing reserves. It also changes how funds are withheld from local governments that fail to file required reports and mandates a 5% holdback from community mental health program contracts until performance agreements are signed. These changes directly affect state agencies, local governments, and service providers receiving state funding.
HB 137 prohibits the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) products to anyone under age 21 and bans minors from purchasing or possessing such products. Retailers face fines up to $750 for selling to minors (with escalating penalties for repeat violations), while minors violating the law can be cited for a $50 fine (or community service) and have the offense expunged after payment. The bill includes an exception if sellers reasonably rely on valid ID showing the buyer is 21 or older. It also allows courts to issue temporary sales bans for repeat violations at specific retail locations. Note: This bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.
This constitutional amendment would establish residential real property (homes) as a separate tax class for property valuation, distinct from industrial or other property. It authorizes the legislature to limit annual increases in home property values and create subclasses for primary residences with specific tax exemptions. The change would require voter approval to become part of Wyoming's constitution.
HB 32 reauthorizes a 2.5-mill tax (0.0025% of property value) specifically for adult education programs in Wyoming school districts, requiring renewal votes every five years. It clarifies that school districts and community college districts participating in cooperative educational services agreements cannot exceed a combined 2.5-mill levy across all such agreements. The bill ensures adult education tax renewals follow standardized ballot language and voting procedures outlined in existing law. This directly affects school districts offering adult education and community college districts using cooperative services agreements, with no changes to overall tax limits for other programs.
HB 58 would increase Wyoming's cigarette excise tax from 3 cents to 5.2 cents per cigarette for both wholesalers and consumers. Wholesalers would pay the tax at the point of sale, while consumers would pay it if the wholesaler tax wasn't already collected. The tax increase would take effect July 1, 2023. The bill was introduced in January 2023 but died in committee before becoming law.
HB 182 expands licensing requirements for skill-based amusement games in Wyoming. It requires vendors to license employees directly handling the games ($50 annual fee) and mandates manufacturers to pay a $10,000 initial license fee plus $5,000 annually. The bill also requires manufacturers to certify their games cannot be manually activated or altered by vendors. These changes apply to all operators and manufacturers of such games in Wyoming, with applications reviewed within 90 days. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.
Wyoming's HB 184 creates a Cybersecurity Division within the Department of Enterprise Technology Services to strengthen state government information security. The division, led by a State Chief Information Security Officer, provides technical assistance during security incidents, compiles threat data, and helps all state agencies comply with security policies. It requires agencies to protect their information systems and data through risk assessments, security controls, and regular audits. The division must report annually to the governor and legislature on the effectiveness of the statewide cybersecurity program. This bill directly affects all state agencies responsible for managing information systems and data.
