Wyoming's SF 20 requires state and local government entities (excluding law enforcement and judicial branches) to adopt policies governing how they collect, secure, and use residents' personal data. The bill prohibits selling or transferring personal data without explicit consent, allows limited transfers to other government entities or contracted service providers (with data protection requirements), and mandates that residents can request copies of their data or challenge inaccuracies within 60 days. It defines key terms like "personal data" (information linked to identifiable individuals) and "deidentified data" (data that cannot be traced back to a person), while clarifying that existing laws like HIPAA and public records access remain unaffected. This bill directly affects all Wyoming government agencies handling resident data and establishes new transparency and privacy standards for their operations.
This bill allows hunters who have shot a black bear to use one leashed blood-trailing dog to track and recover the animal within 72 hours of the shot. It directly affects hunters who harvest black bears in Wyoming, permitting this specific tracking method under defined conditions. The key provision requires the dog to remain leashed and limits tracking to wounded or killed bears within the 72-hour window. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
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.
This bill reconstitutes Wyoming's Office of Homeland Security as the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, effective July 1, 2026. It transfers all assets, unexpended funds, staff positions, and duties from the governor's office to the new department, while preserving existing contracts and obligations. The department must report the transfer to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by October 1, 2026. This structural change affects state government operations by centralizing homeland security under a dedicated department rather than the governor's office, with no immediate impact on public services or funding levels.
This bill appropriates $26.1 million from Wyoming's general fund to cover the operational costs of the state legislature through June 2028. It directly funds salaries for legislative staff and lawmakers, travel expenses (including per diem for in-state and out-of-state meetings), office supplies, technology, and other administrative needs. Key provisions include allowing the Management Council to shift funds between categories as needed, permitting unspent funds from prior budgets to carry forward for K-12 education support and equipment replacement, and creating a new $34,000 line item to cover mileage, per diem, and daily salary compensation for legislators attending training or interim committee meetings after the 2026 election. The bill ensures ongoing funding for legislative operations while adding specific flexibility for budget management and new legislator support.
This Wyoming bill (SF 53) requires high school athletes to maintain "amateur status" to compete in school-sanctioned sports, directly affecting student-athletes in Wyoming public high schools. It prohibits athletes from receiving money, prizes exceeding association limits, or monetizing their name/image/likeness for competition, with key exceptions including family support payments, necessary travel expenses, and scholarships paid directly to colleges after graduation. Violating these rules results in loss of eligibility for the sport. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and aims to align with national amateurism standards for high school athletics.
This bill creates a program offering Wyoming National Guard members up to $5,000 to encourage reenlistment or extension of service for at least three years. The Wyoming Military Department will administer the program, with annual reports required starting November 1, 2026, detailing participation, bonus amounts, and changes in Guard membership. It is funded by a $1 million state appropriation from the general fund, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with unspent funds reverting at the end of that period. The program directly affects eligible Wyoming National Guard members who meet reenlistment criteria.
