HB 142 provides supplemental funding for K-12 school construction and maintenance projects in Wyoming for fiscal years 2025-2026. It allocates $241 million for new school buildings and renovations (e.g., Laramie Elementary School #2, Goshen High School), $55 million for major facility maintenance (e.g., Teton High School vocational building), and $41 million for transportation facilities, with additional funds for demolition and unanticipated costs. The bill directs the School Facilities Commission to manage these funds, requiring project schedules to align with the state budget while allowing flexibility for the construction department. It also reallocates $13.4 million in unused funds from previous appropriations to avoid fiscal waste. The bill directly affects Wyoming school districts by enabling specific facility upgrades and new construction.
HB 26 requires all children under age two (or who haven't reached the weight/height limit specified by their car seat's manufacturer) to ride in a rear-facing child safety restraint system in Wyoming vehicles. It specifically prohibits placing rear-facing car seats in front of active airbags and clarifies that children may only ride in the front seat under limited circumstances (e.g., vehicles with only one row of seats or when rear seats are occupied by other children). The law applies to all drivers transporting young children and takes effect July 1, 2025. This policy change updates existing safety requirements to align with current child passenger safety guidelines.
HB 71 requires Wyoming insurance businesses to report suspected insurance fraud to the state commissioner within 60 days of discovery. It also mandates full cooperation with fraud investigations and grants immunity from civil lawsuits for good-faith reporting or cooperation (without malice). The bill directly affects insurance companies, brokers, and agents operating in Wyoming, defining fraud as knowingly submitting false information in applications or claims. Key provisions include new reporting deadlines, investigation cooperation rules, and protections against lawsuits for reporting, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 252 repeals a three-year tax exemption for new wind energy production in Wyoming, effective immediately upon enactment. It directly affects new wind energy projects by removing a tax break previously available for the first three years of operation. However, wind turbines that began generating electricity for sale before the bill's effective date will retain the exemption under the repealed provision. The bill makes no changes to existing wind energy operations but alters tax treatment for future projects.
HB 325, the "Industrial Power Consumption Freedom Act," allows large-scale industrial power users in Wyoming (defined as those with annual demand of at least 1 megawatt-hour) to directly purchase electricity from any provider, not just their local utility. Key provisions require electricity to be consumed solely on-site for commercial/industrial use, prohibit resale to other customers, and mandate that providers notify the state commission about agreements. The bill exempts these direct procurement arrangements from standard utility rate regulation and service territory rules, though transmission costs for other customers remain regulated. This policy change aims to give large industrial facilities more flexibility in sourcing power while maintaining service obligations for other utility customers.
HB 112 requires county commissioners to approve new industrial facilities before construction begins, directly affecting developers of such projects. The bill amends state law to mandate a public vote by the county commission (unless other rules already apply) for facilities needing a permit under this chapter. It also directs the Industrial Siting Council to create implementing rules and takes effect immediately upon becoming law. This changes the permitting process by adding a county-level approval step for industrial siting projects.
HB 326 appropriates $79 million from Wyoming's general fund to remodel the state veterans' home in Buffalo, Wyoming. The bill specifies that federal funds received for veterans' home facilities must first replace general fund spending and then reduce the state appropriation dollar-for-dollar. It sets a total project cost cap of $103.85 million, covering the $79 million state appropriation plus other authorized funds (including federal funds and prior appropriations). The remodeling project must be completed within the allocated budget, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund upon completion.
HB 163 prohibits employers in Wyoming from hiring individuals who are unlawfully present in the U.S. or not authorized to work under federal law. It imposes misdemeanor penalties of $1,000 for a first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses. The bill exempts workers with valid visas or those lawfully renewing status under federal guidelines, and each violation counts as a separate offense. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 114 requires that during public health emergencies, any state order allowing certain businesses to remain open must also permit religious assemblies (including places of worship, churches, and gatherings in private homes or public spaces) to continue under identical conditions. It directly affects religious organizations and their ability to hold services during emergency closures. The bill allows individuals harmed by violations to sue for damages, injunctions, or attorney fees, and amends state law to ensure government entities can be held accountable for denying these exemptions. This creates a concrete legal mechanism to protect religious gatherings during emergencies, aligning their access with business exemptions.
HB 253 revises Wyoming's construction lien law by changing the timing for preliminary notice requirements. It requires subcontractors and material suppliers to send a notice within 30 days of starting work on a project (before final payment to the general contractor) to preserve their lien rights. Failure to send this notice will bar lien claims, except when the general contractor failed to provide required information under §29-2-113. The bill affects contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers working on construction projects in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill prohibits Wyoming officials from enforcing any mask, vaccine, or testing requirements related to COVID-19 or its variants based on guidance from the CDC or WHO. It declares these federal and international health organizations have no jurisdiction in Wyoming for such mandates. The law directly affects Wyoming residents, healthcare providers, and state/local officials who might otherwise comply with CDC/WHO recommendations. It does not alter state public health authority or address health measures unrelated to COVID-19.
HB 247 would require Wyoming cities or towns to obtain written approval from a simple majority of landowners (excluding public streets and tax-exempt property) before annexing their land. It mandates specific notice requirements to landowners and adjacent property owners, and requires cities to provide cost estimates for infrastructure improvements with a 4% cap on actual costs. The bill also extends the appeal period for annexation disputes from 60 to 120 days and modifies notice rules for public hearings. These changes directly affect landowners in annexation zones, local governments, and public utilities.
