Wyoming's HB 302 creates legal immunity for government entities when public employees use or fail to use firearms while performing official duties. It amends two statutes (W.S. 1-39-104 and W.S. 21-3-132) to state that governmental entities cannot be held liable for tort claims arising solely from such firearm-related actions. This applies to all public employees, including school district staff carrying firearms on school property as permitted by law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change existing firearm laws or create new obligations for employees.
HB 152 requires blood donors in Wyoming to disclose if they've received a COVID-19 or mRNA vaccine. Blood from vaccinated donors must be clearly labeled on packaging and related paperwork. Patients receiving blood transfusions (in non-emergency situations) can request blood from unvaccinated donors if available at their facility. The bill defines key terms like "mRNA vaccine" and directs the state health department to create implementing rules. It does not change blood safety standards but adds disclosure and labeling requirements for donor vaccination status.
HB 287 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully use self-defense in criminal cases and are found not guilty, have charges dismissed, or are released from prosecution. It also mandates courts to automatically expunge all related criminal records in these cases, removing arrest and prosecution history from public records. The bill directly affects people facing criminal charges who defend themselves, streamlining access to reimbursement and record removal through simplified court petitions with no filing fees.
HB 283 amends Wyoming's Second Amendment Protection Act to prohibit state and local governments from using state funds or personnel to enforce federal firearm regulations that infringe on Second Amendment rights. It creates a $50,000 civil penalty per violation for agencies that enforce or assist in enforcing such federal laws, including for employees who knowingly participate in federal firearm enforcement after July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects Wyoming government agencies, law enforcement, and public officers who might enforce federal firearm rules. Key provisions define "this act," establish liability for violations, and allow civil lawsuits by affected citizens with no sovereign immunity defense.
HB 155 requires hospitals, health care clinics, and long-term care facilities receiving state funds to report monthly workplace violence incidents starting August 2025. Facilities must track specific details including the perpetrator's identity (e.g., patient, staff, or visitor), contributing factors (like mental health issues or long wait times), incident types (physical assault, threats, or discrimination), victim job roles, and exact locations. The Department of Workforce Services will compile these reports and submit an annual summary to a legislative committee by October 2026. This bill creates a standardized data collection system to identify patterns and inform future safety measures, without mandating new workplace safety standards.
HB 158 requires Wyoming's legislature to install an electronic voting system in both chambers of the state capitol. It appropriates $250,000 from the general fund specifically for planning, purchasing, and installing devices at each legislator's desk to cast votes electronically, with systems required to display results in chambers and online. The bill mandates security measures to ensure votes are cast by individual legislators and specifies that any additional system functions must fit within the budget. The funds must be spent by June 30, 2026, and unspent money reverts to the state. This bill directly affects Wyoming legislators and their voting process, with no policy changes beyond modernizing the voting mechanism.
HB 58 requires the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners to provide written notice to county commissioners at least 60 days before approving new mineral leases or lease extensions on state lands or state school lands. County commissioners must then be given an opportunity to submit public comments on the proposed lease in writing or at a meeting. The bill applies only to new leases and extensions starting on its effective date, leaving existing leases unaffected. This change aims to increase local government involvement in mineral leasing decisions.
HB 297 allocates $143.26 million in state funds for wildfire recovery in Wyoming, directly affecting state agencies, private landowners, and communities. It provides $1 million for wildfire suppression contingency, $30 million for emergency fire accounts, and $100 million for restoring vegetation and habitats on private/state lands, plus $10 million for watershed infrastructure repairs. The bill creates a steering committee (with legislative, agency, and industry members) to review grant applications and recommend fund use, bypassing standard grant processes for these wildfire-related projects. All funds are sourced from the general fund, with repayment provisions for prior borrowing and a 2026 termination date for the committee.
HB 145 requires absentee voters in Wyoming to include specific identification information on a designated envelope inside their ballot package. Voters must provide either their Wyoming driver's license number, Wyoming ID card number, or the last four digits of their social security number. This change applies to all absentee ballots and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects voters who choose absentee voting by adding a new step for verifying identity when returning ballots.
Wyoming's HB 241, the Telehealth Freedom Act, allows licensed healthcare providers from other states to offer telehealth services to Wyoming residents without needing a Wyoming license. This applies to providers physically located outside Wyoming who notify the relevant licensing board before starting services (unless an established patient relationship exists). The bill defines telehealth as electronic medical communication between a provider and patient in different locations and modifies existing licensing statutes to include this exception. It directly affects out-of-state healthcare professionals seeking to serve Wyoming patients remotely and expands access to telehealth services for residents.
HJ 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment to change Wyoming's judicial selection process. It would replace the current system - where judges are appointed by the governor from a list by a judicial nominating commission and then face retention votes - with direct elections. Under this amendment, justices and judges would run for re-election at general elections (instead of retention votes) to serve new terms, and the judicial nominating commission would be abolished. This change would apply to all Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges, affecting how judicial offices are filled and maintained. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the Wyoming Constitution.
HB 185 requires Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to provide live video broadcasts of specific public legislative meetings, including committee sessions like the joint appropriations committee, and make recordings available on the legislature's website. This applies to meetings staffed by the Legislative Service Office but excludes executive sessions and situations where broadcasting isn't reasonably possible. The bill clarifies that video recordings won't replace official written minutes and won't delay meetings or invalidate actions if broadcasting fails. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
