This bill requires water and sewer districts serving 1,000 or more service connections to hold board member elections during statewide general elections starting January 1, 2024. It applies only to larger districts (those with 1,000+ connections), not smaller ones. The law aligns district elections with existing general election cycles to reduce administrative costs and voter confusion. Districts must adjust term lengths to maintain staggered board service periods as required by existing rules.
SF 84 creates refunds for Wyoming coal and oil/gas producers when federal royalty rates increase. Starting January 1, 2023, producers of coal (surface/underground) and oil/gas from federal land can apply annually for refunds equal to 75% of the increased federal royalty value they paid, after accounting for Wyoming’s share. The refund amount is capped at the producer’s total annual severance tax liability for that resource. Funds for these refunds come from a dedicated state account, with annual reporting to the legislature required.
Wyoming's SF 36 (Pharmacy Benefit Managers Act Enhancements) regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to ensure fair reimbursement for pharmacies. It requires PBMs to report quarterly on drug reimbursement appeals, prohibits retroactive claim denials or fees like point-of-sale charges, and mandates that pharmacies receive reimbursement at least equal to the national average drug cost (or wholesale cost if unavailable). The bill also bans PBMs from basing payments on patient outcomes without pharmacy agreement, prevents unfair network accreditation requirements, and protects pharmacies from sudden contract changes or retaliation. These provisions directly affect pharmacies and PBMs operating in Wyoming's healthcare system.
This Wyoming bill (SF 76) requires financial institutions (like banks and broker-dealers) to report suspected financial exploitation of vulnerable adults - defined as adults aged 18+ with impaired capacity - to the Department of Family Services within 5 business days. It mandates internal policies for staff to report exploitation and allows institutions to temporarily block transactions related to suspected cases for up to 30 days if requested by authorities. The bill also permits notifying third parties (e.g., family members) about suspected exploitation, unless the third party is suspected of exploitation themselves. These provisions directly affect vulnerable adults, financial institutions, and the Department of Family Services.
This bill, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges in Wyoming to designate athletic teams based on students' biological sex at birth, as recorded on their birth certificates. It prohibits biological males from participating on teams designated for females, women, or girls, and mandates that schools must clearly label teams as male, female, or coed. The law also allows students denied athletic opportunities due to violations, or those facing retaliation for reporting issues, to pursue legal action for damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. Schools must implement specific rules by August 15, 2022, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2022.
HB 85 creates a new felony offense for pregnant individuals who knowingly use methamphetamine or certain narcotics (like heroin or fentanyl) without a prescription from a healthcare provider. It directly affects pregnant people using these substances without medical authorization, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically targets non-prescribed use of Schedule I/II controlled substances during pregnancy, framing it as endangering the unborn child, and takes effect July 1, 2022. The bill does not address medical treatment or addiction support, focusing solely on criminal penalties for non-prescribed substance use.
HB 78 requires public entities in Wyoming (like cities, towns, and school districts) to provide written explanations within 10 business days when rejecting a bid or denying a bidder the opportunity to submit a bid for public works projects. It specifically mandates that these written responses detail any deficient qualifications or responsibilities of the bidder, as outlined in amended Section 16-6-119. The bill does not change the criteria for rejecting bids but adds transparency to the process by requiring clear, documented reasons for decisions. This affects contractors bidding on public projects and ensures public entities follow a standardized communication process for contract denials.
This bill changes Wyoming's sex offender registration law by counting periods when offenders weren't required to register (such as during incarceration or other exemptions) toward the 10- or 25-year waiting periods needed to seek relief from registration requirements. It affects sex offenders who have maintained a clean record for those periods and now qualify for relief based on total time (including non-registration periods). The bill requires petitioners to serve notices on the Division of Criminal Investigation and local prosecutors, who can file responses within 30 days. It applies to all offenders sentenced before, on, or after the law takes effect.
HB 140 requires landowners to obtain a permit from their county commission before creating a conservation easement, effective July 1, 2022. It limits all new conservation easements to a maximum 30-year duration (with possible renewal) and establishes a formal application process including survey requirements and a 45-day review timeline by the county board. The bill also mandates that county commissions adopt rules for implementation and specifies that fees for permits (capped at processing costs) fund the county general fund. This directly affects landowners seeking to create easements, county commissions managing permits, and the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Account, which cannot fund non-compliant easements.
HB 151 clarifies that Wyoming's state government, not local authorities, is responsible for annually valuing and assessing the property of independent power producers (companies generating or transmitting electricity for wholesale sale) at fair market value for tax purposes. This bill directly affects electricity generation and transmission facilities operated by these independent producers. The key provision amends state tax law to explicitly include such property under the state's assessment authority, removing ambiguity about who handles these valuations. The bill was set to take effect July 1, 2022, but did not pass the legislature.
HB 34 redirects state funds to support school district capital projects. It eliminates the state penitentiary capital construction account and requires annual transfers of $10 million from the strategic investments account to the school capital construction account, starting in 2022 and ending in 2038. The bill also mandates transferring all remaining funds from the school lands mineral royalties account and any unused penitentiary account funds to the same school capital construction account. These changes directly affect Wyoming school districts by providing dedicated funding for major maintenance and facility construction projects.
HB 144 establishes a $40 million grant program to fund active transportation and recreation projects across Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will administer 90% of the funds ($36 million) for projects like bike paths, sidewalks, safe routes to schools, and walkable downtown corridors, while the Department of State Parks will manage 10% ($4 million) for natural surface trails (hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking) and related planning. Applicants must provide a 20% local match and projects must align with specific eligible categories outlined in the bill. The program is funded through June 30, 2024, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury.
