This bill allows Wyoming's Board of Nursing Home Administrators to issue temporary licenses under three specific circumstances: while awaiting criminal background check results, during the completion of required experience or exams (limited to six months per license and no more than two total), or for qualified individuals temporarily filling vacancies at nursing homes without licensed administrators. Temporary license holders must meet the same professional standards as fully licensed administrators and are subject to the same conduct rules. The board must create implementing rules for these licenses, and the law takes effect July 1, 2024. This directly affects nursing home administrators seeking licensure and facilities needing immediate leadership.
Wyoming's SF 57 creates a state-funded hearing aid program for adults with hearing impairment who meet specific income and eligibility criteria. It directly affects Wyoming residents aged 18+ diagnosed with hearing loss by a physician or audiologist, with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, who cannot obtain hearing aids through private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare at low cost. The program provides up to one set of hearing aids (one per ear) every five years, including fittings and ear molds, at state-paid rates matching Wyoming Medical Assistance program costs. The bill appropriates $90,000 from the general fund for program costs and $9,000 for an administrative position, both expiring June 30, 2026.
This bill increases retirement contribution rates for Wyoming law enforcement officers. Starting July 1, 2024, officers will pay 11.1% of their salary (up from 8.6%) into their retirement account, while their employers (like state agencies, cities, or the University of Wyoming) must contribute 11.1% of the officer's salary (also up from 8.6%). The bill appropriates $2.025 million for state agencies and $75,000 for the University of Wyoming to cover the higher employer costs for the 2025-2026 fiscal biennium, with funds restricted solely to employer contributions. It does not require increased employee payments from the state or local governments beyond the specified rates.
Wyoming's SF 19 adjusts funding for developmental preschool services by increasing the per-child payment rate from $8,503 to $8,866 annually for children aged birth through five with developmental disabilities who qualify for an individualized education program or family service plan. The bill modifies how the state counts participating children (using May 1 of the prior school year) and appropriates $26.156 million from the general fund for fiscal years 2024-2026 to cover these services. This funding directly supports service providers working with eligible children and families in the state's developmental preschool program. The changes ensure payments reflect updated cost adjustments and require the Department of Health to budget accordingly for future years.
HB 104 allocates $4.8 million in state funds to conduct planning studies for water development projects across Wyoming. It authorizes specific Level I reconnaissance studies (for new projects) and Level II feasibility studies (for new projects), plus rehabilitation planning studies, targeting 12 water districts and regional plans in counties like Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Park. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each project (e.g., $286,000 for Douglas Water Master Plan, $235,000 for Strawberry Canal Master Plan) and requires reports to the legislature by 2026. Unspent funds must revert to the water development account by 2027, and it transfers $397,514 from the general fund to support these efforts. This bill focuses on preliminary planning, not construction or implementation.
This bill requires Wyoming's Public Service Commission to review action plans developed by electrical utilities as part of their comprehensive integrated resource plans. It directly affects non-cooperative electrical utilities by mandating they submit these plans for Commission review, which will include assessing whether the plans meet reliability and economic standards. The Commission must establish rules for this review process, clarifying that approval does not guarantee cost recovery in customer bills or imply the plan is prudent. The review must follow standard administrative procedures and allows utilities flexibility to adjust plans between periodic submissions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
This bill authorizes three specific water projects in Wyoming: (1) a $3.6 million municipal/rural water supply project in Big Horn County, with the state covering up to 50% of costs ($1.8 million in grants); (2) an aerial cloud seeding program to boost snowpack in the Medicine Bow/Sierra Madre ranges ($825,000 state appropriation); and (3) a ground-based cloud seeding program for the Wind River/Sierra Madre ranges ($298,651 state appropriation). The Big Horn project requires the sponsor to cover 50% of costs from other sources, while cloud seeding projects require Wyoming water users to fund operational costs exceeding state appropriations. Funds for these projects are drawn from Wyoming's water development accounts, with unspent funds reverting to the accounts or general fund by 2026-2029.
This bill exempts employees in Wyoming's Division of Banking from standard state personnel classification and pay rules. Instead, the State Banking Board must establish their own pay scales and job classifications, ensuring they align with other state and federal financial regulators. The board must report these classifications and any salary changes to the joint appropriations committee before implementation, including details on required funding. The changes take effect July 1, 2024.
SF 44 amends Wyoming's regulations for limited mining operations, specifically for noncoal minerals like sand, gravel, and limestone on 15 acres or less. It requires operators to post reclamation bonds (ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 per acre depending on material), limits operations to five years without renewal, and mandates advance notice to landowners and state agencies. The bill explicitly prevents counties from blocking these operations and updates reporting requirements for reclamation. This directly affects small-scale miners conducting commercial or noncommercial extraction on small plots, streamlining permitting while adding reclamation financial safeguards.
SF 36, the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, allows Wyoming courts to order preventive measures when there's credible evidence a child may be abducted. It directly affects parents, guardians, and courts in child custody cases by creating a legal framework for proactive intervention. Key provisions include requiring courts to assess specific risk factors (like prior abduction attempts, unusual financial activity, passport applications, or domestic violence history) before ordering measures such as restricting travel documents or requiring supervised exchanges. The bill defines critical terms like "abduction" (wrongful removal/retention) and "child custody determination" to standardize court actions. It applies to any child custody proceeding where abduction risk is established, aligning Wyoming with the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act model.
This bill allows special districts in Wyoming that failed to meet annual audit reporting requirements to request reinstatement instead of automatic dissolution. It requires districts to fix reporting issues by April 1 of the following year, submit a corrective plan approved by county commissioners, and obtain written certification of compliance from the state audit department. If reinstated, the district is treated as if it never dissolved, preserving its legal status and operations. The bill directly affects local special districts (like water or fire districts) that missed reporting deadlines, providing a structured path to avoid termination.
Wyoming's SF 123 removes the requirement for public notice when changing a minor child's name. The bill specifically affects natural or adoptive parents and legal guardians seeking to change a minor's name, provided all such parents or guardians sign the request. Under the change, courts will no longer need to publish the name change request in a newspaper or similar public forum for these cases. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.
