HB 8, titled "Scratch tickets-outdoor recreation funding," proposes to dedicate 75% of net proceeds from Wyoming's scratch-off lottery tickets to fund outdoor recreation. It creates a new "outdoor recreation office funding account" managed by the state treasurer, requiring annual transfers from lottery proceeds to support recreation areas and facilities. The bill specifies that funds must be used solely for outdoor recreation as defined by the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, with no other uses permitted. This policy change would directly affect state budget allocations for recreation infrastructure, beginning January 1, 2023, if enacted.
HB 28 amends Wyoming's Hathaway scholarship program to adjust eligibility timelines and scholarship calculations. It extends the window for students to apply from six to twenty years after high school graduation (with exceptions for military or religious service), changes how "unmet financial need" is calculated, and modifies scholarship amounts based on academic performance tiers (opportunity, performance, honor). The bill directly affects Wyoming students pursuing degrees or certificates at eligible institutions who meet GPA and standardized test score requirements. Key changes include new definitions for "remaining scholarship amount" and "total scholarship amount," allowing summer enrollment without counting toward the maximum term limit. The bill failed introduction in the 2022 legislative session.
HB 93 creates Wyoming's film production incentives program, administered by the Wyoming Tourism Board, to support economic development by attracting film and digital entertainment productions to the state. The program offers monetary rebates of up to 30% on qualified local expenditures for productions filmed in Wyoming, including costs for sets, food, lodging, equipment, and below-the-line salaries for Wyoming residents. To qualify, productions must meet specific criteria like maintaining accurate records, including branded Wyoming recognition, and hiring Wyoming residents. The bill defines "qualified productions" as those meeting tiered criteria (e.g., feature films, documentaries) and limits rebates to available funding. This directly affects film producers filming in Wyoming who meet the program's spending and residency requirements.
SF 5 authorizes Wyoming's Department of State Parks to purchase land and buildings for a state trails program field office, directly affecting the department’s operations for managing snowmobile and off-road vehicle trails. The bill specifies that funding for the building’s operation, maintenance, and leasing comes from existing snowmobile and off-road vehicle trails accounts, with rental income deposited back into those accounts. It also allows the department to lease portions of the building to third parties and sell the property if needed, with proceeds returning to the same trail accounts. This is an administrative measure focused on managing office space, not creating new trail policies or funding.
HB 1013 modifies Wyoming's unemployment benefits law to allow workers who voluntarily leave jobs due to an employer's failure to comply with federal COVID-19 prevention requirements (such as vaccination mandates or safety protocols) to qualify for benefits. This applies when the employer violates specific federal laws or policies related to pandemic response. The bill adds this scenario as "good cause" for leaving employment without disqualifying workers from benefits, ensuring they remain eligible even if they leave voluntarily. Benefits awarded under this provision are noncharged, meaning they won’t affect the employer’s experience rating account. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
HB 1021 creates Wyoming's Individual and Family COVID-19 Impact Support Program, providing temporary financial assistance to residents affected by the pandemic. The program offers money for essentials like food, medicine, childcare, mental health support, and lost wages, funded by $20 million in unused federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. County commissioners can request support for eligible individuals/families, with benefits distributed through community organizations meeting state standards. The program must be fully implemented by October 1, 2024, using funds specifically designated for pandemic-related hardship relief.
HB 1005 requires Wyoming employers who mandate COVID-19 vaccines to grant exemptions for employees with religious objections, medical reasons preventing vaccination, or who have fully recovered from COVID-19. Employers must accept written evidence of these exemptions and cannot terminate an employee for seeking one. If an employer denies a valid exemption and terminates the employee, they face liability for $5,000 in damages or actual losses, whichever is greater. This bill directly affects employers in Wyoming with vaccine mandates and employees seeking exemption from those requirements.
HB 1009 requires employers to pay 50% of a terminated employee's wages for 13 weeks if the employee is fired or quits due to a COVID-19 vaccination mandate, with specific exceptions (e.g., mandates in place before October 31, 2021). It establishes liability for employers who terminate workers over vaccine refusal and creates a legal cause of action for damages. The bill also mandates employers to provide 90 days' notice before vaccine requirements, offer reasonable alternatives (like reassignment or testing), and accept religious/medical exemptions. Additionally, it presumes vaccine-related injuries are compensable under worker's compensation.
Wyoming's SF 1004 prohibits employers from requiring employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment or discriminating against them based on vaccination status. It applies to all employers and employees in the state, making it illegal to refuse hiring, alter pay, or change working conditions due to vaccination status. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail, a $750 fine, or both. Affected employees can also sue for at least $500,000 in damages plus additional relief.
This bill (SF 1011) proposes expanding Wyoming's Medicaid program to cover individuals eligible under federal guidelines (specifically, those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level). It requires state officials to negotiate federal approval for this expansion but includes two key conditions: Medicaid cannot be expanded if federal funding rates drop below 90% during expansion periods or below 55% for regular Medicaid. The bill would repeal an older 2013 law related to Medicaid and take effect immediately upon enactment. However, it failed to pass in the 2021 legislative session (8-21 vote), so it did not become law and does not currently affect any residents.
This bill requires Wyoming county and state health officers to grant waivers for school immunization requirements and mask mandates for K-12 students upon written request from parents, legal guardians, or authorized adults. Waivers must be approved within seven business days for religious objections or medical contraindications to vaccines, and for mask mandates. The bill does not eliminate immunization or mask requirements but creates a standardized process for requesting exemptions. It applies directly to students attending Wyoming public or private schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
This bill (SF 1012) requires pharmacists in Wyoming to fill prescriptions for any medication prescribed to treat COVID-19 by a licensed prescriber. It protects both pharmacists who fill such prescriptions and prescribers who recommend medications they reasonably believe could treat COVID-19, from disciplinary action by licensing boards. The law specifically excludes Schedule I/II controlled substances (per federal or Wyoming law) from these protections. It applies to all licensed healthcare professionals in Wyoming prescribing or dispensing COVID-19 treatments as defined in state law. The bill was introduced in 2021 but failed committee consideration.
