2024/Summaries/SF0023.pdf
SF 26 clarifies the term of office for members appointed to fill vacancies on special district governing boards in Wyoming. It specifies that an appointee must serve until the next regular election and cannot have their term extended beyond the vacancy they were appointed to fill. This applies to all special districts covered by Wyoming’s relevant statutes, including those with governing bodies like boards of directors. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
HB 138 sets a $5 million minimum cash balance requirement for any new state funds added to Wyoming's Pool A investment account, effective July 1, 2024. It exempts the emergency water projects account (created under W.S. 41-2-124(f)) from this rule, requiring its funds to remain invested in Pool A. The bill appropriates $2.035 million to boost the Wyoming Public Television matching funds account to $5 million and $1.905 million for the State Fair endowment account, both to meet the new minimum. These changes apply only to specific state funds and do not alter investment policies for existing accounts.
This bill changes how Wyoming's State Fair Board manages its finances and operations. It allows the board to directly spend funds for the fair and fairgrounds (instead of requiring the Agriculture Department director to handle payments) and removes the requirement that the Agriculture Director chair subcommittees. These changes take effect September 1, 2024, and require the board to create implementing rules.
Wyoming's SF 13 creates a legal mechanism for the state legislature to challenge federal land management decisions. It authorizes the legislature or its management council to sue in court (using a newly created $50 million "legislative legal action account") to protect Wyoming's interests in federal laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act. The bill directly affects Wyoming's legislature by granting it standing to prosecute lawsuits over federal land use plans within state boundaries. Key provisions include establishing the fund, allowing use of legislative staff or private lawyers, and ensuring the appropriation remains available beyond regular budget cycles. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2024.
HB 58 establishes a Wyoming state pilot program allowing law enforcement to use forensic genetic genealogy (DNA analysis) to solve unsolved crimes and identify human remains. The program, administered by the Division of Criminal Investigation, allocates $150,000 from the general fund (2024-2029) to fund DNA analyses for state investigations and award grants to local law enforcement agencies for the same purpose. It requires an application process for grants and mandates the program terminate on June 30, 2029, with funds for grants awarded before that date still usable afterward. This directly affects Wyoming law enforcement agencies conducting criminal investigations or identifying remains through DNA analysis.
This bill (SF 83) is a technical correction to Wyoming's statutes, not a new policy. It amends specific sections of existing law to fix errors, outdated references, or inconsistencies in the legal code - such as correcting wording in testimony procedures (W.S. 7-4-204) or mineral trust fund rules (W.S. 9-4-719). It directly affects how existing laws are written and applied but does not create new programs, obligations, or funding. The bill focuses solely on ensuring statutory accuracy, with no substantive policy changes or new impacts on citizens or entities.
Wyoming's SF 42 establishes new standards requiring utilities serving over 10,000 customers to generate a growing percentage of electricity from "dispatchable and reliable low-carbon sources" by 2038. It defines "low-carbon" as electricity meeting strict emissions limits (under 650 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour) and requiring 75% carbon capture from existing coal units or equivalent new sources. The bill allows utilities to recover compliance costs through a capped 2% surcharge on customer bills and mandates annual progress reports to the Public Service Commission. These changes directly affect Wyoming's major electric utilities and aim to balance emissions reductions with grid reliability.
This Wyoming bill (SF 114) requires local governments (counties, cities, towns) to recognize contractor licenses issued by other Wyoming jurisdictions. It ensures contractors with active, good-standing licenses from one area can work elsewhere in Wyoming without paying new fees or retaking tests - only minimal verification (like proof of license validity) is allowed. The law does not force recognition for unrelated license types and lets localities maintain their own application processes for work outside a contractor’s original license scope. It applies to all Wyoming local governments issuing contractor licenses and takes effect July 1, 2024.
Wyoming's SF 77 requires county clerks to report property sales within five miles of designated critical infrastructure zones to the Office of Homeland Security and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Critical infrastructure zones - designated by the governor in consultation with the homeland security director - include areas vital to state or national security, such as energy facilities or communication systems. The law mandates that these agencies investigate transactions involving "designated countries or persons" (like foreign adversaries) or posing security threats, with all investigation details kept confidential. Annual reviews of zone designations ensure they remain the least restrictive necessary for security.
Wyoming's SF 132 allocates unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds to specific state programs. The bill directs $440 million in ARPD funds (unexpended federal relief funds) to agencies like health departments, workforce programs, outdoor recreation, transportation infrastructure, and emergency services. Key provisions specify that funds must support pandemic recovery efforts, such as healthcare worker retention, rural health innovations, and emergency response systems, while prohibiting general post-secondary education spending except for critical career training. The bill also requires reporting on fund usage and sets conditions for how agencies may spend the allocated amounts.
This bill establishes the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund to support recreational and tourism projects across the state. It creates a 9-member board (appointed by the governor) to manage the fund, approve grants for recreation projects, and ensure projects benefit both residents and visitors. The board must prioritize multi-partner projects, consult with tribal governments, and consider community impacts when reviewing grant applications. Funds will support small projects approved directly by the board and larger projects requiring legislative committee review.
