HB 26 amends Wyoming's adult protective services law to clarify time limits for emergency protective services orders. It specifies that such orders must expire after 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) and may be extended for up to 14 days, with a possible additional 30-day extension if the court deems it necessary to resolve the emergency. This change directly affects vulnerable adults facing abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation, abandonment, or self-neglect who require immediate protective interventions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
This bill requires Wyoming to issue separate hunting licenses and establish distinct hunting seasons for mule deer and whitetail deer. It directly affects hunters of both species, including residents and nonresidents who purchase licenses, by mandating separate management under state wildlife regulations. The key mechanism involves amending existing laws to create new rules for license issuance, season scheduling, and preference point systems specific to each deer type. This change aims to improve wildlife management by allowing targeted conservation efforts for each species, without altering license fees or quotas.
SF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.
SF 84 sets limits on fees school districts can charge for renting their facilities in Wyoming. It requires districts to charge no more than the *additional* costs incurred for each specific rental (like extra utilities or cleaning), provide a clear breakdown of those costs, and keep fees consistent for similar uses. This directly affects school districts (who set the fees) and renters (like community groups or businesses using school buildings). The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 54 designates the third Tuesday in May as "Wyoming Reads Day" to recognize efforts supporting early childhood literacy, primarily honoring John and Sue Jorgensen. The bill requires public schools, state/local governments, and organizations to appropriately observe the day through celebrations that promote reading. It mandates the governor issue an annual proclamation for the observance but explicitly states the day does not authorize school or business closures, nor affect legal agreements or court proceedings. This is a ceremonial measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.
HB 74 requires Wyoming's Department of Health to adjust county contract payments when public health nursing salaries increase, ensuring counties providing these services receive corresponding budget increases. It directly affects public health nursing employees (through pay adjustments), counties delivering public health nursing services (via updated contracts), and county commissioners (who can form joint boards or use existing organizations for service delivery). Key provisions mandate budget adjustments tied to salary changes, allow counties to create joint powers boards for public health functions, and permit counties to use existing organizations for public health nursing services. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, establishing a formal process for budget coordination between the state and counties.
HB 72 modifies Wyoming's worker's compensation program by allowing investment earnings from the reserve fund set aside for unexpected costs (adverse deviation) to count as revenue for the program. Specifically, the bill authorizes the state to consider 0% to 5% of the previous five-year average market value of this reserve as annual revenue, which will affect how worker's compensation rates are calculated. This change directly impacts the state's worker's compensation fund management, potentially influencing premium rates paid by employers. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility for injured workers.
This bill allows Wyoming county treasurers to issue vehicle registration certificates electronically instead of on paper. It also creates a 30-day grace period for vehicle owners to affix validation stickers to their vehicles after registration, rather than requiring immediate display. The changes directly affect all vehicle owners in Wyoming who must display license plates or validation stickers. The bill amends existing statutes to formalize electronic certificates and the 30-day sticker placement requirement, effective July 1, 2024.
This bill amends Wyoming's state land lease process for agricultural and grazing purposes. It changes how lease renewals and rental payments are filed, stating they are considered submitted on the date the mail is postmarked (not when received). It also specifies that lease applications must include full first-year rental payment via approved methods (like certified checks or money orders), and outlines that 25% of improvement payments may be retained as a penalty if a lease isn't completed. The changes take effect July 1, 2024.
This bill modernizes how Wyoming manages certain state funds by removing their "inviolable" status (permanent protection) to allow more flexible investment strategies. It establishes a 3% annual spending limit for the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, calculated using a 5-year average of the fund's market value, and redirects investment earnings back into the fund's corpus instead of separate accounts. These changes affect the state treasurer's investment of funds like the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, which supports grants to arts, historical, and cultural organizations. The bill aims to improve investment returns while maintaining the fund's purpose of preserving Wyoming's cultural heritage.
HB 25 requires health insurers operating in Wyoming - including self-insured plans, group health plans, managed care organizations, and pharmacy benefit managers - to respond to state Medicaid inquiries within 60 days regarding claims for healthcare services. It prohibits insurers from denying Medicaid payments solely due to late submission, claim format, missing prior authorization, or lack of documentation at the point of sale. The law applies directly to all entities legally responsible for paying healthcare claims in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2024. This streamlines Medicaid claim processing and prevents technical denials that could delay payments to providers.
HB 16 corrects an outdated legal description of the Sutton State Archaeological Site in Platte County, Wyoming. It amends state law to specify the exact land parcel (46.382 acres in Section 6, Township 27, Range 65, Mineral Survey No. 196) managed by the state as the archaeological site, replacing an inconsistent prior description. The bill directly affects the management of this designated site by the Wyoming state department. It has no policy changes beyond updating the legal land description for clarity and accuracy. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
