HB 40 clarifies the timeline for school district trustees in Wyoming to take an oath of office. It specifies that trustees must take the oath either by December 1st of the year they are elected or within 10 days of receiving election notification, and before starting their duties. This bill affects all newly elected or appointed school board members across Wyoming's school districts. The law, effective July 1, 2024, aims to eliminate ambiguity about when the oath must be administered.
HB 10 creates a 30-day grace period for current lessees of Wyoming state land to renew their leases. If a lessee submits a written request showing good cause, the director of the Office of State Lands and Investments must grant an additional 30 days beyond the lease expiration date to file a renewal application. This directly affects individuals and businesses leasing state land (e.g., for agriculture or recreation) who might face timing issues with renewal deadlines. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not change existing lease terms or fees.
HB 21 modifies Wyoming's rules for charter school facility leasing. It removes the requirement that charter schools must operate successfully for three years to get reimbursement for leasing costs. The bill also changes how school districts provide space: charter schools no longer need to pay rent for state-approved, adequate facilities included in district facility plans, and the state construction department now reviews space availability. This directly affects charter schools (by reducing costs and access barriers) and school districts (by changing facility-sharing duties). The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Wyoming's SF 64 establishes refunds for oil, gas, and coal producers who pay severance taxes on minerals extracted from the federal mineral estate. Beginning January 1, 2025, eligible producers will receive annual refunds equal to 75% of increased federal royalty costs resulting from higher federal mineral royalty rates. The refund amount is calculated based on the producer's prior year's severance tax liability and must be claimed annually by July 1. This policy directly affects mineral producers operating on federal lands within Wyoming, providing them a partial reimbursement when federal royalty rates rise.
This bill (SF 3) grants Wyoming state employees up to 24 hours of paid leave per calendar year to serve as volunteer firefighters or volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) within the state. It directly affects all state officers and employees who provide these volunteer services, defining "volunteer firefighter" and "volunteer EMT" using existing statutory terms. The key provision requires state employers to provide the paid leave, with the Department of Administration and Information tasked with creating necessary rules for implementation. The policy takes effect July 1, 2024, for most provisions.
SF 65 extends the maximum duration for temporary water use permits from two to five years for specific projects like highway construction, railroad repairs, or drilling. It clarifies that only the state transportation commission - not contractors - can acquire water rights for highway projects, requiring the commission to handle all fees and approvals. The bill also strengthens protections for senior water rights holders, allowing them to demand temporary diversions be shut off if their rights are affected. This amendment takes effect July 1, 2024, directly impacting state agencies, infrastructure contractors, and water rights holders in Wyoming.
Wyoming's SF 51 prohibits knowingly spreading manipulated videos, audio, or images (like deepfakes) that falsely depict a person's appearance, speech, or actions in a way that misleads viewers. It requires clear, visible disclaimers for synthetic media (e.g., "This is AI-generated" on videos or spoken notices in audio) and bans distribution without these notices when the intent is to deceive. Victims can sue for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions to stop the spread, while malicious use to influence elections faces misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months in jail or $750 fines). The law excludes protected speech under free speech clauses and takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 42 prohibits Wyoming election officials from soliciting, accepting, or taking private funds for election-related costs, requiring all election expenses to be paid with public funds instead. It exempts meals for poll workers and election staff, and allows the Secretary of State to exempt certain special district elections via rule. Federal election funds remain unaffected under the bill. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 13 exempts "flow-through pools" from Wyoming's public pool and spa health and safety regulations. A flow-through pool is defined as an artificial or partially artificial pool that relies on natural water flow to maintain water quality, rather than mechanical filtration. The bill directly affects operators of such pools by removing their requirement to comply with the state's pool safety standards. It takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not alter other regulatory requirements for conventional pools. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on defining the exemption and its scope.
Wyoming's HB 8 changes the age requirement for obtaining a hazardous materials endorsement on a commercial driver's license, allowing drivers who are 18 years or older to qualify instead of the previous minimum of 21. The bill directly affects commercial drivers seeking to transport hazardous materials by lowering the eligibility age. It amends existing law to specify that the "H" endorsement (for hazardous materials) requires the driver to be at least 18, and directs the Department of Transportation to create necessary rules for implementation. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, with rulemaking provisions effective immediately upon final passage.
This bill prohibits Wyoming insurers from discriminating against organ transplant recipients in life and long-term care insurance. It bans insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, increasing premiums, reducing benefits, or requiring recipients to forego transplants solely based on their transplant status. The law applies to all insurance policies sold in Wyoming after July 1, 2024, directly protecting transplant recipients from unfair treatment by insurers. It specifically ensures recipients cannot be penalized for their health condition when obtaining or maintaining coverage.
Wyoming's HB 33 requires mining operators using explosives in noncoal surface mining operations to create detailed blasting plans and maintain public records. It mandates that operators log blast locations, explosive amounts, drill patterns, and safety measures for three years, and comply with fire code standards for explosive use. This applies directly to all operators conducting blasting in surface mining (including small-scale operations under 15 acres), requiring them to submit annual reports if explosives are used. The law also specifies that blasting must be performed by trained personnel and designed to prevent injury, property damage, or water resource impacts.
