Wyoming's HB 144 creates special suicide awareness and prevention license plates for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicle owners pay a $150 initial fee plus a $50 annual fee, with all funds going to the state's 988 suicide prevention hotline system. The plates must display the national lifeline number (988), a slogan, and a symbol, and require 500 plates sold by 2033 to continue. The program begins January 1, 2025, and will terminate if the 500-plate threshold isn't met.
HB 89 gives Wyoming county clerks authority to reject or note filings as "frivolous" if they lack legal or factual basis or are filed for improper purposes like harassment. County clerks must first seek a district court ruling after providing notice and a hearing opportunity to the filer before rejecting a filing or adding a "frivolous" notation. If a court declares a filing frivolous, the clerk must refund any filing fee within 10 days and the filing gains no legal effect. This bill directly affects county clerks (who implement the process) and individuals or entities submitting court documents (who may face rejection or notations).
HB 96 creates a formal grant program in Wyoming for local governments to apply for funds to reclaim abandoned mine sites. It requires the governor (via the abandoned mine land division) to establish clear application rules, prioritize projects approved by federal authorities (like the U.S. Office of Surface Mining), and process complete applications within 120 days. Local governments and joint powers boards can apply for these grants, and the program mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing grant requests and approvals. The bill does not create new funding but streamlines access to existing federal abandoned mine land funds.
HB 169 continues Wyoming's Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force through December 2024. The task force, composed of 3 House members, 3 Senate members, and agency directors (including health, family services, corrections, and education), must study state mental health services, remove interagency barriers, and develop programs addressing unmet needs like adolescent behavioral services and court diversion for mentally ill individuals. It requires a final report by October 1, 2024, and is funded with $55,000 from the general fund for legislative members' expenses. The bill directly affects vulnerable adults and mental health service recipients by mandating coordinated system improvements.
Wyoming's HB 154 amends the Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act to update rules for rent-to-own contracts, directly affecting consumers and merchants who use these agreements for items like furniture or electronics. The bill requires clear, plain-language disclosures in agreements - such as a mandatory notice in bold type about the right to terminate without penalty - and mandates that merchants provide digital notices with consumer consent. It also adds specific requirements for liability damage waivers, including a clear warning that they are optional and a recommendation to check existing insurance coverage. These changes standardize disclosures, expand digital agreement options, and enhance consumer transparency for rental-purchase transactions.
This Wyoming bill (SF 63) creates a property tax exemption for single-family homes. It exempts homeowners from paying tax on any increase in their home's assessed value that exceeds 5% over the previous year's value. The exemption does not apply if the home was recently renovated, added to, or purchased within the last year. Tax assessment notices must now include details about this exemption and how it affects the homeowner's tax bill. The exemption applies starting with the 2024 tax year.
SF 119 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real estate in Wyoming. It exempts value above last year's taxable amount plus the county's median household income growth (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who purchased their property in the prior calendar year are excluded from the exemption. Tax assessment notices must now clearly show if this exemption applies to a property. The exemption begins for 2024 property taxes.
This bill removes federal oversight from Wyoming's State Guard, granting the governor full authority to organize and maintain it without federal approval. It specifies that state funds - not federal resources - will cover guard members' pay and equipment, aligning with existing state budget processes. The changes directly affect Wyoming State Guard members and the governor's operational control over the force. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
HB 186 appropriates $40 million from Wyoming's general fund to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system trust fund, as specified in existing law (W.S. 35-25-506). The funding directly supports Wyoming's 988 suicide prevention hotline operations and is restricted to that purpose. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not create new policy but provides dedicated financial resources for the existing crisis hotline service.
HB 38 requires voters in Wyoming to have lived in the state for at least 30 days before an election to vote for state or local offices. This applies to all elections except presidential races, which maintain their existing shorter residency rule. The bill amends multiple election statutes to include this 30-day residency requirement in the definition of a "qualified elector." It directly affects anyone registering to vote for state or local positions, not federal elections, and requires voters to confirm residency during registration.
HB 79 allows Wyoming's Secretary of State to charge a fee - up to $5,000 - to expedite the filing of certain documents under specific statutes (titles 17, 34, and 40, chapters 1-2). It directly affects individuals or entities filing documents like business registrations or land records with the Secretary of State's office. The bill establishes a fee structure based on actual costs, but clarifies that expedited filings do not change the document's official filing date or timing. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.
This bill (SF 85) removes the sales tax on electricity sales to public utilities and providers for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects electricity providers and consumers by eliminating this tax, but only if Wyoming imposes a 3.5% tax on the annual gross energy earnings from electricity produced in the state. The key provision requires an equivalent alternative tax on electricity production to take effect alongside the sales tax repeal. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2024, if passed.
