SF 46 limits opioid prescriptions for acute pain in Wyoming. It prohibits doctors from prescribing more than a 14-day supply of opioids to patients who haven't used opioids in the past 45 days (defined as "opioid naive"). The law allows exceptions for chronic pain, cancer treatment, and palliative care through board rules. This law took effect on July 1, 2019, directly affecting prescribers and patients seeking initial opioid treatment for short-term pain.
This bill (SF 107) redirects 1% of fees from historic pari-mutuel wagering events in Converse County to the state fair account instead of splitting them between the county and local municipality. It amends Wyoming law to require the commission to transfer these fees directly to the state fair fund when events are approved in Converse County under specific provisions. The change applies to all reported pari-mutuel events in Converse County, ensuring the revenue supports the state fair. The bill took effect July 1, 2019.
This bill prohibits Wyoming counties from eliminating livestock grazing on state-owned land without first following specific procedures. It requires counties to comply with the zoning article and their comprehensive plan before restricting grazing. The law directly affects counties managing land use and livestock operations using state lands. It became effective July 1, 2019, ensuring existing grazing uses on state land cannot be unilaterally ended by county action.
This Wyoming joint resolution (HJ 10) designates seven cities (Casper, Greybull, Cheyenne, Laramie, Powder River, Rock Springs) and three unincorporated areas (Platte River, Elkhorn Creek, Bluff Station) as "Medal of Honor cities." It encourages the placement of public markers in these locations to honor Wyoming residents who received the Medal of Honor for military valor. The resolution specifically recognizes 17 Medal of Honor recipients connected to these communities, who served from the Civil War through Vietnam. The measure does not create new legal requirements but formally recognizes these locations for commemorative purposes.
HB 204 establishes a standardized course numbering and transcript system for Wyoming's community colleges and the University of Wyoming. It requires common course numbers, electronic course catalogs, and shared transfer software to simplify credit transfers between institutions and support student program planning. The system mandates that all community colleges and UW use consistent course numbering to automatically transfer credits for students moving between schools, particularly for those with articulation agreements. This directly affects students transferring between institutions, faculty developing curricula, and administrators managing course equivalencies and data systems.
HB 98 streamlines the process for communications companies (including internet and VoIP providers) to install equipment like fiber optic cables along public roads in Wyoming. It requires companies to first get permission from local authorities (city councils for city roads or state/county officials for highways) before installing infrastructure. The bill defines "communications company" to cover internet-based services and voice over internet protocol (VoIP), clarifying which providers the rule applies to. This change, effective July 1, 2019, updates existing statutes to standardize rights-of-way access without creating new fees or restrictions.
HB 134 requires Wyoming livestock brand owners to rerecord their brand every ten years. If a brand is not rerecorded by its expiration date, owners must pay a delinquent fee (capped at $150) within three years to avoid abandonment, and may use the brand for one livestock sale before paying. The bill mandates the Livestock Board to send multiple notices to owners about rerecording deadlines and abandonment timelines, including a notice at least six months before declaring a brand abandoned. This directly affects ranchers and livestock owners who register brands for their animals.
HB 169 authorizes Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission to issue free, lifetime fishing licenses and conservation stamps to residents who are permanently and totally disabled. It directly affects eligible disabled residents by eliminating annual license fees and the requirement to purchase conservation stamps. The bill amends existing statutes to create a process for issuing these complimentary licenses, requiring the Commission to establish rules by July 1, 2019. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2019, providing permanent cost savings for this specific group of residents.
HB 253 exempts small water systems from public utility regulation by Wyoming's Public Service Commission. It applies specifically to metered water sales by providers with fewer than 15 potential connections that aren’t owned by larger utilities, aren’t part of a subdivision’s water system, and aren’t located within municipal service areas. This removes regulatory oversight for these small-scale operations, such as rural homeowners or small community providers. The exemption became effective July 1, 2019.
Wyoming's HB 191 allows residents to request a medical alert designation on their driver's license or state ID card, indicating they have a medical condition requiring special attention during emergencies. The bill does not require disclosure of specific medical details - only a standardized alert marker will appear on the card. It affects all Wyoming drivers and ID cardholders who choose to request this designation during application or renewal. The law amends licensing procedures to include a checkbox for this request and provides mechanisms to add or remove the alert on replacement cards. This is a procedural change that went into effect July 1, 2019.
HB 65 amends Wyoming's procurement rules to require school districts to follow the same competitive bidding processes as other public entities for professional services. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $25,000 to $50,000 for professional services like architecture or engineering, meaning school districts must now obtain bids for projects over this amount instead of $25,000. The bill also updates notification requirements for larger projects and clarifies when school boards must interview multiple firms for contracts. These changes directly affect school districts and public entities purchasing professional services, streamlining procurement for larger projects while maintaining competitive processes for significant contracts.
HB 170 amends Wyoming law to require child protective service workers to complete training on specific federal and state child welfare laws. The bill directly affects all state-employed child protective service workers by mandating they understand key legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act, and Family First Prevention Services Act. This training requirement ensures workers are knowledgeable about legal standards governing child welfare practice. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.
