HB 118 repeals Wyoming's state-administered family college savings program by removing the statutes (W.S. 4-10-912 and 21-16-809 through 21-16-818) that authorized the state treasurer to run it. This bill directly affects the state's ability to operate the program, eliminating the legal framework for its administration. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2019, ending the state's role in managing this specific savings initiative. No new program is created; the bill solely removes the existing authority.
Wyoming's HB 173 creates a dedicated court supervised treatment program account to fund court-referred treatment services, such as substance abuse or mental health programs. The bill ensures all interest earned on funds in the account stays within it, and the state Department of Corrections uses these funds to support eligible programs while keeping department implementation costs under 10% of total funding. This account provides continuous, dedicated funding for treatment programs without requiring annual legislative appropriations. The law took effect on July 1, 2019, directly affecting the Department of Corrections and the court-supervised treatment programs it administers.
HB 211 requires all health insurance plans sold in Wyoming to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as they do for physical health conditions, starting July 1, 2019. It applies to every individual and group health insurance policy, including plans from health maintenance organizations, that is delivered, renewed, or modified after that date. The law mandates compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-26), as updated through 2018. This ensures people with mental health or substance use conditions receive coverage without stricter limits than for medical or surgical care.
This bill requires Wyoming state agencies to use a single, standardized payment processor for collecting fees, taxes, and other payments instead of each agency managing its own system. It directly affects all executive branch agencies (including departments like Transportation and Game and Fish), the judiciary, legislature, and institutions like the University of Wyoming. The Department of Enterprise Technology Services must establish and administer this statewide contract, with limited waivers only if an agency proves it cannot feasibly use the centralized system. This standardizes payment processing methods (like credit cards or checks) for state collections without changing the types of fees or taxes collected.
HB 195 modifies Wyoming's insurance code to allow electronic notices for portable electronic device insurance, instead of requiring written notices in certain cases. It specifies that insurers may send electronic notices (with prior agreement from the consumer) for cancellation, with 10-day notice for some reasons and 30-day notice for others. This applies directly to consumers purchasing portable electronic device insurance and their insurers, streamlining communication while maintaining notice period requirements. The bill became effective July 1, 2019, and does not change the definition or scope of the insurance coverage itself.
Wyoming's HB 214 reduces the required record retention period for licensed real estate brokers from seven years to two years. The bill directly affects all licensed real estate brokers in Wyoming who must maintain full records of every transaction they participate in. It amends Wyoming Statute 33-28-123 to require brokers to keep these records for a minimum of two years after the transaction's latest date. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.
HB 210 increases Wyoming's Collection Agency Board from three to five members, requiring four governor-appointed members and the state banking commissioner to serve ex officio. The bill specifies detailed qualifications: one appointed attorney actively in collection work, two appointed representatives from licensed collection agencies (not attorneys), and one public member with credit service experience. Board members receive compensation from license fees paid by collection agencies, and appointments require five years of Wyoming residency or relevant industry experience. This bill modifies board composition and operations without changing how collection agencies are regulated.
This bill increases penalties for violating Wyoming's child labor laws, raising the maximum fine from $500 to $750 and adding potential jail time of up to 100 days for employers who break the rules. It clarifies that children under 14 may still work for parents, grandparents, or family-owned businesses in non-hazardous jobs outside school hours. The bill repeals one outdated provision and takes effect July 1, 2019. It directly affects employers who hire children in violation of these specific regulations.
Wyoming's HB 111 amends voting procedures for the Environmental Quality Council. It specifies that members who recuse themselves, are absent, unable to attend due to illness, or vacant council positions are not counted as participating in votes. This clarifies that a quorum requires four members physically present, and decisions require majority vote among those participating. The bill took effect July 1, 2019, and directly affects council members voting on environmental matters.
HB 196 amends Wyoming law to limit county commissioners' authority over land divisions in unincorporated areas. It clarifies that counties cannot prevent residential or agricultural uses on land divisions already exempt from standard subdivision rules under state law. The bill specifically prohibits counties from imposing restrictions that conflict with these exemptions, ensuring developers and property owners can use exempt land for those purposes. The changes took effect on July 1, 2019.
HB 155 allows courts in Wyoming to create reintegration plans when parents petition to end a guardianship they previously lost. It directly affects parents seeking to regain custody of their children after a court determined them unfit, requiring courts to prioritize the child's best interests while presuming fit parents deserve custody. Key provisions let courts mandate graduated visitation, require parenting classes (with costs adjusted for the parent's ability to pay), or impose other specific conditions to safely return the child to the parent. The law applies to termination petitions filed on or after July 1, 2019, and was enacted without opposition.
HB 142 amends Wyoming's wildlife trust account board duties to require the board to recommend to specific legislative committees that funds be transferred from the income account to the wildlife and natural resource trust account. This procedural bill directly affects the wildlife trust board by adding a mandatory recommendation duty regarding fund transfers. It does not create new funding but specifies a process for moving existing funds between accounts. The change took effect July 1, 2019.
