This joint resolution designates the third full week of May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Wyoming. It aims to increase public and professional awareness about Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder causing involuntary muscle movements that can develop as a side effect of long-term use of certain medications (like antipsychotics) for mental health conditions or gastrointestinal disorders. The resolution encourages regular screening for TD in at-risk patients and promotes support for research and awareness through charitable contributions, without mandating new policies or funding.
HB 2 amends Wyoming's wildlife code to give the state wildlife commission explicit authority to regulate hunting methods, including technologies used to take wildlife. The bill directly affects the commission, which gains the power to create rules limiting or prohibiting specific hunting techniques. Key provisions establish this rulemaking authority under the statute, requiring the commission to develop and enforce regulations on how wildlife can be hunted. The law became effective July 1, 2019, without specifying particular technologies or restrictions.
HB 41 changes the title of the University of Wyoming board president to "president chairman" and allows the board's executive committee to have more than three members. It amends specific Wyoming statutes (including those governing board appointments and financial reporting) to update references to this new title and committee structure. The bill directly affects the governance of the University of Wyoming by formalizing this title change and providing flexibility for the executive committee size. It took effect on July 1, 2019, with no new policy or funding changes.
Wyoming's HB 166 increases the annual decal fee for plug-in electric vehicles from $50 to $200 and establishes a new $100 annual decal fee for hybrid electric vehicles. The bill directly affects owners of these vehicles in Wyoming, requiring them to pay the updated fees when registering their vehicles. Key provisions include the specific fee amounts ($200 for plug-ins, $100 for hybrids) and an effective date of July 1, 2019. The legislation modifies existing vehicle registration fee structures without creating new programs or regulations.
HB 22 requires Wyoming public school districts to implement annual teacher evaluations starting in the 2019-2020 school year. These evaluations must include student test scores and other performance measures, with new teachers evaluated yearly until deemed "effective," while experienced teachers (with two consecutive "effective" ratings) are evaluated every three years. The law mandates that districts provide mentoring and professional development for teachers rated "in need of improvement" or "ineffective," and requires school boards to report evaluation results to the state education department annually. The bill directly affects all public school teachers and administrators in Wyoming, focusing on accountability through structured performance reviews tied to student outcomes.
HB 133 creates the "Hathaway Expand Wyoming Scholarship" to provide financial aid to students from states bordering Wyoming (like Montana and Colorado) attending Wyoming colleges. To qualify, applicants must have a 3.75+ GPA, score in the top 4% nationally on standardized tests, and graduate from a rigorous high school curriculum in a contiguous state. The scholarship covers up to the cost of attendance (capped at University of Wyoming's trustee scholarship amount) but requires recipients to either work in Wyoming for one year per four semesters received or repay funds with interest (capped at 8%) if they don't meet academic requirements or leave Wyoming institutions. This expands eligibility beyond Wyoming residents while adding service and repayment conditions to ensure long-term benefits for the state.
Wyoming's HB 152, the Underground Facilities Notification Act, requires construction planners and contractors to identify and mark underground utility locations (like gas lines or water pipes) before excavation. It directly affects contractors, engineers, and utility operators by mandating pre-excavation checks at no cost to utility companies, pre-marking of excavation areas, and specific emergency protocols if damage occurs (e.g., calling 911 for gas leaks). For government projects over $750,000 in public rights-of-way, it adds requirements for pre-design meetings with utility operators. The bill also specifies that hand-digging or "soft digging" must be used near utilities to prevent damage and clarifies that compliance doesn’t eliminate liability for negligence.
This bill modifies Wyoming's enforcement procedures for antifreeze and petroleum products. It requires the state director to periodically collect samples from storage tanks and dispensing devices at retail facilities, mandating at least one annual sample per tank. The director must also ensure samples are taken after allowing at least one gallon to flow from dispensers. These changes apply to facilities handling these products and take effect July 1, 2019. The bill updates sampling protocols without altering product standards or creating new regulations.
HB 257 requires Wyoming's Medicaid program to cover clubhouse-based psychosocial rehabilitation services, which are community programs run by members with staff support to help people with mental health conditions rebuild social connections, find housing, and gain employment skills. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health needs and certified clubhouse providers who can now receive state reimbursement. The bill mandates the Department of Health to include these services in Medicaid, enter contracts with providers (within funding limits), and report annually to the legislature on program outcomes. This policy change expands Medicaid coverage to specifically include these community-based support services, as defined in the bill.
HB 157 allows biological grandparents who have acted as parents (in loco parentis) to petition a court for termination of a child's parents' rights. To qualify, grandparents must have lived with the child without parents for at least one year, assumed full parental responsibilities (including financial support and care), and demonstrated that parents failed to contribute financially or maintain contact for a year. The court must find parents unfit based on specific criteria, such as continuous failure to support the child or engage in parental duties, and must determine termination is in the child's best interests. This bill modifies Wyoming's termination process to explicitly grant standing to qualifying grandparents, requiring them to state their intent to adopt in the petition.
HB 23 amends Wyoming's education accountability system to refine how schools are rated and supported. It requires schools to receive a performance rating based on student test scores and other metrics, with districts able to request a 15-day review if they believe the rating was calculated incorrectly. The bill mandates the state board to establish clear performance targets for all schools (including alternative schools), develop a multi-tiered support system to help struggling schools improve, and annually report system results to lawmakers. These changes directly affect Wyoming public schools, school districts, and the state board of education, focusing on transparency and targeted assistance rather than new funding or curriculum changes.
HB 70 authorizes Wyoming's Secretary of State to develop and implement a blockchain-based commercial filing system for business-related documents by December 31, 2020. The system would replace current filing methods for documents required under Wyoming statutes (including business registrations, annual reports, and certain financial filings) and must include secure technology, an application programming interface, and robust security measures. The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund for implementation and requires the Secretary to study potential filing fees, reporting findings to the legislature by August 2020. This directly affects businesses, registered agents, and attorneys who submit filings with the Secretary of State.
