HB 34 expands retirement benefits to specific firefighters in Wyoming by redefining "firefighter member" to include full-time employees of the Wyoming National Guard fire department (crash/rescue units) and full-time wildland firefighters employed by state agencies like the Wyoming State Forestry Division. The bill appropriates $181,000 for retirement contributions from 2026-2028 and requires affected workers to elect by April 30, 2026, whether to join the new retirement plan or stay in the standard system. Coverage begins July 1, 2026, with service credit rules clarified to prevent double-counting across retirement plans. This policy change directly affects approximately 50-100 full-time firefighters across these roles.
HB 90 requires Wyoming's state engineer to study how large-scale industrial water use permanently removes water from the natural water cycle (like data centers, carbon capture, and hydrogen production), excluding normal evaporation from irrigation. The study must analyze current impacts on all water users - including agriculture, municipalities, and recreation - and recommend ways to limit future impacts. It mandates a report to the legislature by November 2026, funded by a $500,000 appropriation specifically for this study. This bill does not change water rules but creates a formal process to assess emerging industrial water demands.
HB 115 requires all Wyoming school districts (including charter schools) to create and implement cardiac emergency response plans for general school settings and separate plans for athletic events. Key provisions mandate that schools place and maintain AEDs in unlocked, accessible locations (within 3 minutes), train staff in CPR and AED use per American Heart Association standards, and rehearse athletic venue protocols annually. The bill allocates $50,000 for reimbursement of implementation costs during the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, with priority for districts serving higher percentages of students eligible for free meals. It applies directly to school staff, students, and emergency medical providers by standardizing cardiac emergency protocols across all school properties and athletic events.
HB 68 expands Wyoming's property tax exemption for veterans with permanent, total service-connected disabilities. It allows eligible veterans certified as having a 100% service-connected disability to claim a full exemption on the assessed value of their primary residence, including up to 10 acres of associated land - replacing the previous $6,000 annual limit. Surviving spouses who haven't remarried and keep the property as their primary residence also retain this full exemption. The change applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, and does not affect veterans who qualify only for the standard $6,000 exemption.
HB 67 expands Wyoming's property tax exemption to include additional veterans and military members. It provides a property tax break for honorably discharged veterans who served 18+ consecutive months in U.S. armed forces or Wyoming National Guard, active/reserve Wyoming National Guard members, and surviving spouses/parents of qualifying veterans. The exemption applies only to Wyoming residents who have lived in the state for at least three years (with one year immediately before applying). The changes take effect for taxes due in 2026.
HB 110 establishes a new formula for funding Wyoming's K-12 public schools, directly affecting all school districts in the state. It calculates funding based on average daily enrollment, requiring specific teacher ratios (e.g., one core teacher for every 16 elementary students) and minimum staffing levels per school type, while also restricting how school foundation funds can be used. The bill mandates school districts to join the state's employee insurance program, modifies cash reserve rules, and continues mental health services grants. It implements the 2025 cost-of-education study and includes provisions for rulemaking and funding appropriations.
HB 59 modifies Wyoming's bond election rules to require local governments to clearly state key details in bond questions, including the purpose, maximum principal amount, repayment term, and interest rate. Voters can now sue a local government if the bond question fails to meet these requirements, delaying bond issuance until a court resolves the dispute. The bill directly affects cities and towns seeking voter approval for bond issues and ensures transparency in how bond proposals are presented. It does not change election timing rules but adds a legal remedy for misleading bond language.
HB 93 requires Wyoming courts to make most court records and audio/video recordings of proceedings available online for free, including documents like pleadings, evidence, and case details. Exceptions include juvenile cases, adoptions, sealed records, sexual assault cases, and sensitive materials like child pornography or bulky exhibits. Courts must also stream hearings live and maintain an online archive of recordings within seven days. The bill establishes a new fund to cover technology costs for implementing these changes.
Wyoming's HB 88 prohibits state and local government entities from using public funds to lobby lawmakers or support lobbying activities. The bill directly affects all state agencies, counties, cities, school districts, and special districts (but excludes for-profit contractors). Key provisions require annual certifications of compliance with the ban, forbid paying dues to groups that lobby, and allow taxpayers to sue to stop violations. Enforcement includes potential court actions by the Attorney General or affected residents, with penalties for noncompliance. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 124 would have reduced property tax exemptions for single-family homeowners in Wyoming by lowering the percentage used to calculate the exemption from 4% to 2% of the prior year's assessed value. This change would apply to both the home structure and associated land, resulting in a smaller tax break for qualifying homeowners as their exemption amount would decrease. The bill, which failed to pass in the Wyoming House of Representatives on February 10, 2026, was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. It directly affects residential property owners who currently qualify for this exemption under Wyoming law.
