Wyoming's SF 81 revises how state funds support K-12 public schools by implementing updated funding formulas based on the 2025 cost of education study. The bill establishes specific teacher staffing requirements: core teachers (1 FTE per 16-25 students depending on grade level), minimum teacher thresholds for smaller schools, and additional staff for English learners (1 FTE per 100 students), at-risk students (for summer/extended day programs), and career education. It directly affects all Wyoming public school districts by changing how state education funds are distributed based on student needs and school size, rather than solely on enrollment. The bill also restricts how schools can spend funds from the school foundation program and requires districts to join the state employees' health insurance program.
HB 145 replaces multiple existing fees for electric vehicles with a single per-kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used to power them. It reduces the annual decal fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles from $200 to $100 and sets a $200 annual fee for all-electric vehicles (previously subject to overlapping taxes). The bill allows EV owners to receive refunds for electricity purchased for vehicle use and requires clear display of the new electricity-based tax. This directly affects Wyoming residents who own electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles by eliminating "triple taxation" on their vehicles and shifting the tax burden to electricity usage.
Wyoming's SF 85 (RAVEN Act) creates a dedicated funding account for the state's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, directly supporting law enforcement efforts to investigate and combat online child exploitation. The bill appropriates $1.6 million from the general fund (2026-2028) to sustain the ICAC program, with funds continuously available for investigations, victim assistance, and public education on internet safety. All money in the account must be used solely by the Division of Criminal Investigation to address internet crimes against children, with no funds allowed to lapse or transfer to other purposes. The account will accept additional grants or donations, ensuring stable, long-term resources for this critical law enforcement work.
HB 111 allocates $205 million for specific state construction projects, including Wyoming National Guard modernization, health facility remodels, and community college building renovations, with funding from general, federal, and private sources. It also allocates $233 million for major maintenance across state facilities, universities, parks, and cultural resources, distributing funds by percentage (e.g., 37.66% to state buildings, 36.4% to the University of Wyoming). The bill requires all funds to be spent only on designated projects, with unspent amounts reverting to original accounts, and clarifies that appropriations are not guaranteed entitlements. This directly affects state agencies like the construction department, parks division, and community colleges by funding their physical infrastructure needs.
Wyoming's HB 120 creates "industrial sovereign zones" where natural gas producers and manufacturers can transform gas into new products (like hydrogen or ammonia) through substantial chemical changes. It provides tax exemptions for facilities in these zones, fast-track permitting for new manufacturing operations, and establishes a voluntary "gold standard" certification for products with low methane emissions (under 0.2%). The bill directly affects natural gas producers selling to these facilities and manufacturers building new processing plants within designated zones. Key provisions include streamlined licensing, tax breaks for machinery and gas sales, and certification standards to promote Wyoming-made products as distinct from raw fossil fuels.
HB 36 creates a specialized wildland fire suppression module within Wyoming's State Forestry Division (part of the Office of State Lands and Investments). It authorizes 12 new positions - two full-time roles (regional fire manager and suppression module leader), plus temporary staff - and appropriates $2.572 million from the general fund specifically for this module. The funds cover hiring, training, equipment, and support for a dedicated wildfire response team focused on fire suppression and hazardous fuels reduction projects. The funding is restricted to these purposes through June 2028, with unspent funds reverting to the state on that date. This bill directly affects the State Forestry Division's operational capacity for wildfire management.
Wyoming's SF 61 would exempt sales or transfers of motor vehicles between immediate family members (parents, children, spouses, or siblings) from state sales and use tax. This applies only when the original seller/donor paid tax on the vehicle when they first purchased it. The bill requires the transfer to occur directly between qualifying family members and designates the vehicle as tax-exempt under state law. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 87 allocates approximately $3.7 million for water development studies across Wyoming, directly affecting local water districts and the state's water development commission. It authorizes Level I reconnaissance (preliminary assessments) and Level II feasibility studies for both new water projects (like the Grover Water Master Plan in Lincoln County) and rehabilitation efforts (such as the Shoshone Irrigation District plan in Park County). The bill requires project reports to the legislature before the 2028 session and mandates unspent funds to revert to water accounts by July 2029. It also provides $175,000 for the Office of Water Programs. The legislation focuses on funding specific planning studies, not on building infrastructure or changing water rights.
Wyoming's HB 105 appropriates $31.66 million from the state education fund for K-12 school facility maintenance and repairs, primarily benefiting public school districts across the state (e.g., Big Horn #3 High School, Sheridan #2 Junior High). It also allocates $6.33 million for charter school lease expenses for the 2026-2028 school years. Funds must be spent by specified deadlines (July 2026-June 2028), with unspent amounts reverting to the education fund. The bill requires schools to meet safety/security standards to access grant funds and mandates annual progress reports to state committees.
This bill authorizes two new full-time positions within Wyoming's state forestry division (one effective April 2026, one April 2027) to support the forestry conservation inmate crew program. It appropriates $499,709 from the general fund specifically for these positions, associated equipment/supplies, and program costs through June 2028. The funding is tied to coordination with the Department of Corrections and includes specific budgeting instructions for the state's next fiscal biennium. The bill directly affects the state forestry division, the inmate crew program, and the Department of Corrections.
