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.
This bill amends Wyoming's state guard laws to remove the requirement that the National Guard must be activated into federal service before the state guard can be organized. It allows the governor to directly establish and maintain the Wyoming state guard without federal involvement, specifying that state funds - not federal - will cover personnel costs. Eligibility is updated to include Wyoming residents aged 17-65, and the bill appropriates $25,000 from the state general fund to establish the state guard and council of defense through June 2028. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
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 171 amends Wyoming's online sports wagering revenue distribution to fund gambling treatment programs. It requires sports wagering operators to remit 10% of monthly revenue to the state commission, with the first $300,000 annually allocated directly to the Department of Health for county-level programs preventing and treating problematic gambling behavior. The remaining revenue from this 10% goes to the state general fund. This bill specifically targets funding for gambling-related health services, directing resources to counties through the Department of Health. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, pending legislative approval.
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 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 137 increases the tax rate on net earnings from skill-based amusement games (like arcade-style games) from 20% to 25% for vendors. It redirects tax revenue distribution: 36% to local governments (county/city), 36% to public schools, 8% to the gaming commission, and 20% to the state highway fund. The bill affects businesses operating these games and changes how their taxes are allocated. It would take effect July 1, 2026, but the bill was withdrawn by its sponsor in February 2026.
HB 176 modifies how Wyoming school funding is calculated by including students who pass competency-based equivalency exams in the average daily membership (ADM) count for the remainder of the semester they took the exam. This directly affects school districts receiving state education funding based on ADM, as it may increase their funding for these students. The bill requires the state superintendent to create implementing rules for the education resource block grant model. It becomes effective immediately upon enactment.
HB 155 requires Wyoming businesses claiming over $250,000 in annual sales or use tax exemptions to submit detailed reports to the state tax department by February 1st each year. The reports must include sales tax collected, exemptions claimed, property taxes paid, and aggregated employee data (full-time/part-time counts, average wages/benefits in Wyoming) without personal identifiers. Businesses failing to report must pay back taxes plus interest/penalties and lose exemption eligibility for that year. The state tax department must annually report aggregated data to the legislature starting August 1, 2027. This bill directly affects large businesses using specific tax exemptions, aiming to improve transparency in tax revenue reporting.
Wyoming's HB 109 changes the rules for claiming the homeowner property tax exemption. Starting in 2026, homeowners must actually live in their primary residence for at least eight months each year to qualify, unless they or an immediate family member are active-duty military personnel whose service prevents meeting this requirement (in which case the property must be their legal home address). Homeowners must submit exemption claims to their county assessor by May 2 each year. The bill applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and modifies existing law (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xlvi)).
