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 123 creates the Wyoming Energy Dominance Fund, administered by the Wyoming Energy Authority, to support the state's traditional energy industries. The fund receives a portion of severance tax revenues (50% for fiscal years 2027-2028, then 50% for 2029 onward) that would otherwise go to the permanent mineral trust fund or school accounts. It provides grants and loans for projects like coal innovation, natural gas, uranium processing, and pipeline infrastructure - requiring a 1:1 match from non-state funds - but explicitly excludes wind and solar energy projects. The fund aims to bolster Wyoming's energy sector, which supports over 60,000 jobs and generates significant state revenue.
Wyoming's HB 116 prohibits the industrial production of hydrogen by separating water molecules (hydrogen and oxygen atoms) from being considered a "beneficial use" of water under state law. This directly affects companies seeking permits for hydrogen production facilities that rely on molecular water destruction. The bill requires the state engineer to reject such water use applications, with exceptions for wastewater or by-product water use. It applies to all new permit applications filed on or after July 1, 2026, and does not retroactively invalidate existing permits issued before that date.
This bill repeals Wyoming's low-carbon energy standards that required public utilities to meet specific clean energy targets. It removes specific legal requirements from the state code (sections 37-1-101, 37-18-101, and 37-18-102) that previously governed utility operations. The repeal eliminates compliance obligations for utilities under these standards. The Public Service Commission must create new rules to implement this change, effective immediately upon enactment.
HB 121 imposes a severance tax on hydrogen production in Wyoming, directly affecting companies and entities producing hydrogen within the state. It taxes hydrogen based on its fair market value (similar to natural gas taxation), with a 9% rate for hydrogen produced from water and a 3% rate for hydrogen from other feedstocks like natural gas or biomass. The tax applies to the gross value of hydrogen produced, with exemptions and collection procedures mirroring existing natural gas severance tax rules. The law would take effect for all hydrogen production starting July 1, 2026.
HB 146, the "Affordable Electricity Act of 2026," exempts small residential solar devices (called "plug-in solar generation devices" or PIPVs) from most utility regulations. It directly affects homeowners who install compliant PIPVs - devices under 1,200 watts per meter, designed for standard 120V outlets, and meeting safety standards - to offset their personal electricity use. Key provisions include banning utility fees for these devices, eliminating requirements for interconnection agreements or net metering approvals, and mandating safety features to prevent backfeeding during outages. The bill also shields utilities from liability for customer-installed PIPVs, making it easier for residents to adopt small-scale solar without utility hurdles.
HB 46 expands Wyoming's existing tax on electricity production from wind resources to also include electricity generated from solar and nuclear facilities. It repeals the separate tax on nuclear electricity and updates the tax rules to cover all three energy sources under a single framework. The tax applies to electricity produced from solar or nuclear resources starting January 1, 2027, and requires producers to report megawatt-hour output annually. This bill directly affects electricity producers using solar or nuclear power in Wyoming, changing how they report and pay taxes on their output.
