Environment

HB 156 creates a state-funded program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming municipalities (cities, towns, and special districts) for improving public water and wastewater systems. The program covers preliminary planning, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and costs for joining regional systems, but only for projects meeting specific eligibility criteria like those approved under existing water pollution or drinking water loan programs. Funding comes from state loans up to $50 million annually, which must be repaid with interest capped at 1.5%, and the state loan board administers applications and reports annually to legislative committees. This program directly affects local governments managing water infrastructure by offering new funding options for system upgrades and regionalization efforts.

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.

SF 84 creates a voluntary program allowing water right holders in Wyoming’s Colorado River basin to apply for projects that reduce water use. Participants must submit applications to the state engineer, which are reviewed to ensure projects reduce "consumptive use" (water fully depleted for agricultural/domestic purposes) or help meet Wyoming’s interstate water obligations. The state engineer approves projects only if they don’t harm other water rights, require public notice, and include a 30-day comment period for affected neighbors. The program expires after a set date (sunset provision) and requires annual reports on conservation outcomes.

Wyoming's HB 128 provides a 5-year severance tax exemption for oil and gas operators using certified advanced extraction methods (tertiary production) between July 2026 and July 2031. It directly affects oil and gas producers who implement qualifying projects approved by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission after July 1, 2026. The bill requires annual reports by the Commission and Department detailing production volumes, qualifying operators, wells, and the tax savings from the exemption. This exemption applies specifically to severance taxes under Wyoming law, with reports due each November 1 from 2026 through 2036.

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.

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.

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.

This bill requires all pesticide labels sold in Wyoming to match the health and safety warnings registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), eliminating state-specific variations. It directly affects pesticide sellers and distributors in Wyoming by mandating uniform labeling aligned with federal standards. Key provisions include overriding previous local labeling requirements and ensuring labels don’t differ in material ways from EPA-registered versions. The law does not change Wyoming’s authority to regulate pesticide use, distribution, or sale under existing statutes, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 153 prohibits intentionally harassing, injuring, or killing predatory animals (like wolves or mountain lions) on public lands using vehicles such as cars, trucks, or snowmobiles. It directly affects hunters who use motorized vehicles to pursue predators on public land, banning this practice while allowing government agencies to use aircraft for lawful duties. The bill amends existing wildlife laws to add this vehicle restriction, requires the Game and Fish Commission to create implementing rules, and takes effect July 1, 2026. (Note: This is a procedural bill focused on regulating hunting methods, not creating new programs.)

Wyoming's SJ 9 is a joint resolution urging Congress to protect the state's access to federal public lands while ensuring local communities have a say in land management decisions. It opposes broad or indiscriminate sales of public lands and demands federal agencies respect Wyoming's existing land-use plans, county-level input, and multiple-use frameworks that support recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, and resource development. The resolution also calls for funding to streamline efficient land exchanges under current laws when they benefit local communities and public access, without advocating for specific policy changes.