HB 122 establishes Wyoming's program to manage federal rural health transformation funds, creating a permanent "perpetuity fund" to hold and grow these resources. It requires the state to distribute 4% annually from the fund's value (starting July 2026) to support rural health initiatives, with oversight by a 9-member advisory committee appointed by the governor. The bill directly affects rural health providers and communities by governing how federal funds are allocated, invested, and reported. Key mechanisms include mandatory annual fund distributions, committee approval of major expenditures over $500,000, and governance rules for fiscal accountability. This is a procedural framework for managing existing federal funds, not a new service or benefit.
Wyoming's SF 41 creates "portable benefit accounts" to help independent contractors access benefits like health insurance or retirement savings. The bill allows hiring parties (companies or individuals) or contractors themselves to voluntarily contribute funds to these accounts, with strict rules requiring written opt-in agreements and clear disclosure. It prohibits using these contributions to determine employment status and mandates that accounts be managed by approved financial institutions. The law requires the Department of Workforce Services to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2026. This directly affects independent contractors who currently lack employer-provided benefits.
Wyoming's SF 48, the Stem Cell Freedom Act, allows physicians to recommend and perform stem cell therapy using a patient's own cells (autologous mesenchymal stem cells), provided it follows institutional review board approval, current manufacturing standards, and includes written informed consent acknowledging the therapy isn't FDA-approved. The law prohibits the state board of medicine from disciplining doctors for offering this therapy and prevents state entities from denying patient access. It explicitly excludes abortion-derived materials and states insurers may choose but aren't required to cover the therapy. The bill creates no legal liability for providers who follow its requirements and medical standards.
This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for ground ambulance services in Wyoming from July 2026 to June 2028. It requires the state to pay ambulance providers 100% of the Medicare rate (or their usual charges, whichever is lower) for emergency medical services covered under Medicaid. The state and federal governments will provide $1.3 million each for a total of $2.6 million to fund this rate increase during the two-year period. The Department of Health must report on costs and potential rate adjustments by October 2027. This directly affects ambulance providers serving Medicaid patients in Wyoming.
SF 10 allows Wyoming's Department of Health to enter contracts with county detention centers to provide security, examination, and treatment for mentally ill individuals awaiting competency evaluations in criminal cases. This bill directly affects county detention facilities (if designated), the Department of Health, and mentally ill detainees who would be held in these contracted facilities instead of the state hospital. Key provisions include creating new authority for the Department to designate qualified facilities and establish written contracts with counties under Section 7-11-308. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include county jails with such contracts as "facilities" under the law. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 117 requires Wyoming abortion providers to obtain written informed consent before performing an elective abortion, ensuring patients receive complete information about the procedure and alternatives. The bill defines coercion (e.g., threatening job loss, scholarship revocation, or physical harm) as a violation, allowing women harmed by negligent or non-consensual abortions to sue providers. It creates civil liability for providers who fail to verify consent or knowingly perform abortions under coercion. The law applies directly to abortion providers and patients in Wyoming, focusing on preventing coercion through legal accountability.
Wyoming's SF 19 allows schools to stock and administer epinephrine using auto-injectors, nasal sprays, or other FDA-approved devices for severe allergic reactions without requiring a student-specific prescription. It directly affects schools, school nurses, and trained staff by enabling them to provide emergency treatment to students experiencing anaphylaxis. The bill requires schools to develop allergy management guidelines, track incidents, and maintain records of trained personnel, while also providing liability protection for good-faith administration (excluding gross negligence). It updates definitions to include all approved epinephrine delivery methods and specifies that administering stock epinephrine does not constitute the practice of medicine.
This bill allows Wyoming's county memorial hospitals and hospital districts to file for bankruptcy under a process designed for local governments (Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code) to address debt challenges without dissolving the hospital. County memorial hospitals must get approval from the county commissioners before filing, while hospital districts must publicly post their bankruptcy plan for seven days and hold a public meeting before trustees vote. Hospital districts no longer require a vote of the public to initiate bankruptcy proceedings. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 4 would add birthing center services to Wyoming's Medicaid program, allowing Medicaid to cover care provided by qualifying birthing centers. This directly affects Medicaid recipients who use birthing centers and the centers themselves, which must meet state definitions under existing law. The bill amends the Medicaid coverage list to include these services, effective July 1, 2026. This change expands access to Medicaid-covered birth services beyond traditional hospitals.
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.