Labor & Employment

HB 178 prohibits public employers from automatically deducting union dues or fees from public employees' paychecks. It requires public employee unions to annually report detailed financial information to members, including membership numbers, revenue sources, and spending over $5,000 (such as political activities or legal services), with reports distributed to members, posted online, and available upon request. The bill applies to all public employee unions in Wyoming, including those representing firefighters, and takes effect July 1, 2026. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors, and unions already filing federal LM-2 reports are exempt from the annual reporting requirement.

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 114 sets new safety rules for railroad operations in Wyoming. It limits train lengths to 8,500 feet or the shortest passing track/siding, requires wayside detection systems every 10 miles on main lines to identify equipment problems (like overheating parts), and mandates visual inspections and operator reporting. Railroad companies operating in Wyoming must install these systems, train staff on their use, and report detection alerts or system failures. Violations could result in civil penalties ranging from $500 per foot over length limits to $250,000 for severe safety failures causing injury. The bill directly affects all railroad companies operating trains within the state.