HB 226 Wyoming House · 2025 Regular Session

License plate-search and rescue council.

HB 226 creates special "Search and Rescue" license plates for Wyoming residents registering non-commercial vehicles. Owners pay a $100 one-time eligibility fee (waiving the first year's $25 annual fee) and can donate additional voluntary amounts. All fees and donations go directly to the state's Search and Rescue Account under Homeland Security, managed per existing law. The plates must feature Wyoming's bucking horse and rider symbol and will stop production if fewer than 1,000 sets are issued by 2032. This program directly affects vehicle owners who choose to participate in funding search and rescue services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Feb 2025
Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Signed Feb 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 5 edits · Feb 27, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was amended to increase fees for search and rescue license plates from $100 to $150 and annual maintenance fees from $25 to $50, expand application authority to include county treasurers, add a sunset provision requiring 1,000 plates issued by 2032 or elimination, and create a new subsection in the search and rescue account statute to authorize the state treasurer to receive donations and grants.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include county treasurers as authorized entities for issuing eligibility statements and collecting fees, and added a new funding mechanism for receiving donations directly to the state treasurer.
FISCAL

Initial eligibility fee increased from $100 to $150 and annual retention fee increased from $25 to $50.

New subsection added to the search and rescue account statute authorizing the state treasurer to receive and invest grants, donations, or bequests.

ELIGIBILITY

Application authority expanded to include county treasurers in addition to the department for issuing eligibility statements.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement that plates must be eliminated if fewer than 1,000 sets are issued by December 31, 2032.

TIMELINE

Added a redesign schedule provision requiring search and rescue license plates to be redesigned on the same schedule as all license plates beginning with the 2033 reissuance.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2025 · House Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

291
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 31
Feb 24, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican29
27 Yea 1 Nay 1
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Feb 27, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed HEA No. 0030
legislature
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
H Concur:Passed 58-2-2-0-0
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-1-1-0-0
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
S COW:Passed
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
S08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
S Introduced and Referred to S08 - Transportation
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-2-2-0-0
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
H COW:Passed
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced
H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors