HB 77 (Wyoming, 2022) is a procedural bill that amends city civil service commission rules. It allows a city clerk to appoint a designee to serve as ex officio clerk of the civil service commission, eliminating the need for the clerk to personally handle this role. The bill also clarifies that pre-budget expenses for the commission may be covered from available funds or the next budget. This change directly affects cities and towns with civil service commissions by streamlining administrative duties for city clerks. The bill was introduced in February 2022 but never advanced to a vote.
HB 150 amends Wyoming's manslaughter law to add two new scenarios: (1) helping someone die by suicide (except when healthcare decisions follow Wyoming's Health Care Decisions Act), and (2) failing to provide necessary medical care to a newborn after a live birth (except in cases involving abortion). The bill directly affects individuals who assist in suicides or neglect newborns, making these actions punishable as manslaughter. Key exceptions clarify that standard healthcare decisions and abortion-related cases are excluded from the new provisions. The law would take effect July 1, 2022, if enacted.
HB 26 restricts individuals from holding both a paid public job and an elected public office if the two positions involve governmental entities that fund or receive funding from each other. It requires anyone who holds one public office or employment to resign from it before accepting a new elected position or job that creates such a funding relationship. The law applies broadly to all state and local government units, including counties, cities, school districts, and special districts. This bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest by ensuring public officials don't simultaneously serve in roles where their employment and elected duties could conflict due to funding ties. The law takes effect January 1, 2024.
HB 94 sets a maximum size of 1,280 acres for oil and gas drilling units in Wyoming, directly affecting oil and gas operators who establish these land groupings for drilling. The bill amends state law to require that drilling units must be large enough to efficiently drain with one well but cannot exceed 1,280 acres. This change applies to all new drilling unit orders issued on or after July 1, 2022. The law aims to standardize unit sizes for operational efficiency without specifying environmental or economic impacts.
This bill allows Wyoming county treasurers or the state department to seize payments owed to mineral producers by third parties (like buyers or contractors) to collect unpaid ad valorem taxes on mineral production. It applies only after the tax appeal deadline passes and not during active appeals. The change directly affects mineral producers who owe taxes and third parties who owe them money for mineral-related transactions. It provides a new enforcement tool for tax collection without changing tax rates or filing requirements.
Wyoming's HB 124 requires all children under two years old to ride in rear-facing child safety seats in vehicles. It clarifies that rear-facing seats must not be placed in front of active airbags and reinforces that children under nine must use restraints in the back seat (with limited exceptions). The law directly affects parents and caregivers of young children traveling in Wyoming vehicles. It became effective July 1, 2022.
HB 122 changes how Wyoming fills vacancies in certain elected offices by requiring proportional voting in nomination processes. It mandates that state central committee members' votes for vacancies in U.S. House seats, other state offices (excluding governor, legislature, and judges), and multi-county legislative districts must be weighted by each county's population relative to the state total, using the most recent federal census data. For multi-county legislative vacancies, county commissioners' votes must instead reflect the population of the legislative district within each county. The bill, effective July 1, 2022, applies only to nominations for remaining terms and does not alter the appointment process for vacancies.
HB 120 prohibits Wyoming health, life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, raising premiums, or reducing benefits solely because someone is a living organ donor. It defines a living organ donor as a person who has donated an organ or tissue for transplant while alive and requires that any adverse action must be based on actual health risk, not donation status alone. The law applies to all insurance policies issued, renewed, or delivered in Wyoming on or after July 1, 2022, protecting donors from unfair discrimination.
HB 1016 would amend Wyoming's firemen's pension law to stop automatic annual 3% benefit increases after January 1, 2022, requiring future legislative approval for any raises. It also mandates the retirement board to adjust pension fund investments to align with other state retirement programs, moving away from fixed-income portfolios. The bill directly affects firefighters receiving pensions under Wyoming's Fire A retirement program. If enacted, it would change how pension increases are authorized and how funds are invested, with no automatic raises after 2022 without new legislation.
This bill prohibits Wyoming state government agencies from enforcing federal mandates requiring employers to ensure employees receive COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing. It specifically blocks enforcement until federal regulations are legally confirmed after all court challenges are resolved. The law also appropriates $1 million for the attorney general to challenge federal mandates in court, aiming to protect citizens' rights to make personal health decisions without government coercion. It directly affects Wyoming public entities (like state agencies) and employers subject to federal rules, but does not apply to private businesses.
Wyoming's SF 1001 prohibits most employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. It allows exceptions only for employers who document that vaccination is critical for workplace safety and provide medical/religious exemptions, along with reasonable alternatives like reassignment or testing. Employers violating the law face $100 daily penalties, and must offer severance pay if employees leave due to non-compliant mandates. The bill specifically addresses healthcare employers and creates a program for antibody testing, while citing staffing shortages as its legislative motivation.
SF 1008 prohibits businesses and service providers from denying access or services based on an individual's vaccination status (e.g., refusing entry to unvaccinated people). It bans employers from requiring employee vaccinations and eliminates the requirement for students to receive COVID-19 vaccines to attend school. The bill amends laws to clarify religious exemptions for medical examinations and immunizations, and explicitly prohibits the state health department from mandating COVID-19 vaccines for school attendance. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
