Wyoming's HB 173 amends laws to increase parental responsibility for minors' actions. It allows property owners (including schools) to seek up to $5,000 in damages from parents if a child aged 10-17 maliciously damages property. Parents who fail to comply with court orders regarding juvenile discipline may face fines up to $1,000 or 120 days in jail. The bill also requires parents to post bonds of up to $1,000 if their lack of supervision directly causes a juvenile's delinquent behavior, with forfeited funds first covering damages and then going to school districts or county treasuries. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.
HB 171 amends Wyoming's online sports wagering revenue distribution to fund gambling treatment programs. It requires sports wagering operators to remit 10% of monthly revenue to the state commission, with the first $300,000 annually allocated directly to the Department of Health for county-level programs preventing and treating problematic gambling behavior. The remaining revenue from this 10% goes to the state general fund. This bill specifically targets funding for gambling-related health services, directing resources to counties through the Department of Health. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, pending legislative approval.
HB 182 creates a process for designating Wyoming state lands as "state heritage sites" if they have exceptional archaeological, historical, or cultural value that would be permanently damaged by industrial use. It allows citizens, tribes, or government entities to nominate lands (like the Glenrock buffalo jump, specifically named in the bill) for review by the Department of State Parks, which then recommends to the Board of Land Commissioners. Once designated, these sites prohibit industrial use that harms their value and restricts leasing to educational, sustainable tourism, or low-impact recreational activities that protect the site. The bill defines "greatest benefit" to include long-term protection of the land’s intrinsic value alongside financial returns for state land trust beneficiaries.
HB 172 limits the number of historic horse racing terminals operators can run based on track size and requires a minimum of 16 live racing days at a track to qualify for a permit. It caps terminals at 1,200 per track that’s 7/8 mile or longer and 1,000 per shorter track, and prohibits adding new terminals if existing ones at a location are unused. The bill directly affects racetrack operators seeking simulcasting permits to operate these terminals. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with some provisions effective immediately upon enactment.
Wyoming's HB 189 prevents homeowners associations (HOAs) from banning political campaign signs on members' property, directly affecting HOA residents and the associations themselves. The bill allows HOAs to set limited rules, such as requiring ground-mounted signs (not attached to fences), restricting sign size to 4x6 feet, limiting displays to one sign per candidate, and banning signs after 30 days post-election or before candidate filings. It also permits HOAs to restrict signs that threaten safety, violate laws, contain obscenity, or cause driver distractions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to newly created HOAs or those amending bylaws after that date.
HB 165 increases retirement benefits for Wyoming state employees under the Wyoming Retirement System. It raises the calculation rates for normal retirement benefits: before July 1, 2026, for some members it increases from 2% to 2.125% for the first 15 years of service and from 2.25% to 2.5% for additional service years; after that date, the rates will be permanently set at 2.125% and 2.375% respectively. The bill affects state employees who became covered under the retirement system before September 1, 2012, or after August 31, 2012, depending on their hire date. The bill is pending legislative action and would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
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.)
HB 183 (Renters' Property Tax Relief) expands eligibility for Wyoming's property tax refund program to include renters of their principal residence, not just homeowners. To qualify, renters must meet income limits (not exceeding 145% of their county’s median household income), have total household assets under $150,000 (adjusted annually), and provide proof they are not behind on rent. The bill caps refunds at 75% of the prior year’s property tax paid or half the county’s median residential tax liability, whichever is lower. It becomes effective January 1, 2027, and requires the Department of Revenue to establish rules for implementation.
This bill amends Wyoming's DUI laws to clarify that "vehicle" does not include horses or other equines when ridden. It specifically updates sections 31-5-233 (DUI penalties) and 31-5-234 (youthful driver alcohol laws) to exclude horse riders from these provisions. The change directly affects people riding horses, ensuring they are not subject to motor vehicle DUI laws. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 55 establishes Wyoming's Homestead Opportunity Program, selling state-owned land at $1 per acre (10-acre lots) to eligible Wyoming residents for single-family homes. It directly affects working families and individuals seeking affordable homeownership by prohibiting business entities from purchasing lots and limiting each person to a maximum of 25 acres statewide. Key provisions include requiring all lots to be used exclusively for single-family residences, mandating random allocation through public drawing, and allowing the state to reclaim land if rules are violated (e.g., selling to a business or exceeding acreage limits). The program aims to address housing shortages using surplus state lands while ensuring long-term residential use through perpetual covenants in property deeds.
HB 58 requires voter approval for new mill levies imposed by school districts and educational boards for recreational facilities, cooperative education services, and special school taxes. Before any new levy can be implemented, a proposition must be submitted to voters at the general election, requiring majority approval. Approved levies would last four years and require renewal votes at the second general election every four years. This bill applies only to new levies; existing levies are unaffected by this requirement.
HB 71 allows businesses to round cash payments to the nearest five cents when exact change isn't available due to missing pennies. It specifies that payments ending in 1¢, 2¢, 6¢, or 7¢ must round down, while those ending in 3¢, 4¢, 8¢, or 9¢ round up - except exact 1¢ or 2¢ amounts, which round up to 5¢. Businesses must display a sign about rounding, and rounding applies only to cash payments (not credit/debit), with taxes added before rounding. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not override federal rounding rules for SNAP purchases.
