SF 1 is a funding bill that allocates state resources for Wyoming's government operations during the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium. It provides specific funding amounts for state agencies, including $9.1 million for the Governor's Office administration and $22.9 million for Homeland Security, with all funds to be spent within the two-year budget period. The bill includes a $250,000 provision specifically for gubernatorial transition costs if a new governor is elected in 2026, and it specifies how funds from various accounts (like school foundation programs) will be used. This is a standard appropriations bill that sets funding levels for state operations, not a policy change.
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.
SF 106 amends Wyoming's welfare and Medicaid eligibility rules to strengthen verification processes. It requires monthly checks of residency and death records, bans self-attestation for income, citizenship, and household composition without verification, and limits retroactive Medicaid coverage to two months. The bill directly affects welfare applicants and recipients, including both citizens and noncitizens, by tightening eligibility requirements. Key provisions include shorter recertification periods for unstable households (up to 4 months) and mandatory reporting to the legislature on program impacts. These changes aim to prevent program misuse while aligning with federal requirements.
Wyoming's SF 85 (RAVEN Act) creates a dedicated funding account for the state's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, directly supporting law enforcement efforts to investigate and combat online child exploitation. The bill appropriates $1.6 million from the general fund (2026-2028) to sustain the ICAC program, with funds continuously available for investigations, victim assistance, and public education on internet safety. All money in the account must be used solely by the Division of Criminal Investigation to address internet crimes against children, with no funds allowed to lapse or transfer to other purposes. The account will accept additional grants or donations, ensuring stable, long-term resources for this critical law enforcement work.
This bill requires Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality to study the state's wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, coordinating with the Office of State Lands and Investments. Local governments (cities, towns, counties) must provide infrastructure data upon request, and the study will be funded by an $8 million appropriation through 2030. The department must report annual progress to the Water Committee from 2026 to 2030, with the study concluding by June 2030. This is a data-gathering effort, not a policy change, with no direct regulatory impact on residents or businesses.
Wyoming's HB 78 creates a state-administered Forest Health Grant Program to fund projects improving forest conditions on public and private lands. The program covers up to 75% of eligible project costs (50% on federal land), requiring matching funds from other sources, with projects focused on water quality, wildfire risk reduction, forest product production, or wildlife habitat. Grants require attorney general approval and annual reporting to the Agriculture Committee, with a $3 million appropriation from the general fund starting July 2026. The program expires on July 1, 2030, after which unobligated funds will be returned to non-state donors or reverted to the general fund. It directly affects landowners and forest managers seeking funding for public-benefit forest health initiatives.
Wyoming's SF 123 creates the Wyoming Energy Dominance Fund, administered by the Wyoming Energy Authority, to support the state's traditional energy industries. The fund receives a portion of severance tax revenues (50% for fiscal years 2027-2028, then 50% for 2029 onward) that would otherwise go to the permanent mineral trust fund or school accounts. It provides grants and loans for projects like coal innovation, natural gas, uranium processing, and pipeline infrastructure - requiring a 1:1 match from non-state funds - but explicitly excludes wind and solar energy projects. The fund aims to bolster Wyoming's energy sector, which supports over 60,000 jobs and generates significant state revenue.
HB 111 allocates $205 million for specific state construction projects, including Wyoming National Guard modernization, health facility remodels, and community college building renovations, with funding from general, federal, and private sources. It also allocates $233 million for major maintenance across state facilities, universities, parks, and cultural resources, distributing funds by percentage (e.g., 37.66% to state buildings, 36.4% to the University of Wyoming). The bill requires all funds to be spent only on designated projects, with unspent amounts reverting to original accounts, and clarifies that appropriations are not guaranteed entitlements. This directly affects state agencies like the construction department, parks division, and community colleges by funding their physical infrastructure needs.
Wyoming's HB 120 creates "industrial sovereign zones" where natural gas producers and manufacturers can transform gas into new products (like hydrogen or ammonia) through substantial chemical changes. It provides tax exemptions for facilities in these zones, fast-track permitting for new manufacturing operations, and establishes a voluntary "gold standard" certification for products with low methane emissions (under 0.2%). The bill directly affects natural gas producers selling to these facilities and manufacturers building new processing plants within designated zones. Key provisions include streamlined licensing, tax breaks for machinery and gas sales, and certification standards to promote Wyoming-made products as distinct from raw fossil fuels.
HB 36 creates a specialized wildland fire suppression module within Wyoming's State Forestry Division (part of the Office of State Lands and Investments). It authorizes 12 new positions - two full-time roles (regional fire manager and suppression module leader), plus temporary staff - and appropriates $2.572 million from the general fund specifically for this module. The funds cover hiring, training, equipment, and support for a dedicated wildfire response team focused on fire suppression and hazardous fuels reduction projects. The funding is restricted to these purposes through June 2028, with unspent funds reverting to the state on that date. This bill directly affects the State Forestry Division's operational capacity for wildfire management.