Wyoming's SF 104 creates a dedicated $51.2 million university faculty research project account at the University of Wyoming to fund faculty research. The bill requires universities to secure at least 1:1 nonstate matching funds for most projects (except graduate student stipends), which can cover equipment, donor-aligned research, or business-requested projects matching the university's strengths. Profits from funded research must be split equally between the university and faculty researchers, with annual reports required to state committees on project details and spending. This directly affects University of Wyoming faculty, graduate students receiving stipends (up to $1,500/month), and external donors or businesses partnering on research.
HB 87 allocates approximately $3.7 million for water development studies across Wyoming, directly affecting local water districts and the state's water development commission. It authorizes Level I reconnaissance (preliminary assessments) and Level II feasibility studies for both new water projects (like the Grover Water Master Plan in Lincoln County) and rehabilitation efforts (such as the Shoshone Irrigation District plan in Park County). The bill requires project reports to the legislature before the 2028 session and mandates unspent funds to revert to water accounts by July 2029. It also provides $175,000 for the Office of Water Programs. The legislation focuses on funding specific planning studies, not on building infrastructure or changing water rights.
This bill appropriates $237,865,123 from Wyoming's public school foundation program to fund major maintenance for K-12 school facilities. The funds are allocated for two periods: $1.12 million for immediate use through June 2028, and $236.74 million for the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium. School districts receive these funds for facility repairs under state law, with unused funds reverting to the foundation account by June 30, 2028. The bill directly affects all Wyoming public school districts eligible for state maintenance funding.
HB 164 creates the Wyoming Generational Investment Account, a permanent trust fund designed to save state money for future generations. Starting July 1, 2026, the state will transfer $100 million annually from the legislative stabilization reserve into this account, with funds invested per specific rules (85% private equity, 15% private credit). Investment earnings from these transfers cannot be withdrawn for 20 years; after that, half the earnings go to the general fund and half to the stabilization reserve. The bill directly affects state budgeting by redirecting annual transfers and setting long-term investment rules for these funds.
SF 98 creates a property tax exemption for qualifying Wyoming veterans and military members. It covers honorably discharged veterans who served 18+ consecutive months (active duty or Wyoming National Guard), current active/reserve members of the Wyoming National Guard or U.S. armed forces, and surviving spouses/parents of qualifying veterans. To qualify, applicants must be bona fide Wyoming residents for at least three years. The exemption applies starting January 1, 2026.
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.
HB 107 establishes a new formula for distributing 5.6% of Wyoming's state sales and use tax revenue annually to cities, towns, and counties. It allocates 89% of these funds to cities and towns (with 5% reserved for areas with lower tax revenue) and 11% to counties, using a detailed calculation based on population and per capita tax revenue data. The bill requires equal biannual payments (October 15 and March 15) and includes a supplemental formula that prioritizes smaller municipalities ($15,000 minimum for towns under 35 people, $35,000 for larger ones). This directly affects all Wyoming local governments by changing how they receive state tax distributions.
HB 90 requires Wyoming's state engineer to study how large-scale industrial water use permanently removes water from the natural water cycle (like data centers, carbon capture, and hydrogen production), excluding normal evaporation from irrigation. The study must analyze current impacts on all water users - including agriculture, municipalities, and recreation - and recommend ways to limit future impacts. It mandates a report to the legislature by November 2026, funded by a $500,000 appropriation specifically for this study. This bill does not change water rules but creates a formal process to assess emerging industrial water demands.
This bill amends Wyoming's state guard laws to remove the requirement that the National Guard must be activated into federal service before the state guard can be organized. It allows the governor to directly establish and maintain the Wyoming state guard without federal involvement, specifying that state funds - not federal - will cover personnel costs. Eligibility is updated to include Wyoming residents aged 17-65, and the bill appropriates $25,000 from the state general fund to establish the state guard and council of defense through June 2028. The changes 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.
