Budget & Taxes (Revenue)

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 137 increases the tax rate on net earnings from skill-based amusement games (like arcade-style games) from 20% to 25% for vendors. It redirects tax revenue distribution: 36% to local governments (county/city), 36% to public schools, 8% to the gaming commission, and 20% to the state highway fund. The bill affects businesses operating these games and changes how their taxes are allocated. It would take effect July 1, 2026, but the bill was withdrawn by its sponsor in February 2026.

HB 155 requires Wyoming businesses claiming over $250,000 in annual sales or use tax exemptions to submit detailed reports to the state tax department by February 1st each year. The reports must include sales tax collected, exemptions claimed, property taxes paid, and aggregated employee data (full-time/part-time counts, average wages/benefits in Wyoming) without personal identifiers. Businesses failing to report must pay back taxes plus interest/penalties and lose exemption eligibility for that year. The state tax department must annually report aggregated data to the legislature starting August 1, 2027. This bill directly affects large businesses using specific tax exemptions, aiming to improve transparency in tax revenue reporting.

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.

This bill appropriates $15 million from Wyoming's tourism reserve fund to support the development of a rodeo and cowboy museum and hall of fame in Wyoming. The funds will be distributed in three installments of $5 million each on July 1, 2026, 2027, and 2028, contingent on the Wyoming Tourism Board certifying that relocation efforts will boost tourism, jobs, and state revenue. Applicants must provide matching funds (at least $1 for every $1 granted) and relocate to Wyoming by June 30, 2028, or repay the grant. The Wyoming Office of Tourism must report annually on fund usage until 2036.

This bill (SF 76) requires separate reporting of sales tax for electricity consumed by "very large electrical loads" (defined as 100+ megawatts for a single customer) and directs the resulting tax revenue into a new "local government distribution account." The funds in this account will be distributed to cities, towns, and counties as determined by the legislature. It applies only to taxes approved by voters on or after July 1, 2026, and requires vendors to report these large-scale electricity sales separately on monthly tax returns. The bill does not change tax rates but alters how revenue from these specific sales is distributed.