Wyoming's SF 66 creates two programs for donating hunting licenses. First, it allows free hunting licenses (for antelope, deer, elk, or turkey) for youth aged 12-20 with life-threatening illnesses, sponsored by nonprofits. Second, it lets license holders donate big game licenses (like elk, bison, or deer) to veterans with disabilities, people using wheelchairs, or vision-impaired individuals, via qualifying nonprofits - reissuing the license at no cost. Donated licenses cannot be sold or traded and bypass standard residency, drawing, and fee rules. The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill updates Wyoming's rules for burying veterans without funds. It allows counties to seek reimbursement from the Department of Family Services for preparing and transporting indigent veterans' bodies, clarifying that veterans eligible for burial assistance under POWER/Medicaid programs also qualify for county payments. The bill increases the maximum burial expense payment from $1,000 to $1,500 and specifies that county payments are a "last resort" after other benefits are exhausted. It directly affects counties handling veterans' burials, the Department of Family Services, and indigent veterans who served in conflicts like WWII, Korea, or Vietnam.
HB 68 expands Wyoming's property tax exemption for veterans with permanent, total service-connected disabilities. It allows eligible veterans certified as having a 100% service-connected disability to claim a full exemption on the assessed value of their primary residence, including up to 10 acres of associated land - replacing the previous $6,000 annual limit. Surviving spouses who haven't remarried and keep the property as their primary residence also retain this full exemption. The change applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, and does not affect veterans who qualify only for the standard $6,000 exemption.
HB 67 expands Wyoming's property tax exemption to include additional veterans and military members. It provides a property tax break for honorably discharged veterans who served 18+ consecutive months in U.S. armed forces or Wyoming National Guard, active/reserve Wyoming National Guard members, and surviving spouses/parents of qualifying veterans. The exemption applies only to Wyoming residents who have lived in the state for at least three years (with one year immediately before applying). The changes take effect for taxes due in 2026.
HB 99 authorizes the renovation of the Wyoming Veterans' Memorial Museum, located at the property described in state law, and establishes a task force to oversee the project. The task force includes two legislators from a cultural resources committee, two state agency representatives, and one veteran appointed by the governor, who will monitor progress and provide annual reports to the legislature. The bill appropriates $5 million from the tourism reserve fund specifically for the museum renovation, requiring all funds to be used exclusively for this purpose without transfer to other projects.
