Veterans (Memorials & Recognition)

Wyoming HB 154 creates a special license plate decal for honorably discharged U.S. veterans who live in Wyoming. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of honorable military service and be Wyoming residents at the time of application. The decal, placed in the lower left corner of a license plate without obscuring other text, carries a maximum $5 fee to cover administrative costs, and the decal does not need renewal when the license plate is renewed. The bill takes effect July 1, 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.

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.