The first 15 bills to be passed during the 2025 Wyoming legislative session have been sent to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk for approval.
Although few of the bills passed so far by the Wyoming Senate and House are particularly controversial or stunning, making it to the governor represents the Legislature reaching an important juncture.
Some of the most talked-about and debated bills will soon follow as the end of the session quickly approaches.
Many have speculated about what bills the governor will and will not pass into law. If he vetoes any of the “Five and Dime” bills endorsed by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, an ensuing standoff and an attempt to override the veto is likely.
Some of the most weighty bills still remaining seek to restrict and regulate the practice of abortion, cut property taxes and regulate the use of bathrooms by biological sex in Wyoming.
A total of 260 bills still remain alive the Legislature from the 552 that were drafted.
The Bills
Here are the first 15 bills that were passed as of 5:45 p.m. Tuesday night.
House Bill 45 removes otters as a state protected species in Wyoming and allows Wyoming Game and Fish to manage them. The bill passed on a 52-8 vote in the House and 22-9 in the Senate.
House Bill 75 reduces the coal severance tax rate from 6.5% to 6% for surface coal production. This will result in a $7.6 million impact in first year of implementation. The bill passed on a 57-4 vote in the House and 23-8 vote in the Senate.
House Bill 82 requires health insurance carriers to follow specific guidelines regarding credentialing and specifies that carriers shall not be required to violate or fail to meet requirements of a nationally recognized accrediting entity. The bill passed on a 55-4 vote in the House and 30-1 vote in the Senate.
House Bill 25 passed the House on a 53-8 vote and the Senate on a 31-0 vote. It requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that makes their vehicle inoperable to report the accident to law enforcement. Current law states they only must report an accident if the damage caused to a vehicle involved in the accident is $1,000 or more.
House Bill 4 increases the annual registration fees for resident snowmobiles and nonresident annual snowmobile user fees and creates a permanent registration for antique snowmobiles. This bill passed 54-7 in the House and 19-12 in the Senate.
House Bill 92 requires the Wyoming Livestock Board to initiate memorandums of understanding regarding the identification of livestock delivered to other states. It passed the House on a 59-2 vote and the Senate 31-0.
House Bill 30 changes the expiration and renewal date for driver’s licenses for people younger than 21, so they expire on the same timeline as other Wyoming driver’s licenses. The bill didn’t receive a single vote of opposition.
House Bill 27 changes the way disabled parking windshield placards are written in Wyoming. It passed on a 60-0 vote in the House and 29-2 vote in the Senate.
House Bill 23 repeals the requirements to physically surrender a driver's license in Wyoming. It passed 60-0 in the House and 29-2 in the Senate.
House Bill 54 authorizes the assignment of cases and proceedings from circuit courts and district courts to chancery court judges. It passed on a 58-1 vote in the House and 60-0 in the Senate.
House Bill 73 states that landowners who allow rock climbers onto their property won’t be liable if they’re hurt by adding the words “rock climbing” to the activities covered under the Recreation Safety Act. The bill didn’t receive a single vote of opposition.
House Bill 61 states that a state land lease applicant who is the holder of an expiring lease and has paid in full for their lease, and is not in current violation of a lease, shall have preferred right to renew their lease. Current law states that if they’ve violated their lease in the past they shall not be given preference. The bill didn’t receive a single vote of opposition.
House Bill 41 clarifies that both coal mines and non-coal mine operations may deposit irrevocable letters of credit issued by a bank in lieu of a bond to the Wyoming Department of Quality. The bill didn’t receive a single vote of opposition.
House Bill 22 states that each local homeland security plan shall require coordination with each certified water and wastewater operator in order to provide emergency and public safety services for homeland security. The bill didn’t receive a single vote of opposition.
House Bill 14 sailed through the Legislature without receiving a single vote of opposition. HB 14 establishes a prioritized list of cease and transfer projects for municipal solid waste facilities.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
