Other Bills AARP Wyoming Watched During the 2024 Session

Michael Shane Smith Photography for AARP Wyoming<br>

Bills that died (and sponsor)
HB146 (Henderson) would have given renters a check as a relief payment for the increase in property tax that gets passed along to renters.

HB211 (Jennnings) would have based property tax on the dollar amount used in the sale of property instead of its current value and would have a heavy fiscal impact on the state ($260M per year).

HB103 (Allred) would have reduced the state’s property tax rate from 9.5% to 8.3% of fair market value. However, schools and other entities that rely on property taxes would have taken a hit of $88M per year.

HB127 (Locke) would have capped property tax increases at 3% annually. Components of HB127 were proposed to be added to HB45, which passed.

HB133 (Locke) offered a property tax rate reduction of 16% for industrial property owners and 33% for residential property owners for 2024. The bill had a high impact on schools ($214M) and local taxing entities ($139M).

HB134 (Lawley) would have made the Property Tax Deferral program a statewide program instead of one used in specific counties, allowing deferral of payment for those who could not afford property tax.

HB144 (Brown) would have let Wyoming residents buy a “classic” license plate design for $150 with the money going into a trust to pay for the 988 mental health hotline.

HB147 (Larsen) would have increased the tax on electrical generation in Wyoming by 3.5%. Taxpayers in Wyoming would have received a credit against tax liability for all excise, sales, use and other taxes.

HB169 (Zwonitzer) would have extended the lifespan of the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force. A victim of tight deadlines, the Task Force would be extended in budget amendment.

HB173 (Sherwood) would have allowed the state to purchase and implement paid family leave insurance, which would offer a 60% wage replacement for a year for someone who needed to take leave to take care of a family member.

HB18 (Revenue) would have implemented a cap on the rate of residential property tax over the previous year at either the rate equal to the consumer price index or 3%, whichever was less.

HB200 (Burkhart) would have laid the tracks for an electrical generation tax of 2.25%, offering an increase to state revenues of $18.7M in 2025, $35M in 2026,, and increases in around $2.5M to local governments.

HB37 (Corporations Committee) would have created the offense of election intimidation and felony offense of election intimidation.

HB38 (Corporations Committee) would have required proof that a prospective voter has been in Wyoming for at least 30 days before casting a ballot.

HB41 (Corporations Committee) would have clarified that a candidate for state legislature has lived in Wyoming for at least a year before running for office.

HB42 (Corporations Committee) would have prohibited governments at any level in the state from taking private funds, contributions, or donations to help administer an election.

HB52 (Sommers) would have offered a property tax exemption at rates that increased the older property taxpayers were up to $150,000 off the value of your home.

HJ2 (Corporations Committee) would have asked the President and Congress to pass an amendment to the Constitution to identify the source of political contributions.

SF121 (Kinskey) would have offered a $300,000 exemption on property values towards property tax for those in the state for five years or more.

SF126 (Dockstader) would have capped property tax increases at 3% year-over-year.

SF85 (Case) would have repealed the sales tax Wyomingites pay on electricity, contingent on a tax imposed on the generation of electricity of 3.5%.

SF97 (Hutchings) would have made it illegal to distribute unsolicited absentee ballots to voters.

Bills that passed (and sponsor)
HB67 (Newsome) will provide for creation of the administrations and duties for the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust. This will help pay for projects that enhance Wyoming’s outdoor recreation opportunities.

HB83 (Joint Appropriations) will change the way current and future state retirees contribute to their pension plans. This will have an actuarial calculation of how much employers and employees will contribute each year to keep the plan on track for its goals.

HB14 (Labor/Health) will put limits on what services or drug selection health insurance can place on healthcare providers.

SF67 (Joint Appropriations) will change the amount of state employees’ contribution to the retirement system from 8.75% to 9.5% until 2025 and then 9.75% going forward.

SF20 (Corporations Committee) directs the Public Service Commission to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of Wyoming being in a multi-state protocol and disallows costs it doesn’t feel benefits the Wyoming ratepayer.

SF24 (Corporations Committee) mandates there is a public comment period during Integrated Resource Planning by power companies. IRP’s are a sort of long-term planning process that power companies use to inform the Public Service Commission.