New laws include tourism fund, election security

New bills continue to arrive on Governor Mark Gordon’s desk following this year’s legislative session, each one awaiting his decision on whether to sign, veto or allow it to go into law without his signature. Over the past week, though, the governor has chosen to sign all of the bills presented to him.

Gordon touted in particular HB 74, which creates the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund. Its intent is to strengthen the state’s outdoor recreation economy and help fund recreation infrastructure projects.

The fund has been granted $6 million and additional work will take place in the interim to develop a structure for it and decide how funding for projects will be awarded.

According to a statement from Gordon, the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation currently facilitates seven outdoor recreation collaboratives around the state, each focused on defining grassroots opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation in their region. The collaboratives include community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials.

“We have seen a hunger for visitors to experience Wyoming’s mountains, rivers and trails. This trust fund has the potential to create new opportunities for small businesses, focus visitation towards appropriate locations and enhance the quality of life for all Wyoming residents,” Gordon said.

Meanwhile, continuing the recent focus on election security, SF 153 will aim to increase protections by requiring post-election audits and requiring all electronic voting systems to have “air gaps”. This means they must be physically isolated from any network and cannot be connected to the internet or any other system or network connected to the internet.

The new law also changes the rules on delivering absentee ballots. Ballots for voters with rights under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act will still be delivered no more than 45 days before the election, but ballots for all other applicants cannot be delivered until 28 days before the election.

The law also requires that election records and returns be transported in sealed and locked containers.

Gordon also signed HB 185, which issues local government funding for the biennium. The amount available for cities and towns over the next two years has been increased since the last go-around from $105 million to just over $131 million.

The governor also took special note of SF 94, which codifies the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act as state law and specifies the requirements and procedures for placing Native American children in shelter care or adoption.

Gordon noted that both Wyoming Tribes have emphasized the importance of ICWA to tribal children and tribal culture and said he is encouraged that Wyoming Tribes will have a seat at the table as the state continues to hone its ICWA law through the work of the newly created Indian Child Welfare Act Task Force.

“This bill celebrates the partnership between the tribes and the State of Wyoming, and our willingness to work together on these important issues that affect all of us,” Governor Gordon said. 

Other bills signed into law include:

HB 89 increases the amount of investment earnings in the Wyoming mineral trust fund reserve account before the excess must be moved to the permanent fund, with the intent of maintaining larger balances for the benefit of state investment strategies.

HB 17 allows the lessee of a piece of state land to graze livestock they do not own, but do retain management responsibility for, without getting permission from the director of the Office of State Lands and Investments.

HB 22 provides for notification if a person who holds a lease on state lands does not comply with the renewal requirements and also provides opportunities for compliance.

HB 14 increases the fee for filing a civil case with district court from $120 to $160.

HB 144 specifies how senior service districts may spend their revenues.

HB 76 removes the requirement that cosmetology exams be conducted by the board of cosmetology and reduces the number of practice years required for a license to practice veterinary medicine without an examination from five to three years.

HB 33 establishes grants for public schools to purchase career and technical education supplies, materials and equipment.

SF 61 changes the per diem compensation received by legislators. While it was previously $109 per day, it will now be determined every July 1 by the state auditor to match the most recent per diem rates established by the U.S. general services administration for locations within Wyoming. The bill also appropriates $125,000 from the general fund for this increase.

SF 167 allows the court to grant permission for a person petitioning for a protection order in a domestic violence case (or another party to the hearing) to appear remotely.

SF 152 requires criminal history record information to be provided to the board of occupational therapy while obtaining background information on currently licensed occupational therapists and assistants.

SF 99 makes it possible for witnesses to a will to do so remotely.

SF 164 increases the threshold above which a city or town must put a contract for public improvement out for bid from $35,000 to $75,000.

SF 137 requires subdivision developers to construct and pay the costs for perimeter fences on properties adjacent to lands upon which livestock can be run. Subdivision permits must now include information on plans for construction of perimeter fences.

SF 76 allows digital assets to be registered with the secretary of state.

SF 42 provides that the tax due on a cigar, snuff and other tobacco products are due after the sale of that item.

HB 171 requires that 30 days’ notice is given to current lessees, owners of adjoining lands, on the Office of State Lands and Investments website and in a newspaper before the lease of state lands.

HB 174 creates the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board and requires the state superintendent of public instruction to designate a Wyoming Department of Education employee to serve as a liaison to the board.