New laws include property tax relief increase, crossover voting ban

As the 67th General Session of the Wyoming Legislature comes to an end, having gaveled out on Friday afternoon, the successful bills from among the 497 filed continue to make their way to the desk of Governor Mark Gordon.

As one of its highest priorities during this session, the legislature considered numerous bills that addressed rising property tax costs.

Property Tax

Though many of the bills put forward failed, HB 99 was signed into law late last week. This amends the qualifications for the existing Property Tax Refund Program and the county-level optional property tax refund program.

The law changes the income levels at which a person becomes eligible for relief. Instead of the total household income needing to be equal to or below three quarters of the median household income in their county, it must now not exceed 125% of that figure.

The applicant’s total household assets must now also be below $150,000 per adult member of the household (an increase from $100,000), unless the person’s tax liability is greater than 10% of the household income.

A refund can now be up to 75% of the applicant’s prior year’s property tax – an increase from 50% - but may not exceed 50% of the median residential property tax liability for the applicant’s county of residence.

The new law also specifies that an applicant for property tax relief must not only have been a Wyoming resident for the last five years, but must also have occupied the property in question for no less than nine months of the tax year.

For county-level refund programs, the deadline to apply has been extended from the first Monday in June to the first Monday in September. Again, the limit on total household income has been raised to a cap of 125% of the county’s median household income and the refund itself can be up to 75% of the applicant’s prior year’s property tax.

Brenda Henson, Director of the Wyoming Department of Revenue, has estimated that HB 99 will allow at least 6000 additional households in Wyoming to receive property tax relief. Property owners may apply at their local County Treasurer’s office or online at wptrs.wyo.gov beginning April 1.

Meanwhile, SJ 03 places an amendment in front of voters that would create a separate property tax class for residential real property. This would allow for the Legislature to reduce residential property tax assessments, which Gordon described as an opportunity to put the state on a path for long-term property tax relief for families.

After-birth Healthcare

On Friday, the Governor also signed HB 04, which extends Medicaid coverage after giving birth from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help up to 2000 low income Wyoming mothers.

“We heard in the mental health summit we hosted last fall about the importance of getting mothers and children off to a good start. Taking care of both in that critical first year of development pays dividends down the road,” Governor Gordon said, calling it a signature piece of pro-life legislation. “I couldn’t be more pleased to sign a bill that does just that at the close of the session.”

Shed Antlers

Also signed into law last week was HB 276, which specifies that shed antlers and horns located on state or public lands are the property of the state. With the additional passing into law of HB 123, a nonresident over the age of 15 will need to purchase a conservation stamp in order to collect these horns and antlers. Nonresident hunters will also not be able to collect antlers until a week after Wyoming residents may begin.

Other Bills

Other bills signed over the last week include:

HB 118 – Appropriates $9 million to the volunteer firefighter, EMT and search and rescue pension account.

HB 67 – Creates a special decal for female veteran special license plates.

HB 59 – Extends the educational assistance benefits for members of the Wyoming National Guard in exchange for additional service commitments and allows benefits to be transferred to spouses and dependents.

HB 38 – Creates a referral incentive program for the Wyoming National Guard.

HB 140 – Specifies the health insurance reimbursement requirements for mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

SF 140 – Allows for the use of a refrigerant acceptable according to federal rules without regulation as long as the equipment containing it meets all applicable rules and regulations.

SF 53 – Specifies that a Wyoming National Guard member on active duty may be reimbursed for medical insurance premiums.

SF 123 – Allows the children of active duty military members to transfer to any public school within the same school district.

SF 32 – Prohibits the use of drones in or over a penal institution for surveillance, to convey contraband or to deliver a deadly weapon. While the first two on that list will now be a misdemeanor, attempting to use a drone to deliver a deadly weapon will be chargeable as a felony.

SF 79 – Healthcare providers will be required to develop plans of safe care for infants affected by substance abuse or withdrawal resulting from prenatal drug or alcohol exposure, with the priority to keep the infant in the home if appropriate for their safety and wellbeing.

SF 169 – Creates a State Shooting Complex Development and Oversight Task Force to select a location for the complex, gather proposals and make recommendations for its development.

SF 154 – Amends the purposes of the Wyoming Energy Authority to include the construction and expansion of oil and gas refineries and allows it to finance such projects.

SF 108 – Requires that the fees for transcripts, records and other papers issues by a court reporter are set by rule of the district court judicial conference.

SF 112 – Provides for the confidentiality of communications with a peer support specialist. This type of specialist is designated by a law enforcement agency, emergency services provider, employee assistance program or peer support team leader to lead, moderate or assist in peer support counseling sessions.

HB 11 – Includes state park rangers in the law enforcement plan under the Wyoming Retirement Act.

HB 200 – Increases nonresident license fees.

HB 02 – Allows municipal elected officials and appointed officers to elect not to receive a salary or compensation while serving.