The bill amends Wyoming's laws concerning industrial development and the authority of the industrial siting council regarding impact assistance payments for industrial projects. It allows the council to increase these payments beyond the previously established maximum percentages—2.25% for projects with estimated material costs of $350 million or less, 2% for costs between $350 million and $850 million, and 1.5% for costs exceeding $850 million. The new provision permits the council to raise the maximum allowable percentage to 2.76% if it finds that the standard percentage is inadequate to mitigate identified impacts. Additionally, the council is required to report any increase to the joint appropriations committee and the joint minerals, business, and economic development interim committee within ten business days.

The bill also ensures that approvals for increased payments are not subject to judicial review, solidifying the finality of the council's decisions. It introduces a framework for calculating, distributing, and reporting impact assistance payments by affected local governments and specifies that the state loan and investment board will review and decide on proposed percentage increases without considering new evidence. Payments can be made at the existing maximum percentage while the proposed increase is under review, with retroactive adjustments if approved. The act applies only to permit applications submitted on or after its effective date of July 1, 2025, and includes updates to legal terminology and the addition of a new subsection to outline these changes.

Statutes affected:
25LSO-0069 v0.7: 35-12-105, 39-15-111, 39-16-111