WyomingHB 1222026 Budget SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to the federal rural health transformation program funds; establishing the Wyoming rural health transformation program; creating an advisory committee; creating a perpetuity fund; authorizing investments as specified; creating an expenditure account; continuously appropriating an annually required distribution; providing for governance, fiscal controls, accountability and reporting requirements; authorizing expenditures, initiatives, grants and awards; providing for deposits and appropriations; requiring rulemaking; directing studies; and providing for an effective date.

Sponsored By: null Appropriations

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Education aid for Wyoming health workers

21.6% of the annual required distribution pays individual awards for nursing, EMS, clinical behavioral health, and physician education. Awards can cover tuition, fees, stipends, and training costs. Another 10.8% funds physician residencies and fellowships, with priority for family medicine and obstetrics. You must agree to work in Wyoming for at least five years after training (physicians in underserved counties). If you do not, you must repay all or part, with interest per rules. 8.2% of time‑limited funds help Wyoming colleges start and keep new training slots.

More support for rural hospitals and EMS

40.7% of the annual required distribution funds incentive payments for critical access hospitals that opt in and meet service rules. Hospitals must run a staffed 24/7 ER with stroke and trauma imaging, operate ground ambulance service in their area, offer basic labor and delivery if births exceed a state threshold, and join the statewide health information exchange. Payments can be tiered, one‑time grants, medical debt relief, or ongoing help with fixed costs. 26.9% funds EMS regionalization for joint applications by two or more ground ambulance providers in the same rural or frontier region, after the department submits a statewide model that shows no response‑time increase and full cost and staffing plans. Grants can fund ambulances, interoperable gear, readiness payments, and regional medical dispatch.

Healthy living grants and medical rides

9.8% of time‑limited funds go to Wyoming groups that boost exercise and healthy eating. Projects that show measurable gains in activity or evidence‑based nutrition get priority. 2.0% funds a statewide system to schedule and bill nonemergency medical rides, helping seniors and people with disabilities reach appointments.

New clinics and care coordination pilots

36.4% of time‑limited funds go to competitive grants to convert or expand clinics into integrated primary care sites. These sites coordinate medical care with behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology, dental, and preventive services. Another 8.2% funds care coordination models for high‑risk people on both Medicare and Medicaid. Grants can pay capped startup costs, per‑member‑per‑month care payments, and bonuses tied to proven savings.

Telehealth and shared tech upgrades

15.1% of time‑limited funds support a technology challenge for joint applications by two or more providers. Projects must bring care closer to patients, improve data sharing, and cut administrative work. 8.2% pays to buy and run a statewide tele‑specialist platform that links local providers to specialists. 4.9% funds a centralized billing service for EMS agencies that choose to join, with possible expansion to other providers.

Perpetuity fund and annual payouts

The law creates a perpetuity fund for rural health and keeps all investment earnings in the fund. From July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2036, the annual required distribution is the greater of prior‑year program income that must be spent or 4% of total deposits. Starting July 1, 2036, it is 4% of the fund’s five‑year average market value. The treasurer must credit the annual distribution to the expenditure account by September 30. Unspent, unobligated amounts later revert to the fund. The department assigns purpose‑dedicated shares for each $1,000,000 deposited so yearly spending tracks original donor purposes. The treasurer may invest under state policy, including equities if the constitutional voting condition applies.

Tighter rules for recipients and uses

Recipients must file detailed reports on spending and results and sign performance agreements with financial targets and audits. The department can require efficiency steps and collaboration in those agreements. If a recipient misuses funds, breaks rules, or fails targets, the department can demand full or prorated repayment. Program money cannot be used for abortions or for specified sex‑trait modification procedures.

Admin funding and when projects end

2.6% of time‑limited funds pay program administration, including advisory committee costs. 4.6% of plan amounts not specifically authorized are redistributed among the authorized initiatives. Authority to run time‑limited initiatives ends when all funds set aside for them are exhausted.

Stronger oversight and public transparency

The Department of Health runs the program under an approved plan and must write rules. A nine‑member advisory committee guides the program, gives written recommendations on the annual distribution, and must approve any grant or expense over $500,000. Before a grant or expense over $500,000 is authorized, the department must give the legislature at least 10 days’ notice with key details. The state budget office must run an online portal showing current spending and activity.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • null Appropriations

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 155 • No: 5

Senate vote 3/4/2026

S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-5-0-0-0

Yes: 26 • No: 5

Senate vote 2/25/2026

S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0

Yes: 4 • No: 0

House vote 2/19/2026

H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-0-5-0-0

Yes: 57 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote 2/10/2026

H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations 61-0-1-0-0

Yes: 61 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed HEA No. 0021

    3/6/2026Governor
  2. Assigned Chapter Number 61

    3/6/2026
  3. H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0021

    3/5/2026House
  4. S President Signed HEA No. 0021

    3/5/2026Senate
  5. S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-5-0-0-0

    3/4/2026Senate
  6. Assigned Number HEA No. 0021

    3/4/2026
  7. S 3rd Reading:Laid Back

    3/3/2026Senate
  8. S 2nd Reading:Passed

    3/2/2026Senate
  9. S 2nd Reading:Laid Back

    2/27/2026Senate
  10. S COW:Passed

    2/26/2026Senate
  11. S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0

    2/25/2026Senate
  12. S Placed on General File

    2/25/2026Senate
  13. S Introduced and Referred to S02 - Appropriations

    2/23/2026Senate
  14. H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-0-5-0-0

    2/19/2026House
  15. S Received for Introduction

    2/19/2026Senate
  16. H 2nd Reading:Passed

    2/17/2026House
  17. H COW:Passed

    2/16/2026House
  18. H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

    2/12/2026House
  19. H Placed on General File

    2/12/2026House
  20. H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations 61-0-1-0-0

    2/10/2026House
  21. H Received for Introduction

    2/9/2026House
  22. Bill Number Assigned

    2/8/2026

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in