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HB0039

Wyoming Workers Compensation Amendments (HB0039)

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed allowing business owners to choose workers' compensation coverage and changing how premium credits are calculated and distributed, but it did not pass.

What it does

  • Allows corporate officers, limited liability company members, partners, and sole proprietors to elect workers' compensation coverage.
  • Requires employers to notify the division in writing to elect coverage, either upon initial registration or 30 days before the start of a calendar quarter.
  • Prevents employers from withdrawing coverage for the first eight calendar quarters after electing it.
  • Allows the division to grant a premium credit of up to 50% of investment earnings after inflation on reserves from the prior rate year.
  • Splits the premium credit distribution 50% to all employers who paid premiums the previous year and 50% to employers with better safety records than their industry average.
  • Sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2008.

Who it affects

  • Corporate officers and limited liability company members.
  • Partners in partnerships and sole proprietors.
  • Employers who pay premiums to the workers' compensation fund.
  • The Wyoming Division of Workers' Compensation.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and failed introduction in the House on February 13, 2008.
  • The provided text is a working draft, so final language may have differed if it had passed.
  • The bill does not specify the exact dollar amount of premium credits, only the calculation method.

Plain language

Terms to know

Elective coverage
Coverage that a business owner chooses to buy rather than being required to have it.
Premium credit
A reduction in insurance rates based on the fund's investment earnings and reserves.
Calendar quarter
A three-month period in the calendar year.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 5:12 AM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes granting premium credits because it is a dangerous path given that the fund was nearly bankrupt in 1988, and urges further discussion before proceeding.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:45:13 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because premium credits should not be granted until questions about benefit adequacy and system fixes are answered.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:45:59 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because the workers' compensation system needs a full review regarding caseloads and mental health coverage before considering rebates.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:46:58 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker asks for rejection because constituents are concerned about rapid and fair consideration, noting that many cases are drawn out over long periods.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:48:05 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker urges defeat because the system is broken and needs fixing rather than adding new provisions, citing excessive caseloads for workers.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:48:43 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

1 roll call

H Failed Introduction 15-45-0-0-02008-02-13 · House15 yes 45 no
Yes
15
No
45
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 15

Dn.Elaine HarveyH26Jerry IekelH29Keith M GingeryH23Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Pat ChildersH50Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Sue E WallisH52Timothy M StubsonH56Timothy P HallinanH32William "Jeb" StewardH47Zwonitzer

No 45

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24Dan DockstaderR · S16David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Doug SamuelsonH07Edward BuchananH04Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jim SlaterH46Kathleen DavisonH20Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Marty A MartinH48, S12Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Owen PetersenH19Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Robert A BrechtelH38Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Thomas A LockhartH57Tom Lubnau IIH31W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed IntroductionHouse
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO