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SF0097

Wyoming Bill SF0097: Medicaid Work Requirements and SNAP Restrictions

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would require most Medicaid recipients in Wyoming to work, attend school, or volunteer for at least 20 hours a week to keep their benefits, while also restricting state actions on food assistance work rules.

What it does

  • Requires the Department of Health to apply to the federal government for a waiver to implement work requirements for Medicaid.
  • Requires most Medicaid recipients to work, attend school, participate in an employment and training program, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week.
  • Exempts specific groups, such as children under 18, seniors 65 and older, pregnant people, and those certified as medically unable to work, from these hour requirements.
  • States that if a person fails to meet the hour requirements, their Medicaid eligibility ends for 12 months.
  • Prohibits the Department of Family Services from applying for federal waivers or making state plan changes regarding work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Requires that any federal savings from the Medicaid waiver be used to support child care programs for recipients who are working, in school, or in training, if authorized by federal law.

Who it affects

  • Medicaid recipients in Wyoming who are between the ages of 18 and 65 and not exempt.
  • The Wyoming Department of Health and the Department of Family Services.
  • The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, which must provide employment data to the Department of Health.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the House of Representatives and was postponed indefinitely in March 2018.
  • The bill only takes effect if the federal government approves the required waiver.
  • The specific rules for determining 'good cause' exemptions are to be decided later by the department.

Plain language

Terms to know

Medicaid
A government program that helps people pay for medical care.
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food benefits.
Waiver
Permission from the federal government to change or skip certain standard rules.

Official record

Sources

Source checked

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Sep 12, 10:57 AM

Cale Case

R · S25

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports an amendment adding a tribal exemption because it recognizes federal treaty obligations to Native Americans who are served by the Indian Health Service, which has no work requirement.

Public statementFloor statement at 46:32 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker urges rejecting an amendment because tribal membership is a political status based on sovereignty rather than racial identity, implying the exemption logic in the bill needs to account for this distinction.

Public statementFloor statement at 46:53 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports reducing the punitive period for violations from 12 months to shorter terms because he believes a long ban would burden hospitals and medical providers who must still treat patients without Medicaid coverage.

Public statementFloor statement at 52:00 Watch the statement

Larry Hicks

R · S11

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes reducing the punitive period because it would create an unworkable administrative burden on state agencies to constantly track individuals moving in and out of compliance every 30 days.

Public statementFloor statement at 52:41 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes softening the punitive period because he believes keeping the rule simple sends a clearer message than creating workarounds.

Public statementFloor statement at 54:05 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it targets a small group of adults already struggling at low income levels who are likely trying to find work, and lacks data on the administrative burden.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:00:05 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because he believes work requirements successfully helped people at low income levels get better jobs, and this legislation targets that specific population for positive change.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:01:32 Watch the statement

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

4 roll calls

H10 - Labor:Do Pass Failed 4-4-1-0-02018-03-06 · House4 yes 4 no
S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-5-0-0-02018-02-27 · Senate25 yes 5 no
S10 - Labor:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02018-02-21 · Senate5 yes 0 no
S Introduced and Referred to S10 - Labor 28-1-1-0-02018-02-15 · Senate28 yes 1 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H postponed indefinitelyHouse
  2. H10 - Labor:Do Pass Failed 4-4-1-0-0House
  3. H Introduced and Referred to H10 - LaborHouse
  4. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  5. S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-5-0-0-0Senate
  6. S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
  7. S COW:PassedSenate
  8. S Placed on General FileSenate
  9. S10 - Labor:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
  10. S Introduced and Referred to S10 - Labor 28-1-1-0-0Senate
  11. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  12. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

SF0097S2001

Adopted 2nd reading by Case

SF0097S3001

Withdrawn 3rd reading by Hicks

SF0097S3002

Adopted 3rd reading by Scott

SF0097S3003

Failed 3rd reading by Baldwin