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HB0046 • 2022

Partnership challenge loan program-amendments.

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Economic Development Act; amending the Wyoming partnership challenge loan program; authorizing loans for business succession and succession planning; amending limits for loan amounts under the program; authorizing contract lending for businesses and specifying loan requirements; amending and renaming bridge financing provisions; consolidating the guarantee loan participation into the bridge financing program; prohibiting new guarantee loan participations and new loan guarantees as specified; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; requiring rulemaking; requiring a report; and providing for effective dates.

Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Minerals
Last action
2022-03-07
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details about rulemaking and reporting obligations that are not fully explained in the official summary.

Wyoming Partnership Challenge Loan Program Amendments

This act amends the Wyoming partnership challenge loan program by adding new types of loans and changing rules for existing ones, including limits on certain loans after July 1, 2022.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds two new financing options: contract financing to help businesses gain liquidity and succession financing to assist in business transitions.
  • Changes the bridge-financing program to a fifty-fifty (50-50) financing model where loans can cover up to half of a project's cost, with limits on loan amounts.
  • Prohibits issuance of new guarantee loan participations and loan guarantees after July 1, 2022.
  • Requires community development organizations to contribute at least twenty percent (20%) of the loan amount for local economic development projects.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses seeking loans through the Wyoming partnership challenge loan program
  • Community development organizations applying for loans

Terms To Know

Bridge financing
A type of loan that covers up to fifty percent (50%) of a project's cost after July 1, 2022.
Contract financing
Loans provided for businesses to gain liquidity by using contract proceeds as collateral.
Succession financing
Loans aimed at assisting in the transition of a business that has been operating for seven years or more.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act's provisions regarding guarantee loan participations and loan guarantees are effective only until July 1, 2022.
  • Details about rulemaking requirements and reporting obligations are included but not fully explained in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2022-03-07 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 2

  2. 2022-03-07 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0005

  3. 2022-03-04 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0005

  4. 2022-03-03 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0005

  5. 2022-03-03 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0005

  6. 2022-03-03 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 20-10-0-0-0

  7. 2022-03-02 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2022-03-01 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  9. 2022-02-28 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  10. 2022-02-28 Senate

    S09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  11. 2022-02-23 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S09 - Minerals

  12. 2022-02-21 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  13. 2022-02-21 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-12-4-0-0

  14. 2022-02-18 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  15. 2022-02-17 House

    H COW:Passed

  16. 2022-02-16 House

    H Placed on General File

  17. 2022-02-16 House

    H09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  18. 2022-02-14 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals 54-5-1-0-0

  19. 2022-02-11 House

    H Received for Introduction

  20. 2022-01-26 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 22LSO-0090
Bill No.:

HB0046

Effective:

Multiple Dates

LSO No.:

22LSO-0090

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0005

Chapter No.:

2

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Partnership challenge loan program-amendments.

Subject:

Amending and creating programs within the Partnership Challenge Loan Program.

Summary/Major Elements:

Currently, statute authorizes the Wyoming Business Council to operate the Partnership Challenge Loan Program (Program), which includes several loan options for community development organizations and businesses to utilize.

This act creates two (2) new financing options within the Program: contract financing (where a business can gain liquidity by assigning the proceeds of a contract as collateral) and succession financing (for assisting in the transition of a business to a new owner).

The act amends the bridge-financing program to become a 50/50 financing program, where an entity could seek a loan for up to fifty percent (50%) of a project's cost.

The act prohibits issuance of a loan guarantee or a guarantee loan participation under the Program after July 1, 2022.

The act amends criteria for loans made to community development organizations to require the organization to contribute an amount equal to at least twenty percent (20%) (instead of 50%) of the loan amount for a program of investment in local economic development.

The act also amends the maximum amounts and limits for loans issued under the Program.

Comments:

The act requires the Wyoming Business Council to report to the Joint Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Interim Committee after all current loan guarantees and guarantee loan participations are complete.

The act has a split effective date. Rulemaking authority for the Business Council is effective immediately; the remainder of the act is effective on July 1, 2022.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
22LSO-0090

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0046

ENROLLED ACT NO. 5,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2022 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Economic Development Act; amending the Wyoming partnership challenge loan program; authorizing loans for business succession and succession planning; amending limits for loan amounts under the program; authorizing contract lending for businesses and specifying loan requirements; amending and renaming bridge financing provisions; consolidating the guarantee loan participation into the bridge financing program; prohibiting new guarantee loan participations and new loan guarantees as specified; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; requiring rulemaking; requiring a report; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vi) through (viii) and by creating new paragraphs (xi) and (xii), 9
‑
12
‑
302(a) and 9
‑
12
‑
304(a)(intro), (i), (b)(i), (d), (e)(intro), (f)(intro) and by creating new subsections (j) and (k) are amended to read:

9
‑
12
‑
301.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(vi)

"
Bridge
Fifty
‑
fifty (50
‑
50)
financing
program
" means the provision of financing for that portion of the total project cost
which
that
is calculated by subtracting from
the
total project cost the sum of
ownership
the business's
debt
.

and equity.
The council shall not consider a proposal in which the
bridge
fifty
‑
fifty (50
‑
50)
financing component exceeds
thirty
‑
five percent (35%)
fifty percent (50%)
of
the
total project cost or
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)
two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00)
, whichever is
less, and the business does not contribute more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total project cost;

(vii)

"Guarantee loan participation" means a provision of financing by the council in which the council participates with a lender that has secured a federal guaranteed loan to guarantee repayment of a loan made to a business.

The maximum participation by the council shall be fifty percent (50%) of the loan or two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), whichever is less
. The council shall not participate in a new guarantee loan participation under this article on and after July 1, 2022 as provided in W.S. 9-12-304(e)
;

(viii)

"Loan guarantee" means a provision of financing by the council in which the council guarantees a portion of a bank loan made to a business
. The council shall not issue a loan guarantee under this article on and after July 1, 2022 as provided in W.S. 9-12-304(f)
;

(xi)

"Contract financing" means a provision of financing for a business to gain liquidity and in which the business assigns the proceeds of a valid contract as collateral for the financing;

(xii)

"Succession financing" means a provision of financing to be used to assist in the transition or succession of a business that has been in existence for not less than seven (7) years immediately before the transfer or succession to a new owner of the business.

9
‑
12
‑
302.

Wyoming partnership challenge loan program; creation; rulemaking; administration account.

(a)

The council shall establish and administer a partnership challenge loan program under this article and may contract for necessary professional services. Loans authorized under the program shall be limited, except as otherwise provided under W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304(c) through
(h)
(k)
, to community development organizations and state development organizations and made in accordance with the provisions of W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304. Any community development organization or state development organization may submit an application to the council to participate in the program on forms prescribed by and subject to rules promulgated by the council.

9
‑
12
‑
304.

Criteria for loans.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided under

subsections (c) through
(h)
(k)
of this section, loans under this article may only be made by the council to community development organizations and state development organizations which meet the following eligibility criteria:

(i)

The community development organization or state development organization will contribute an amount of cash or cash equivalent
at least equal to
not less than twenty percent (20%) of
the loan it receives under this article to a program of investment in its area of local economic development;

(b)

Loans, loan commitments or loan guarantees or any combination thereof shall be made under this article only:

(i)

If the total amount to
:

(A)

A
single community development organization, or to a business for an economic disaster loan as provided under subsection (c) of this section, does not exceed
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00),
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00);

(B)

if the total amount to
A
business for
bridge
fifty
‑
fifty (50
‑
50)
financing as provided under subsection (d) of this section does not exceed
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00),
two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00) or fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost, whichever is less;

(C)

if the total amount to
S
tate development organizations does not exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000.00)
;
, if the amount to a business for a federally guaranteed loan as provided under subsection (e) of this section does not exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), if the amount to a business for a loan guarantee does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) per loan guaranteed or eighty percent (80%) of any net loan loss by the bank, whichever is less,

(D)

if the amount to
A
business for a Wyoming main street loan participation as provided under subsection (g) of this section does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)
;

(E)

or if the amount to
A
business for a natural gas fueling infrastructure loan as provided under subsection (h) of this section does not exceed seventy
‑
five percent (75%) of the total project cost or one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), whichever is less;

(F)

A business for a contract financing loan as provided under subsection (j) of this section does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00); or

(G)

A business for a succession financing loan as provided under subsection (k) of this section does not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00).

(d)

Any business may apply to the council for
bridge
fifty
‑
fifty (50
‑
50)
financing as defined in W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vi). The council shall prescribe the form and contents of
such
the
application. The council shall review each application and make a determination as soon as practicable. In the event of a default for any loan made under this subsection, liability shall be shared proportionately between the state and the lending institution in the same percentage as the source of the loan. The interest of the state and the lending institution shall have priority over any claim of the business receiving the bridge financing or any other third party.

(e)

Before July 1, 2022, a
ny business may apply to the council for a guarantee loan participation as defined in W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vii).

The council shall prescribe the form and contents of the application.

The council shall review each application and make a determination as soon as practicable.
No guarantee loan participations shall be issued on and after July 1, 2022.
The council shall structure any guarantee loan participation so that in the event of default of any loan which is participated in under this subsection:

(f)

Before July 1, 2022, a
ny business may apply to the council for a loan guarantee as defined in W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(viii).

The council shall prescribe the form
and contents of the application.

The council shall review each application and make a determination as soon as practicable.
No loan guarantees shall be issued on and after July 1, 2022.

The council shall structure any loan guarantee so that in the event of default of any loan that is guaranteed under this subsection:

(j)

Any business may apply to the council for a contract financing loan as defined in W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(xi). The council shall prescribe the form and contents of the application. The council shall review each application and make a determination as soon as practicable. In the event of a default, the state shall have priority over any claim of the business receiving the contract financing loan. The council shall not issue a loan under this subsection unless the business agrees to assign the proceeds of a contract to the council as collateral for the loan. The council shall not issue a loan under this subsection unless the business provides not less than two (2) letters from financial institutions denying an application or request for financing. Upon completion of the contract, the council shall retain sufficient proceeds of the contract used as collateral to retire the loan and any outstanding interest and shall remit any remaining proceeds to the business. All loans issued under this subsection shall not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) in the aggregate at any one (1) time. In evaluating applications for a contract financing loan under this subsection, the council shall consider whether the contract to be used as collateral will have sufficient proceeds to pay off the loan balance and the likelihood of the successful completion of the contract.

(k)

Any business or person seeking to purchase a business may apply to the council for a succession
financing loan as defined in W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(xii). The council shall prescribe the form and contents of the application. The council shall review each application and make a determination as soon as practicable. The council shall participate with a lending institution to make a succession financing loan to a business under this subsection, provided that the participation rate of the council shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total loan amount. The interest of the state and the lending institution shall have priority over any claim of the business receiving the succession financing loan or any other third party. The council shall not issue a loan under this subsection unless the business to be purchased and for which the loan is issued has been in operation for not less than seven (7) years directly proceeding the application for a loan. The council may require the person or business seeking the loan to pledge revenues from the business as collateral for the loan or for the repayment of the loan. In evaluating applications for a succession financing loan under this subsection, the council shall consider the financial health of the business and the person seeking to purchase the business, including whether the business will generate sufficient revenues to repay the loan.

Section 2
.

(a)

This act shall:

(i)

Apply to any loan issued under the partnership challenge loan program on and after the effective date of this section;

(ii)

Not affect any guarantee loan participation structured or financed before July 1, 2022;

(iii)

Not affect any loan guarantee made or guaranteed before July 1, 2022.

(b)

On and after July 1, 2022, the Wyoming business council shall not authorize, approve, structure, guarantee or finance:

(i)

A guarantee loan participation defined under W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vii) and authorized under W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304(e);

(ii)

A loan guarantee defined under W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(viii) and authorized under W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304(f).

Section 3.

The Wyoming business council shall report to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee not later than fifteen (15) days after all guarantee loan participations defined by W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vii) and authorized by W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304(e) and all loan guarantees defined by W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(viii) and authorized by W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
304(f) are completed and retired. The committee may consider any legislation necessary after receiving the report, including the repeal of W.S. 9
‑
12
‑
301(a)(vii) and (viii) and 9
‑
12
‑
304(e) and (f).

Section 4.

The Wyoming business council shall promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 5
.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2022
.

(b) Sections 4 and 5 are
effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1