HB0196 • 2023

Wyoming infrastructure protection act.

AN ACT relating to trade and commerce; requiring the office of homeland security to establish a reporting system for concerns regarding critical infrastructure as specified; authorizing the governor to specify countries and companies as threats to critical infrastructure; providing definitions; specifying applicability; providing an appropriation; authorizing positions; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Technology

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Representative Henderson
Last action: 2023-02-02
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide detailed information on how the reporting system will be implemented.

Wyoming Infrastructure Protection Act

The bill requires the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security to create a system for reporting threats to critical infrastructure and allows the governor to designate countries or companies as threats.

What This Bill Does

Creates definitions for terms like 'critical infrastructure' and 'cyber'.
Requires the director of homeland security to set up a way for people to report suspicious activities related to critical infrastructure, including online and telephone submission methods.
Allows the governor, after consulting with the director, to designate countries or companies as threats to critical infrastructure.
Funds two new full-time positions in the Office of Homeland Security to help implement these requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
Governor of Wyoming
People and entities who report suspicious activities related to critical infrastructure

Terms To Know

Critical Infrastructure: Assets, systems, networks or facilities that are vital for the security, public health, or safety of Wyoming.
Cyber: Measures taken to protect computer and technology infrastructure from unauthorized use or access.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its current session.
It specifies that the reporting system should include online and telephone submission methods, but does not detail how it will be implemented.
Funding for positions is only provided for one fiscal year (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024).

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0196HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Henderson

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a specific funding amount and details to an existing bill, providing $5,000 from the general fund to the office of homeland security for initial administration of the act.

Adds $5,000 in funding from the general fund to support the office of homeland security's work on implementing the new reporting system for critical infrastructure concerns.
Specifies that this money can only be used between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, and any leftover funds will revert back as required by law.

The amendment does not provide details on how the $5,000 will be specifically used within the office of homeland security during this period.

HB0196HS001

Standing Committee • House Minerals, Business and Economic Development

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment modifies the bill to include companies alongside countries as entities that can be designated as threats to critical infrastructure.

Adds 'companies' as a category of entities that can be identified as threats, in addition to 'countries'.
Removes specific sections and references that are no longer needed after these changes.

The exact impact on the reporting system for critical infrastructure concerns is not fully explained by the amendment text.
Some deleted lines and sections may have contained important details about how the bill would function, which are now removed without clear explanation.

Bill History

2023-02-02 House
H COW:Failed 21-40-1-0-0
2023-01-30 House
H Placed on General File
2023-01-30 House
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0
2023-01-27 House
:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations
2023-01-27 House
H09 - Minerals:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0
2023-01-24 House
H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals
2023-01-24 House
H Received for Introduction
2023-01-21 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

23LSO-0447
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0447
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0196

Wyoming infrastructure protection act.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Henderson, Burkhart, Neiman and Olsen and Senator(s) Barlow, Boner and McKeown

A BILL

for

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 19
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13
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501 through 19
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13
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503 are created to read:

ARTICLE 5
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE – PROHIBITED CONTRACTS

19
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13
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501.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(i)

"Critical infrastructure" means an asset, system, network or facility, whether physical or cyber, that are considered so vital to the state of Wyoming that the incapacitation or destruction of the asset, system, network or facility would have a debilitating effect on security, public health or safety. "Critical infrastructure" includes any asset, system, network or facility that involves chemical facilities, commercial facilities, communications, critical manufacturing, dams, defense industrial bases, emergency services, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, government, health care and public health, information technology, nuclear reactors, materials and waste, transportation systems and water and wastewater systems;

(ii)

"Cyber" means the measures taken to protect a computer, computer network, computer system or other technology infrastructure against unauthorized use or access;

(iii)

"Designated country" means:

(A)

Any country that has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism under federal law; or

(B)

A country designated by the governor as a threat to critical infrastructure under W.S. 19
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13
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502.

(iv)

"Director" means the director of the office of homeland security;

(v)

"Governmental entity" means the state of Wyoming, any political subdivision of the state, city, town, county or special district, or any agency or entity thereof.

19
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13
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502.

Designation of a country as a threat to critical infrastructure.

(a)

The governor, after consultation with the director, may designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure for purposes of this article. The governor may consult with the office of homeland security and any relevant state or federal agency before making any designation under this section.

(b)

The governor may, in the governor's discretion, disseminate information about the countries designated under subsection (a) of this section.

19
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13
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503.

Notice of potential threats to critical infrastructure; reporting.

(a)

The director shall establish a system for governmental entities and other persons to report suspicious activity, potential threats or risks to critical infrastructure from designated countries or persons from designated countries in Wyoming. The system shall include, at a minimum:

(i)

Allow for the submission of information online or by telephone;

(ii)

Provide for the submission of information concerning:

(A)

Real property purchases and leases of land adjacent to critical infrastructure by designated countries or persons from designated countries;

(B)

Contracts where a designated country or a person from a designated country is a party and where the designated country or person is granted access to critical infrastructure, whether by physical, remote or other means;

(C)

Any other suspicious activity, threat or risk from a designated country or person from a designated country that the director requires to be included as part of the reporting system.

(iii)

A method by which reports of suspicious activity, threats or risks submitted under this section are disseminated to the governor and any appropriate state or federal agency.

(b)

The director may utilize any existing system to implement the reporting system required by this section.

(c)

The director shall provide information on the reporting system required by this section and how governmental entities and persons may report to Wyoming residents and governmental entities, including county clerks and law enforcement agencies.

Section 2.

(a)

There is authorized two (2) full
‑
time employee positions to the office of the governor for the office of homeland security for purposes of implementing this act. One (1) of the positions authorized in this subsection shall be for a critical infrastructure analyst. The remaining one (1) position authorized in this subsection shall be for a critical infrastructure energy analyst.

(b)

There is appropriated two hundred three thousand dollars ($203,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the governor for the office of homeland security for purposes of implementing this act and funding the two (2) positions authorized in subsection (a) of this section. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024 and shall not be expended for any other purpose. Any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation on June 30, 2024 shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2024.

(c)

It is the intent of the legislature that the two (2) positions authorized and the appropriation provided in this section be included in the governor's standard budget request for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

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HB0196