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SF0071 • 2023

State loan and bond programs.

AN ACT relating to state public purpose investments; decreasing maximum limits for loan amounts and amending terms, rates and conditions for farm loans, infrastructure project loans and street and road project loans; striking provisions related to the investment of permanent funds in community college district bonds; prohibiting new state loan and investment board loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and student dormitory loans as specified; repealing the limit on funds available for beginning agriculture producer farm loans; specifying applicability; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

Agriculture Budget Education Land
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Appropriations
Last action
2023-03-01
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how existing loans will be affected by new limits and conditions.

Changes to State Loan and Bond Programs

This act changes the terms, rates, conditions, and availability of state bond and loan programs in Wyoming.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets new interest rates for farm loans, infrastructure project loans, and street-and-road project loans based on U.S. Treasury security yields.
  • Decreases funding limits for permanent funds used for these loan programs: $50 million for farm loans (down from $275 million) and $175 million for infrastructure projects (down from $400 million).
  • Stops the investment of Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund in community college district bonds.
  • Prohibits new loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and student dormitory loans after April 1, 2023.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers and agricultural producers seeking loans from state funds.
  • Local governments and agencies applying for infrastructure or road project loans.
  • Community college districts that previously received bond investments from permanent funds.
  • Joint powers boards and student dormitory projects.

Terms To Know

Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund
A fund used by the state to provide financial support for various public purposes, including loans.
U.S. Treasury Security Yield
The interest rate or return on investment of U.S. government bonds that matches the duration of a loan.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how existing loans will be affected by new limits and conditions.
  • Details about future reports to the Joint Appropriations Committee are limited.

Amendments

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

SF0071H3001

3rd reading • Representative Locke

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes a specific line from the bill, which is part of an act related to state public purpose investments.

  • Removes one line from page 1 of the original bill.
  • It's unclear what content was in the deleted line and how its removal affects other parts of the bill.
SF0071VT001

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: This amendment overrides the governor's veto of Senate Enrolled Act No. 0037, which was originally Senate File 0071.

  • Overrides the governor's decision to reject Senate Enrolled Act No. 0037.
  • The official text does not provide details about the contents of Senate Enrolled Act No. 0037, so specific changes made by that act are unknown.

Bill History

  1. 2023-03-01 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 135

  2. 2023-02-27 Wyoming Legislature

    Veto Message Received

  3. 2023-02-27 Governor

    Governor Vetoed SEA No. 0037

  4. 2023-02-21 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0037

  5. 2023-02-17 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0037

  6. 2023-02-16 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0037

  7. 2023-02-16 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 62-0-0-0-0

  8. 2023-02-15 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  9. 2023-02-14 House

    H COW:Passed

  10. 2023-02-13 House

    H Placed on General File

  11. 2023-02-13 House

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

  12. 2023-02-09 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations

  13. 2023-01-18 House

    H Received for Introduction

  14. 2023-01-18 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0

  15. 2023-01-17 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  16. 2023-01-16 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  17. 2023-01-16 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  18. 2023-01-16 Senate

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

  19. 2023-01-11 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S02 - Appropriations

  20. 2023-01-09 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  21. 2023-01-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0100
Bill No.:

SF0071

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

23LSO-0100

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0037

Chapter No.:

135

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Appropriations Committee

Catch Title:

State loan and bond programs.

Subject:

Amending terms, rates, conditions, and availability of state bond and loan programs.

Summary/Major Elements:

State law authorizes the State Loan and Investment Board to loan permanent funds for specified purposes under set terms and conditions.

This act amends the interest rates for some of these loan programs. The interest rates for farm loans, infrastructure project loans, and street-and-road project loans are amended to be equal to the yield on a United States treasury security of the same duration as the loan. The State Loan and Investment Board may add an additional percentage to the interest rate as a risk premium.

The act decreases the maximum aggregate funding limits for the use of permanent funds for these loan programs. For the farm-loan program, the limit is now fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) (down from two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($275,000,000.00)). For the infrastructure-loan program, the limit is now one hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000.00) (down from four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000)).

The act strikes authorization for the investment of the Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund in community-college-district bonds.

The act prohibits the issuance of new loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and new loans for student dormitories on and after April 1, 2023.

Comments:

This act requires a report to the Joint Appropriations Committee once all existing loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and all existing student-dormitory loans are retired.

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
23LSO-0100

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0071

ENROLLED ACT NO. 37,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to state public purpose investments; decreasing maximum limits for loan amounts and amending terms, rates and conditions for farm loans, infrastructure project loans and street and road project loans; striking provisions related to the investment of permanent funds in community college district bonds; prohibiting new state loan and investment board loans under the Wyoming Joint Powers Act and student dormitory loans as specified; repealing the limit on funds available for beginning agriculture producer farm loans; specifying applicability; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 11
‑
34
‑
117(a) and (b), 11
‑
34
‑
129, 16
‑
1
‑
109(a), 16
‑
1
‑
111(a)(intro), (b)(intro), (c)(intro) and (d)(intro), 21
‑
18
‑
206, 21
‑
18
‑
313(h) and 21
‑
18
‑
319(a) are amended to read:

11
‑
34
‑
117.

Rates of interest; length of loan; amount.

(a)

The
board may set
rates of interest on all farm loans
according to current interest rates but not less than four percent (4%) nor more than ten percent (10%)
shall be equal to the yield on a United States treasury security of the same duration of the loan,
whether the money is loaned upon the amortization plan or otherwise.
The board may add an additional percentage not to exceed two percent (2%) as a risk premium to the interest rate established under this subsection. The rate of interest for all farm loans shall not be less than three percent (3%).

(b)

A farm loan to a beginning agriculture producer shall be
the lowest of eight per cent (8%) or
equal to
the yield on a
ten (10) year
United States treasury
bond
security of the same duration of the loan
. This loan rate shall be fixed for a period of ten (10) years. At the end of the ten (10) year period the interest rate shall be the current rate for loans as established under subsection (a) of this section.
The board may add an additional percentage not to exceed two percent (2%) as a risk premium to the interest rate established under this subsection. The rate of interest for all farm loans to beginning agricultural producers shall not be less than three percent (3%).

11
‑
34
‑
129.

Investment of permanent funds.

The state treasurer, with the approval of the board, is
directed
authorized
to invest and keep invested in farm loans a sum not to exceed
two hundred seventy
‑
five million dollars ($275,000,000.00)
fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00)
of any state permanent funds available for investment, including loans already made and outstanding, as the funds become available in the treasurer's office for investment in loans approved by the board.

16
‑
1
‑
109.

State loan and investment board loans; amount; interest; security; conditions.

(a)

Before April 1, 2023, t
he state loan and investment board may negotiate and make loans to one (1) or more agencies, the University of Wyoming, or joint powers boards presently existing, permitted or created pursuant to the statutes, from the permanent mineral trust funds and other permanent funds of Wyoming not otherwise obligated, not to exceed sixty million dollars ($60,000,000.00) including all loans previously made and outstanding, and not to exceed a term of forty (40) years for repayment. The board shall set rates of interest on all such loans according to the current rates of interest for similar securities on the commercial market upon a basis which will not be less than the average rate of return realized on all permanent mineral trust fund investments as determined by the state treasurer for the five (5) calendar years immediately preceding the year in which the loan is made.

For all loans under this section approved after July 1, 1996, a loan origination fee of one percent (1%) of the loan shall be paid to the state loan and investment board by the borrowing agency, university or joint powers board. The revenue produced by this fee shall be credited to the loss reserve account as provided by W.S. 16
‑
1
‑
110.
The state loan and investment board shall not issue any new loan under this section on and after April 1, 2023.

16
‑
1
‑
111.

Loans to political subdivisions; requirements; limitations; rulemaking.

(a)

The state loan and investment board may negotiate and make loans from the permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund to political subdivisions of this state as provided in this section. The aggregate sum of all outstanding loans made under this section shall not exceed
four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000.00). The aggregate sum of outstanding loans made for infrastructure projects shall not exceed two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000.00) and shall not exceed two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000.00) for road or street projects
one hundred seventy
‑
five million dollars ($175,000,000.00)
. Loans may be made for infrastructure projects and street and road projects as provided in this section.

The board shall adopt rules and procedures as it deems advisable or necessary to administer the program. The rules shall include requirements and standards which the board determines to be necessary or advisable in accordance with the following:

(b)

Loans may be made to cities, towns, counties,
special districts specifically involved in providing facilities or functions enumerated in W.S. 16
‑
1
‑
104(c),
school districts and community college districts for infrastructure projects
and to airport boards and joint powers boards for projects for the construction, development and improvement of airport facilities generating user fees
. A loan under this subsection shall be at an interest rate
of one percent (1%) plus seventy
‑
five thousandths of one percent (.075%) for each year of the loan term in excess of five (5) years
equal to the yield on a United States treasury security of the same duration of the loan
.
The board may add an additional percentage not to exceed two percent (2%) as a risk premium to the interest rate established under this subsection. The rate of interest for all loans issued under this subsection shall not be less than three percent (3%).
In the event of prepayment of a loan, the interest rate shall be calculated at the actual loan period, but no refund of interest payment shall be made to the borrowing entity.

Any loan made under this subsection shall be for a term of not fewer than five (5) years and not greater than twenty
‑
five (25) years for repayment. Adequate security for loans shall be required and may include:

(c)

Loans may be made to cities, towns and counties for road or street projects.

To qualify for a road or street project loan, in addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an applicant shall demonstrate that all related infrastructure including water and sewer is or will be in place at the time of receipt of the loan.

No loan shall be provided under this subsection to any city, town or county that has any outstanding or unpaid loan under this subsection. Any loan under this subsection shall be at an interest rate
of one percent (1%) plus seventy
‑
five thousandths of one percent (.075%) for each year of the loan term in excess of five (5) years
equal to the yield on a United States treasury security of the same duration of the loan
.
The board may add an additional percentage not to exceed two percent (2%) as a risk premium to the interest rate established under this subsection. The rate of interest for all loans issued under this subsection shall not be less than three percent (3%).
In the event of prepayment of a loan, the interest rate shall be calculated at the actual loan period, but no refund of interest payment shall be made to the borrowing entity.

Any loan made under this subsection shall be for a term of not fewer than five (5) years and not greater than twenty
‑
five (25) years for repayment.
The total loans under this subsection provided in any one (1) year shall not exceed one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000.00).

Not more than thirty
‑
five million dollars ($35,000,000.00) of road or street loans shall be made in any one (1) year to:

(d)

Loans may be made to irrigation or water conservancy districts for replacement or major maintenance projects of storage, diversion, transmission, and distribution systems. A loan under this subsection shall be at an interest rate
of the greater of one percent (1%) plus seventy
‑
five thousandths of one percent (0.075%) for each year of the loan term in excess of five (5) years or the current equivalent
equal to
yield of a United States treasury security of the same duration of the loan
.
, which may be adjusted every five (5) years.

The board may add an additional percentage not to exceed two percent (2%) as a risk premium to the interest rate established under this subsection. The rate of interest for all loans issued under this subsection shall not be less than three percent (3%).
In the event of prepayment of a loan, the interest rate shall be calculated at the actual loan period, but no refund of interest payment shall be made to the borrowing entity. Any loan made under this subsection shall be for a term of not fewer than five (5) years and not greater than twenty
‑
five (25) years for repayment. The board shall require an irrigation or a water conservancy district to apply for other grant or loan programs prior to authorizing a loan under this subsection. Adequate security for loans shall be required and may include:

21
‑
18
‑
206.

Paying out appropriations by warrants drawn upon vouchers.

The state treasurer shall pay out state appropriations for community colleges on warrants drawn by the auditor of the state upon vouchers issued and signed by the director of the commission.

If any community college entitled to payment out of any appropriation has defaulted in the payment of interest or principal on any revenue bonds issued by the community college and purchased by the state treasurer, the state treasurer shall withhold from the community college that portion of its share of any state aid or appropriation and shall apply the share to any default which has or may in the future occur.

Warrants may be drawn upon the state treasurer by the state investment board certifying the default.

21
‑
18
‑
313.

Bond issues; revenue bonds.

(h)

Bonds issued pursuant to this act are eligible for investment by banking institutions and for estate, trust, and fiduciary funds, and the bonds and the interest thereon shall be exempt from taxation by this state and any subdivision thereof.

The state treasurer of the state of Wyoming, with the approval of the governor and the attorney general, may invest any permanent state funds available for investment in the bonds to be issued hereunder.

21
‑
18
‑
319.

Student dormitory capital construction loans; rulemaking; requirements; reporting; definition.

(a)

Before April 1, 2023, t
he state loan and investment board may negotiate and make loans from the permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund to community college districts for capital construction of student dormitories, including the purchase of land, buildings, facilities and necessary rights
‑
of
‑
way. The aggregate sum of all outstanding loans made under this section shall not exceed sixty million dollars ($60,000,000.00). The board shall adopt rules as it deems advisable or necessary to administer the loans authorized in this section.
The state loan and investment board shall not issue any new loan under this section on and after April 1, 2023.

Section 2.

W.S. 11
‑
34
‑
117(c) and 16
‑
1
‑
111(c)(i) through (iii) are repealed.

Section 3.

(a)

Nothing in this act shall be construed to:

(i)

Modify or impair existing contracts, loans or bond purchases of the state of Wyoming executed before the effective date of this act;

(ii)

Release or in any way diminish the liability or obligation of any person, individual, partnership, corporation, joint stock company or any other association or entity, whether public or private, held or owned by the state of Wyoming.

Section 4.

(a)

On and after April 1, 2023, the state loan and investment board shall not authorize, approve, structure, guarantee or finance:

(i)

A Wyoming Joint Powers Act loan under W.S. 16
‑
1
‑
109;

(ii)

A student dormitory capital construction loan under W.S. 21
‑
18
‑
319.

(b)

The office of state lands and investments shall report to the joint appropriations committee not later than fifteen (15) days after:

(i)

All loans issued under W.S. 16
‑
1
‑
109 have been repaid and are retired;

(ii)

All loans issued under W.S. 21
‑
18
‑
319 have been repaid and are retired.

(c)

The joint appropriations committee may consider any legislation necessary after receiving the reports required under subsection (b) of this section, including the repeal of W.S. 16
‑
1
‑
109 and 21
‑
18
‑
319.

Section 5
.

This act is 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 Senate.

Chief Clerk

1