SF0032 • 2025

Unpaved roads speed limits-amendments.

AN ACT relating to speed limits; authorizing local authorities to set maximum speed limits on unpaved roadways without first conducting a speed study or justifying the maximum speed limit; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Transportation
Last action: 2025-03-18
Official status: enrolled
Effective date: 7/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that the state transportation department will make rules, but it requires rulemaking for implementation.

Amending Speed Limits for Unpaved Roads

This law allows local authorities to set speed limits on unpaved roads without needing a study, and it requires them to consult with engineers and police before setting temporary lower speed limits.

What This Bill Does

Local authorities can reduce the maximum speed limit on unpaved roads to at least 35 miles per hour without doing a speed study.
They can also set a temporary speed limit of less than 35 miles per hour for up to one year if needed, such as during construction or special events.
Before setting these lower temporary limits, local authorities must talk with their engineer and the police in charge of that road.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments who set speed limits on unpaved roads
Drivers using unpaved roads

Terms To Know

Speed study: A research project that looks at how fast cars are going and what the safest speed should be.
Local authority: The government of a city, town, or county that makes rules for its area.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies to unpaved roads.
It does not say how local authorities should decide on the speed limits.
Local authorities must still follow other laws and rules when setting these limits.

Amendments

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

SF0032HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Rodriguez-Williams

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes specific language about setting maximum speed limits on unpaved roads, allowing local authorities more flexibility in determining these limits.

Removes the requirement for a 'maximum speed limit' and replaces it with 'as specified'.
Eliminates the need to provide justification when setting speed limits on unpaved roads.

The amendment text does not specify what 'as specified' means, leaving some ambiguity about how speed limits will be determined.
It is unclear if this change affects other parts of the bill that were previously amended by the House standing committee.

SF0032HW002

Committee of the Whole • Representative Allemand

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds an exception to the bill's rule about speed limits on unpaved roads by excluding privately owned roadways from its provisions.

Adds a new clause stating that the subsection does not apply to privately owned roadways.

The exact impact of this exclusion on privately owned roadways is unclear without further context about current regulations and practices.

SF0032HW003

Committee of the Whole • Representative Allemand

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new rule that says local authorities cannot set speed limits on unpaved roads unless the roads are publicly owned.

Adds an exception stating that subsections of the bill do not apply to privately owned roadways.

The exact impact and scope of this amendment may be unclear without additional context about how many unpaved roads are privately owned.

SF0032HW004

Committee of the Whole • Representative Geringer

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment allows local authorities to decrease speed limits on unpaved roads without conducting a study, with certain conditions and limitations.

Local authorities can now lower speed limits on unpaved roads to 45 mph without needing to conduct a speed study, as long as they consult with their engineer or road superintendent and the local law enforcement agency.
For temporary reductions in speed limits, local authorities must also initiate a speed study within 30 days of implementing the change and ensure data accuracy through traffic speed data collection.

The amendment specifies that temporary speed limit changes cannot last more than 30 days after completing a required speed study.
Details about the duration of speed studies conducted by different entities (local authority's engineer, private contractor, or University of Wyoming) are provided.

SF0032HS001

Standing Committee • House Transportation, Highways and Military Affair

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes parts of the bill to allow local authorities more flexibility in setting speed limits on unpaved roads without needing a prior study or justification.

Removes specific language about establishing maximum speed limits and replaces it with more flexible wording.
Adds new provisions allowing local authorities to increase speed limits up to 55 mph for unpaved roads if they conduct a speed study or hold a public hearing.

The exact impact of the changes on current regulations is not fully explained in the amendment text.

SF0032JC001

Conference Committee

S Failed

Plain English: The amendment removes specific limits and requirements for setting speed limits on unpaved roads, allowing local authorities to decrease these limits without needing a study or justification.

Local authorities can now permanently or temporarily lower speed limits on unpaved roads without having to conduct a speed study or provide reasons.
The minimum speed limit on unpaved roads is set at 35 miles per hour, replacing the previous maximum of 55 miles per hour.

The amendment does not specify how local authorities should determine new speed limits below 35 mph.

SF0032JC002

Conference Committee

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how local authorities can set speed limits on unpaved roads by allowing them to decrease existing limits and establish temporary lower limits without a study.

Local authorities are allowed to decrease the maximum speed limit on unpaved roads instead of just establishing new ones.
A minimum speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour is set for unpaved roads, replacing the previous cap of fifty-five (55) miles per hour.
Temporary speed limits below thirty-five (35) miles per hour can be established without a speed study if certain conditions are met.

The amendment text does not specify how local authorities should consult with engineers and law enforcement before setting temporary lower speed limits, leaving some details unclear.

Bill History

2025-03-18 LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 158
2025-03-18 Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0081
2025-03-05 House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0081
2025-03-04 Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0081
2025-03-04 LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0081
2025-02-26 House
Pursuant to JR 2-1(c): H Appointed JCC02 Members
2025-02-26 Senate
Pursuant to JR 2-1(c):S Appointed JCC02 Members
2025-02-21 House
H Appointed JCC01 Members
2025-02-21 Senate
S Appointed JCC01 Members
2025-02-21 Senate
S Concur:Failed 1-30-0-0-0
2025-02-20 Senate
S Received for Concurrence
2025-02-20 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 48-13-1-0-0
2025-02-19 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2025-02-18 House
H COW:Passed
2025-02-13 House
H Placed on General File
2025-02-13 House
H COW:H Pursuant to HR 11-5 Rejected the CoW Report for SF0032 20-37-5-0-0
2025-02-13 House
H COW:Failed 24-34-4-0-0
2025-02-11 House
H Placed on General File
2025-02-11 House
H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0
2025-02-10 House
H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation
2025-01-22 House
H Received for Introduction
2025-01-20 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 23-4-4-0-0
2025-01-17 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2025-01-16 Senate
S COW:Passed
2025-01-16 Senate
S Placed on General File
2025-01-16 Senate
S08 - Transportation:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0
2025-01-15 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S08 - Transportation
2024-12-19 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2024-12-09 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0256

Bill No.:

SF0032

Effective:

7/1/2025

LSO No.:

25LSO-0256

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0081

Chapter No.:

158

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Unpaved roads speed limits-amendments.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Local authorities establishing speed limits on unpaved roadways.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act authorizes local authorities to decrease a maximum speed limit to not less than thirty-five (35) miles per hour for unpaved roadways without first conducting a speed study.

This act authorizes local authorities to establish a temporary speed limit of less than thirty-five (35) miles per hour without conducting a speed study and for a period not exceeding one (1) year for purposes, including but not limited to, construction, maintenance, special events, emergency situations, and changes in use.

This act requires that a local authority consult with the local authority's engineer or road and bridge superintendent and law enforcement with jurisdiction over the road before establishing a temporary speed limit of less than thirty-five (35) miles per hour.

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

25LSO-0256

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0032

ENROLLED ACT NO. 81,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
303(b) and by creating a new subsection (f) is amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
303.

Establishing maximum speed limits by local authorities.

(b)

Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, i
n compliance with rules promulgated by the department, local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may determine the proper maximum speed for all streets and highways within their respective corporate jurisdiction which maximum speed is reasonable and safe and which may be greater or less than the maximum speed permitted under this act. The rules promulgated by the department shall adopt standards consistent with national practices.
The department shall not promulgate rules that require a speed study before a local authority establishes a maximum speed limit for unpaved roads in accordance with subsection (f) of this section.

(f)

A local authority may decrease a maximum speed limit to not less than thirty
‑
five (35) miles per hour for unpaved roadways under W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
301(b)(iv) without first conducting a speed study. A local authority may establish a temporary speed limit of less than thirty-five (35) miles per hour without conducting a speed study and for a period not exceeding one (1) year for purposes including, but not limited to, construction, maintenance, special events, emergency situations and changes in use.

Before establishing a temporary speed limit of less than thirty-five (35) miles per hour, the local authority shall consult with the local authority's engineer or road and bridge superintendent and law enforcement with jurisdiction over the roadway.

Section 2.

The department of transportation shall promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 3
.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.

(b)

Sections 2 and 3 of this act 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 Senate.

Chief Clerk