2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-02371HB0128
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0128
Public health emergency-definition amendments.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lucas, Angelos, Haroldson,
Heiner, Johnson, McCann, Rodriguez-Williams,
Smith, S, Styvar, Webb and Wharff and
Senator(s) McKeown and Smith, D
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to public health and safety; requiring the
2 governor to convene the legislature after declaring that a
3 public health emergency exists as specified; authorizing
4 the legislature to satisfy quorum requirements and vote in
5 person or remotely by an electronic method; amending the
6 definition of public health emergency as specified; making
7 conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and
8 providing for an effective date.
9
10
11
12. W.S. 35-4-116 is created to read:
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14 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02372HB0128
1
2 The governor shall declare when a public health emergency
3 exists or has ended. After the governor declares that a
4 public health emergency exists, the governor shall by
5 proclamation convene the legislature on the second day
6 following the date of the declaration for purposes of
7 concurring with or not concurring with the existence of a
8 public health emergency. The legislature by joint
9 resolution may concur that a public health emergency exists
10 or shall have the authority to terminate the public health
11 emergency. The legislature shall meet at the seat of
12 government and may satisfy quorum requirements and vote in
13 person or remotely by electronic video or audio conference
14 method.
15
16W.S. 1-1-141(a)(ii), 33-25-102(f)(vi),
17 33-49-107(c)(ii), 35-4-114(b) and (c) and 35-4-115(a)(i)
18 are amended to read:
19
20
21
22
23 (a) As used in this section: 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02373HB0128
1
2 (ii) "COVID-19" means severe acute respiratory
3 syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and any mutation or
4 viral fragments thereof or any disease or condition caused
5 by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
6 (SARS-CoV-2) that was the subject of the public health
7 emergency declared by the governor
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9
10
11
12
13 (f) The following persons are exempt from the
14 licensure and certification requirements of this act:
15
16 (vi) A physical therapist licensed in another
17 jurisdiction who enters this state to provide physical
18 therapy during a public health emergency as declared by the
19 governor pursuant to W.S. . Any
20 physical therapist practicing pursuant to this paragraph
21 shall notify the board of the therapist's intent to
22 practice and supply additional information as provided by
23 rules of the board; 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02374HB0128
1
2
3
4
5 (c) The following persons are exempt from this
6 chapter's licensure requirements:
7
8 (ii) An acupuncturist licensed in another
9 jurisdiction who enters this state to provide acupuncture
10 during a natural disaster or a public health emergency, as
11 declared by the governor pursuant to W.S.
12;
13
14
15
16 (b) The licensing boards for any health care provider
17 holding a permit or license as a health care provider
18 regulated under title 33 of the Wyoming statutes shall
19 provide by rule and regulations for the temporary licensure
20 of health care providers during a public health emergency
21 as declared by the governor pursuant to W.S.
22. If necessary during a declared public health
23 emergency, the state health officer may issue temporary 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02375HB0128
1 practice licenses to health care providers who are retired,
2 who have an inactive license or who are licensed in another
3 state without a valid Wyoming license pending action on an
4 application for issuance of a temporary license by the
5 appropriate licensing board pursuant to this subsection.
6
7 (c) All temporary health care provider licenses
8 issued by the state health officer under subsection (b) of
9 this section shall terminate automatically upon declaration
10 by the governor, pursuant to W.S. ,
11 that the public health emergency has ended.
12
13
14
15 (a) As used in this article:
16
17 (i) "Public health emergency" means an
18 occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health
19 condition caused by an epidemic or pandemic disease, a
20 novel and highly fatal infectious agent or a biological
21 toxin that poses a substantial risk of a significant number
22 of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02376HB0128
1 disability;. The governor shall declare when a public
2
3
4This act shall apply to all declarations
5 of public health emergencies occurring on and after July 1,
6 2025.
7
8. This act is effective July 1, 2025.
9
10 (END)