Catch Title: HB0077: Zoning Protest Petition – Repeal

Category: Economic Development

Sponsor: Representative(s) Filer, Fornstrom, Geringer, Singh, and Yin; Senator(s) Barlow, Boner, Love, Nethercott, Olsen, and Pappas

Effective Date: July 1, 2026

Bill URL: HB0077 – Wyoming Legislature

 Overview:

HB0077 proposes the total repeal of W.S. 15-1-603, effectively eliminating the formal “zoning protest petition” process in Wyoming. Under current law, if 20% of affected property owners sign a protest against a zoning change, the change is rendered ineffective unless approved by a supermajority of the local governing body. This bill removes that specific mechanism, allowing zoning decisions to be governed by standard majority voting procedures.

Key Provisions:

• Statutory Repeal: Repeals W.S. 15-1-603 in its entirety, removing the legal framework that requires a supermajority vote to override property owner protests.
• Protection of Pending Protests: Includes a “savings clause” specifying that any protest formally filed under the old statute before July 1, 2026, must still be considered by the city or town.
• Applicability: Applies to all incorporated cities and towns within the state of Wyoming.

Implications:

• Removal of the Supermajority Hurdle: The primary impact is the elimination of the 20% protest trigger. Currently, a small group of vocal neighbors can force a city council to meet a high bar (e.g., in Cheyenne, a vote of 8 out of 10 members) to approve a project; this bill returns that authority to a simple majority.
• Incentivizing Housing Development: The bill is a direct response to concerns that the existing protest process makes it “harder and harder” to build necessary housing. By removing this procedural obstacle, the legislature aims to reduce the ability of a minority of owners to stall or kill dense or multi-family housing developments.
• Shift in Local Political Power: While neighbors retain the right to speak at public hearings and provide feedback, they lose the statutory “veto-like” power provided by the formal petition process. This shifts the final decision-making power purely to the elected governing body without a heightened voting requirement.
• Transition Logistics: Developers and municipalities should note the July 1, 2026, effective date. Protests filed on June 30, 2026, will still trigger the supermajority requirement, whereas those filed one day later will not.