Long-term homeowner tax exemption-revisions, the official text

ORIGINAL House ENGROSSED
Bill No. HB0045

ENROLLED ACT NO. 23, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to taxation; revising the deadline to apply and the exemption amount for the property tax exemption for long-term homeowners; providing a method to claim the property tax exemption in subsequent years; establishing a limitation on the long-term homeowner tax exemption; amending definitions; repealing the sunset date of the property tax exemption; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1. W.S. 39‑11‑105(a)(xlv)(A), (B), (C)(II) and by creating new subparagraphs (D) and (E) is amended to read:

39‑11‑105. Exemptions.

(a) The following property is exempt from property taxation:

(xlv) A portion of property used as a primary residence by long‑term homeowners as provided in this paragraph. The following shall apply to this exemption:

(A) For residential real property used as a primary residence, if the owner or their spouse is sixty‑five (65) years of age or older and the owner or their spouse has paid residential property tax in Wyoming for twenty‑five (25) years or more on any residential property, the amount of the exemption shall be fifty percent (50%) of the assessed value fair market value of the residential real property, provided that the exemption shall only apply to the first three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) of the fair market value of the residential real property;

(B) Except as provided by subdivision (C)(II) of this paragraph, not more than one (1) exemption under this paragraph shall apply to the same property in any year and no owner shall claim more than one (1) exemption under this paragraph in any year including property that houses more than one (1) family. To claim an exemption under this paragraph the owner of the residential real property shall submit a claim to the county assessor not later than the fourth Monday in May March 1 each year on forms provided by the department of revenue demonstrating that the person is the owner of the property, that the person or the person's spouse is sixty‑five (65) years of age or older and has paid residential property tax in Wyoming for twenty‑five (25) years or more on any residential property and that the property is the person's primary residence. A surviving spouse of a person who qualified under this paragraph and who would not otherwise qualify under this paragraph shall continue to qualify for the exemption under this paragraph. False claims are punishable as provided by W.S. 6‑5‑303;

(C) As used in this paragraph:

(II) "Primary residence" means residential real property in Wyoming where the person claiming the exemption actually resides for not less than eight (8) months of the year. If a primary residence is sold and another property is purchased within the state of Wyoming, the months residing in both owner‑occupied residences shall apply to the requirements of this exemption;

(D) After filing a sworn claim pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, in subsequent years the claimant shall remain qualified for the tax exemption provided by this paragraph if the claimant contacts the assessor's office by telephone, mail or other communication method on or before March 1 and confirms that the claimant continues to meet the requirements set forth in this paragraph;

(E) If the secretary of state certifies to the department of revenue that the voters have approved an initiative implementing a homeowner's property tax exemption and the exemption is enacted into law, an owner who qualifies and applies for an exemption under this paragraph shall not qualify for the exemption under the initiative.

Section 2. 2024 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 106, Section 2 is repealed.

Section 3. This act is effective July 1, 2026.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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