WyomingState forestry firefighters receive hazard pay and qualify for paid leave
Starting May 1, 2026, state forestry workers in wildland firefighting jobs receive hazard pay for hazardous work and become eligible for paid time off.
What it does
State forestry division employees in wildland firefighting jobs receive extra pay for hazardous work and are eligible for paid time off. Federal standards guide the office but do not bind it.
The office receives $422,500 for hazard pay. The money is limited to that purpose, and any unspent, unobligated funds revert at the end of the funding period.
Argument forHazard pay and eligibility for paid time off could help recognize the risks faced by state forestry workers who fight wildland fires.
Argument againstBecause federal standards do not bind the office, workers may receive less hazard pay or time off than those standards describe.
More detail
Covered state forestry division employees receive extra pay for hazardous firefighting work and are eligible for paid time off. This covers correctional forestry crew supervisors, correctional crew supervisors, correctional forestry crew managers, and other state forestry division employees in wildland firefighting jobs. The office must monitor federal standards for hazardous work and paid time off, but those standards do not bind it. This provision takes effect May 1, 2026.
The office of state lands and investments receives $422,500 from the general fund for hazard pay. The funding is for the office of state lands and investments to provide hazard pay to covered wildland firefighting employees. The money can be used only for hazard pay under this act. Any unspent, unobligated money reverts as provided by law. The funding period runs from May 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 27Assigned Chapter Number 4Latest
- Feb 27Governor Mark Gordon Signed HEA No. 0004Became Law
- Feb 26S President Signed HEA No. 0004
- Vote recorded S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0004
- Feb 26Assigned Number HEA No. 0004
- Feb 26S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0Passed Senate
- Feb 25S 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 24S COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 21S Placed on General File
- Vote recorded S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-1-1-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 21S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-1-1-0-0Minor
- Feb 17S Introduced and Referred to S02 - AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 16S Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 14H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0Passed House
- Vote recorded H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12H 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 11H COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 10H Placed on General File
- Vote recorded H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 9H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations 62-0-0-0-0Minor
- Vote recorded H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations 62-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 14H Received for IntroductionMinor
- Jan 12Bill Number AssignedIntroduced
Economy & JobsPublic Safety