Rep. Chip Neiman

Maddy summarySF 105 requires public utilities in Wyoming to have a written customer allocation agreement with both utilities before providing service to a customer located within another utility's designated service territory. This directly affects utilities that might otherwise serve customers in areas legally assigned to another provider, such as when a customer's point of delivery is outside one utility's territory but consumption occurs within it. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for damages, lost income, and legal fees if this rule is violated. It became effective July 1, 2023, and aims to clarify service territory boundaries for utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Wyoming calculates the maximum duration of unemployment benefits. It bases the maximum benefit period (ranging from 12 to 23 weeks) on the state's average unemployment rate: 12 weeks if the rate is 5% or lower, plus one additional week for every 0.5% above 5%, capped at 23 weeks if the rate reaches 10.5% or higher. The change applies only to unemployment claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects Wyoming residents who qualify for unemployment insurance by adjusting how long they can receive benefits based on statewide job market conditions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 253, the "Credit Card Defense Act," requires merchants selling firearms or ammunition in the state to use a "sporting goods" merchant category code for all transactions, instead of codes specifying firearms. Financial institutions, credit cards, and payment processors must not collect or generate personally identifying information beyond this category code for such purchases. The law directly affects firearm retailers, banks, and payment processors handling these transactions in Wyoming. It mandates that all relevant financial institutions adopt this coding standard by July 1, 2023, to limit transaction data collection related to firearm purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 131 creates a legislative task force to study Wyoming's state lands and investment systems. The task force, composed of 7 legislative members and 3 governor-appointed members, will examine the structure and duties of the state loan and investment board and the office of state lands and investments, including grant programs, land leases, and fund management. It must identify governance issues and recommend potential changes to the legislature by 2025. The bill appropriates $50,000 for legislative members' travel and $25,000 for governor-appointed members' expenses, with the task force terminating January 1, 2025. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 177) would have repealed a legal exception allowing educational institutions and libraries to possess materials without facing charges for "promoting obscenity." It specifically targeted Section 6-4-302(c)(ii) of Wyoming law, which previously exempted such materials from the obscenity offense. The repeal would have meant that educational and library materials could no longer automatically avoid being classified as promoting obscenity under state law. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 95, the "Working Animal Protection Act," prohibits Wyoming cities, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing local ordinances that ban, terminate, or unduly restrict the use of "working animals" in lawful commerce or animal enterprises. It directly affects local governments and individuals using animals for specific duties like ranching, transportation, tourism, or human service (excluding food/fiber animals like cattle or chickens). Key provisions define "working animal" broadly but explicitly exclude livestock raised for food/fiber, and allow local zoning, public health, and safety rules to remain in effect. The law supersedes conflicting local policies but does not override state animal care or public safety laws. It became effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 283 amends Wyoming's obscenity law to create a specific exception for educational and library activities. It allows schools, colleges, universities, museums, and public libraries to produce, possess, or share obscene material as part of their educational work, provided the activity follows policies approved by the organization's elected governing body. The bill requires that these policies align with community standards and are formally adopted by the governing body. This exception applies to the offense of "promoting obscenity" but does not change the definition of obscenity itself. The bill was introduced in January 2023 but died in committee in February 2023 without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 78, titled "Protection of parental rights," would have amended Wyoming statutes to expand where parental rights protections apply. It specifically required that parental rights protections cover judicial proceedings involving custody, neglect, or termination of parental rights (under Title 14), and mandated that schools and educational agencies communicate with parents about their children (under Title 21). The bill aimed to ensure parents' rights in family court decisions and school-related communications. However, it died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 191 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Wyoming to protect pharmacies and patients. It requires PBMs to report quarterly on drug reimbursement appeals, including denial reasons and cost adjustments, and prohibits retroactive claim denials or fees for claim processing. The bill bans PBMs from basing pharmacy payments on patient outcomes without prior agreement, restricting point-of-sale fees, and preventing unfair contract changes without 45 days' notice. These provisions directly affect pharmacies and pharmacy designees that contract with PBMs, aiming to ensure fair reimbursement practices and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 271 creates a dedicated endowment fund for the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture (specifically its life sciences and natural resources programs). The bill requires all annual investment earnings from this fund to be fully distributed to the college for direct use on approved agricultural programs, including academic courses supporting Wyoming's farming/ranching industry, extension services, the state veterinary lab, agricultural research, equipment, and faculty recruitment. It mandates detailed annual reporting to state committees on exactly how funds are spent, broken down by program type and faculty positions funded. This endowment directly affects the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and its ability to support Wyoming's agricultural sector through targeted funding.