Rep. Chip Neiman

Maddy summaryHB 184 requires electricity sellers to obtain a written agreement (a "customer allocation agreement") with both the customer and the utility that serves the customer's specific service area (certificated territory) before selling power for use within that utility's territory. This applies when electricity is delivered to a point outside the seller's service area but consumed inside another utility's territory. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for lost income, attorney fees, and other costs if this requirement is violated. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 149 prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against adoption and foster care agencies that decline placements based on religious beliefs. It specifically protects religious organizations (including faith-based groups) that provide these services, ensuring they cannot be excluded or penalized for refusing to place children with same-sex couples or others due to sincerely held religious convictions. The law creates new legal protections requiring government entities to avoid actions that conflict with an agency’s religious practices, consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedents like *Fulton v. Philadelphia*. It directly affects adoption/foster care providers and government agencies managing child welfare services in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 150 allows Wyoming meat processors licensed by federal or state authorities to sell compost made from non-edible animal parts (excluding certain high-risk materials like brain, spinal cord, or specific intestines from older cattle) as fertilizer, soil amendment, or soil conditioner. Processors must register this compost with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and follow existing commercial fertilizer regulations. The bill defines "specified risk materials" to exclude parts posing potential health risks and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects licensed meat processing facilities seeking to repurpose waste materials.

Maddy summaryHB 108 prohibits payment processors (like banks and credit card networks) from using special merchant codes to categorize firearm or ammunition retailers differently from general merchandise or sporting goods stores. It requires these businesses to be classified under standard retail codes, preventing financial institutions from treating them as high-risk. Violations carry a misdemeanor penalty of $1,000 per violation. The law directly affects firearm retailers and payment processors, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 169 creates a temporary property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners, reducing their tax bill by 50% on the first $1 million of their home's value for tax years 2025 and 2026. It applies to single-family residential properties like houses, mobile homes, and condos, directly benefiting homeowners who own these properties. The state will compensate local governments and schools for lost revenue using $125 million from the general fund, with funds expiring after June 2027. The exemption does not apply to tax year 2027 or later.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 177 creates a new legislative committee called the "federal review joint and standing committee" to monitor federal actions. The committee, composed of 5 Senate and 9 House members appointed by March 31 after each election, reviews all federal laws, regulations, and executive orders to assess whether they infringe on Wyoming's sovereignty or exceed federal constitutional limits. It must report findings and recommend legislative responses, such as new bills or resolutions, to address perceived constitutional conflicts. The committee’s work ends if the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is repealed, with the bill taking effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 276 requires Wyoming county sheriffs to negotiate written agreements with the U.S. Attorney General to enforce federal immigration laws, including detaining individuals for immigration purposes. County sheriffs must report annually on agreement status to the Wyoming Attorney General, who then reports to a legislative committee, with counties failing to pursue agreements losing eligibility for certain law enforcement funds. This bill directly affects all Wyoming county sheriffs and their counties, mandating specific cooperation with federal immigration enforcement under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g).

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates a new misdemeanor crime for distributing material deemed "harmful to minors" to individuals under 18. It directly affects anyone who shares such material - like books, films, or online content - via digital means, in-person, or at events targeting minors. The bill defines "harmful to minors" by three criteria: material appealing to prurient interests in minors, patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacking literary/scientific value for minors. It repeals an existing exemption that previously protected school, library, and museum staff from obscenity charges when handling materials in their work. The law imposes fines up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail for violations, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 131 prohibits the use of drop boxes for returning absentee ballots in Wyoming. The bill amends state election law to require voters to mail or hand-deliver absentee ballots directly to county clerks, banning all receptacles designed for ballot collection outside these methods. It directly affects voters and election officials by eliminating a common alternative to postal delivery for absentee voting. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.