Rep. Tyler Lindholm

Maddy summaryHB 101 allows joint powers boards (formed by two or more Wyoming municipalities) to create and operate natural gas systems. It directly affects local governments and joint powers entities that want to provide natural gas service, including extending systems beyond city limits. The bill amends Wyoming law to exempt these municipal or joint powers utility systems from certain public utility regulations outlined in Chapter 37. This change became effective July 1, 2019, enabling collaborative infrastructure development for natural gas service.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill exempts sales and use taxes on equipment used to build broadband internet infrastructure in unserved areas. It applies to telecom providers, internet access companies, and video programming services constructing networks where high-speed internet isn't currently available (defined as 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload for residential areas). The exemption covers infrastructure equipment like routers and cables but excludes items sold directly to end-users. Providers may use reasonable methods to allocate equipment costs across service regions instead of tracking exact geographic locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have required Wyoming's highway patrol to verify "extreme inconvenience" before issuing restricted driver's licenses to minors aged 14-16. It would have limited driving to 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., within 50 miles of home, and only with a parent/guardian present. Qualifying circumstances for "extreme inconvenience" included driving more than 5 miles to school, sports, religious activities, or a job, or working in a parent's business. The bill died in committee in 2019 and never took effect.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 82 establishes a legal framework for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) directives, allowing any adult with medical decision-making capacity to formally request no CPR in end-of-life situations. The bill enables individuals to have a DNR designation visibly marked on their Wyoming driver's license or ID card, alongside standardized medical bracelets or signed directives. It specifies that DNR orders apply to medical care except in cases of trauma (like car crashes), and protects emergency responders and healthcare providers who follow valid DNR directives in good faith. The law also creates standardized forms for creating, revoking, and removing DNR designations from licenses.

Maddy summarySF 123 requires school districts to ensure that entities they fund - such as organizations receiving over 60% of their funding from state sources - comply with public records and meeting laws. School districts cannot use state funds to support entities that fail to meet these requirements, unless funds are only used to achieve compliance. The bill excludes labor unions, teacher professional organizations, and private businesses providing goods/services from these rules. This policy extends existing public transparency laws to entities controlled by school districts, aiming to increase accountability for publicly funded activities.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 125 classifies digital assets (like cryptocurrencies and digital tokens) as property under state law, directly affecting residents, banks, and courts. It defines three categories: digital consumer assets (personal use), digital securities (investment-based), and virtual currency (used as money), each treated as property under specific sections of the Uniform Commercial Code. The bill establishes rules for banks to offer custodial services for digital assets and allows security interests (like loans using digital assets as collateral) through "control" mechanisms, such as private keys or smart contracts. This creates a legal framework for handling digital assets in transactions, disputes, and banking services within Wyoming.

Maddy summarySF 72 requires Wyoming criminal justice agencies to report on sexual assault biological evidence (like DNA samples) collected during investigations, starting January 1, 2020. Agencies must report evidence submission status, lab details, and reasons for non-submission, while protecting victim identities. The bill also changes who pays for medical examinations related to sexual assaults (first victim services, then law enforcement if funds run out) and prohibits destroying evidence until all legal time limits expire. These provisions affect law enforcement, crime labs, and victim services, aiming to improve evidence tracking and transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the current 4% debt limit on municipal sewer projects in Wyoming. It would allow the legislature to establish new debt limits for sewer systems through regular law instead of the fixed constitutional cap. The amendment directly affects cities and towns seeking to fund sewer infrastructure, as it would provide greater flexibility in financing these projects. If approved by voters, it would change how municipalities can borrow for sewage systems under state law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 148 creates a legal framework allowing the state to temporarily seize and operate federal facilities like national parks or wildlife refuges if the federal government cannot do so effectively. During seizure, the governor must maintain public access, protect natural/cultural resources, and allow concessionaires to continue operating, while charging fees to cover costs. The state must return the facility to federal control once the federal government can manage it, and repay any fees collected or profits earned. The bill also establishes a $1 million contingency fund for planning and exempts certain operational plans from public records disclosure.