Rep. Tyler Lindholm

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 104 establishes a specialized Chancery Court to handle complex civil cases, directly affecting residents and businesses involved in disputes requiring specialized legal expertise (e.g., corporate, real estate, or contract matters). The bill creates a court with up to three nonpartisan judges serving six-year terms, requiring a $1,000 minimum filing fee for cases and authorizing the Supreme Court to set rules for procedures, fees, and case transfers. Funding comes primarily from case filing fees, with the legislature able to supplement from general funds if needed. The court operates statewide with concurrent jurisdiction, and appeals go directly to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 15 (Wyoming) removes the requirement for notarization on certain motor vehicle titles and bills of sale. It directly affects vehicle owners, dealers, and auctioneers during title transfers by eliminating the need for notarized signatures on sale documents. The bill clarifies ownership transfer rules, allowing any owner listed on a title to transfer a vehicle without signatures from other owners unless the title specifies joint tenancy or "and" ownership. This simplifies the process for most title transfers while maintaining existing requirements for lien notifications and tax payments. The changes apply to all motor vehicles requiring a Wyoming title.

Maddy summaryHB 55 allows mobile home owners in Wyoming to use a copy of their title instead of the original when transporting their mobile home within the state. The bill amends tax and permit rules to require owners to present a copy of the title (along with proof of tax payment) to the county treasurer before obtaining an over-width permit from the Department of Transportation. This change directly affects mobile home owners who need to move their homes on public roads, simplifying the process by eliminating the need to carry the original title. The law became effective July 1, 2019, and does not alter the requirement to pay annual property taxes for transport permits.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 legalizes hemp production and processing by setting a 0.3% THC limit (on a dry weight basis) for hemp and hemp products. It requires licenses for producers and processors (with background checks and $500 annual fees), while allowing unrestricted possession and use of hemp products by all residents. The bill establishes enforcement through annual inspections, corrective action plans for violations, and misdemeanor penalties for intentional breaches. It also mandates a state regulatory plan, authorizes tribal agreements, and repeals conflicting laws.

Maddy summaryHB 243 changes Wyoming driver's license expiration rules by extending the validity period from four to five years. Specifically, licenses now expire on the holder's birthday in the fifth year after issuance (previously the fourth year), and drivers may receive a five-year renewal extension without a test (previously listed as a choice between four or five years) if their license hasn't been suspended in the past five years. These changes apply to licenses issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2019, affecting all Wyoming drivers with new or renewed licenses after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 113 establishes rules for electric utilities to enter special service agreements with large commercial or industrial customers using over 10 megawatts of electricity. The bill requires that such agreements must generate revenue exceeding the utility's cost to serve the customer, and must not shift related costs (like power supply or grid investments) to other ratepayers. Any profits or losses from these agreements remain with the utility company, not shared with other customers. The law applies only to agreements under tariffs approved by Wyoming's utility commission and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 143 gives judges more discretion in sentencing by allowing them to skip or limit presentence investigation reports for felony defendants. The bill amends Wyoming law to state that courts may dispense with the report requirement or restrict its scope to factors relevant to sentencing, instead of mandating full reports in all felony cases. It specifically maintains the requirement for substance abuse assessments in certain felony cases (like third misdemeanors or felonies) and keeps the cost assessed to the offender. This directly affects felony defendants and courts by changing when detailed pre-sentence reports are needed before sentencing.

Maddy summarySF 161 amends Wyoming's legislative management council membership rules. It specifies that two senators and two representatives are selected at large by each chamber's party caucuses, with strict limits on party representation (no more than one from the same party as the chamber's presiding officer). The bill also establishes a two-year rotation of the council chairmanship between the House and Senate and clarifies that the council directs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This procedural bill affects only the internal organization of the Wyoming Legislature, not public policy.