Rep. John Eklund

Maddy summaryHB 125 authorizes Wyoming to plan for a second veterans' skilled nursing facility, located at least 75 miles from the existing Buffalo facility, following the "green house" care model. The bill appropriates $300,000 for initial planning and feasibility studies and $50,000 for a separate study on staffing, bed availability, and veteran needs across the state. It requires state agencies (construction department, veterans' commission, and health department) to complete these studies and submit reports to legislative committees by October 15, 2023. This bill directly affects veterans who may use the facility and the state agencies responsible for planning and health services.

Maddy summaryHB 137 prohibits the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) products to anyone under age 21 and bans minors from purchasing or possessing such products. Retailers face fines up to $750 for selling to minors (with escalating penalties for repeat violations), while minors violating the law can be cited for a $50 fine (or community service) and have the offense expunged after payment. The bill includes an exception if sellers reasonably rely on valid ID showing the buyer is 21 or older. It also allows courts to issue temporary sales bans for repeat violations at specific retail locations. Note: This bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 249 allows Wyoming county treasurers to issue temporary 30-day registration certificates and electronic payment proof when vehicle owners pay registration fees online. This directly affects drivers who pay online, providing immediate proof of valid registration while awaiting official license plates and stickers. The bill amends state law to confirm county treasurers' authority to provide this temporary verification. It does not change registration fees or requirements, only streamlining the process for online payments. The change became effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 91 sets minimum and maximum annual salary ranges for specific county officers in Wyoming, effective January 2, 2023. It directly affects county assessors, part-time county/prosecuting attorneys, county clerks, clerks of district court, sheriffs, and treasurers. The bill requires these officers to receive at least $10,000 per year but no more than the salary authorized for a district court judge (per W.S. 5-1-110). It also repeals outdated salary language in the existing statute.

Maddy summaryHB 136 clarifies that applicants seeking underground water rights must prove their case in contested hearings, shifting the burden of proof from the state engineer to the applicant. It requires applicants to demonstrate four specific conditions: unappropriated water availability, adequate diversion methods, compliance with well spacing rules, and non-detriment to public interest. This bill directly affects individuals or entities applying for or amending underground water rights in Wyoming, such as agricultural users or land developers. The law applies to all such applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, and modifies existing water rights procedures under Wyoming Statute 41-3-932.

Maddy summaryHB 107 amends Wyoming's water pollution control and drinking water revolving loan accounts to adjust funding sources and reimbursement rules. It specifies that state matching funds for federal loans can now come from the corrective action account, mineral royalty capital construction account, or water development accounts, with required reimbursement from program funds. The bill authorizes the state loan board to make grants and set-asides, and clarifies how funds flow between accounts. These changes directly affect state agencies managing water infrastructure financing, such as the Department of Environmental Quality, but do not alter project eligibility or funding amounts for municipalities. The bill focuses on procedural adjustments to existing revolving loan programs.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 95 prohibits public utilities from expanding service into another utility's certified territory, directly affecting electric, gas, and water companies operating in the state. The bill amends utility law to prevent new certificates of convenience and necessity for service in areas already served by another utility, including indirect service (like delivering power outside a utility's certified area but for consumption within it). If a utility violates this rule, the Public Service Commission can order it to stop providing service and pay just compensation to the affected utility. The law took effect July 1, 2022, clarifying territorial boundaries for utility operations.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 149 prohibits abortions performed solely because of an unborn child's disability, sex, race, color, national origin, or ancestry. It directly affects health care providers who perform abortions, requiring them to avoid these specific reasons for termination. The bill imposes felony charges (up to 14 years imprisonment), civil liability for wrongful death, and potential license discipline for violations under Wyoming's health licensing laws. It also defines "disability" broadly to include conditions like Down syndrome and "lethal fetal anomaly" as a condition likely causing death within three months of birth.

2021/Summaries/SF0141.pdf