Rep. Cathy Connolly

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 77 reduces the residency requirement for filing a name change petition. It changes the rule from requiring 2 years of county residency to just 60 days immediately before filing. This directly affects individuals seeking to legally change their names in Wyoming county courts. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 1-25-102 and takes effect immediately upon becoming law. The change simplifies the process for residents who have lived in a county for a shorter period.

Maddy summaryHB 125 requires Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services to provide clear, accessible information and guidance to employers and employees about workplace injuries, covering topics like rights, workers' compensation claim processes, and available support services such as financial assistance and rehabilitation programs. The department must widely share this information and submit an annual report to a state committee by September 30, detailing how many people used the guidance and distinguishing between workers' compensation-specific resources and general workplace injury information. Implementing rules for these requirements must be finalized by July 1, 2022. This law directly affects all employers and employees in Wyoming who navigate workplace injury claims or support systems.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 54 establishes the "Interstate Compact for Licensed Professional Counselors," allowing counselors licensed in Wyoming to practice across other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill directly affects licensed professional counselors and their clients, enabling multistate practice where the client is located at the time of service. Key provisions include preserving each state's authority to license counselors, supporting military spouses through streamlined licensure, and creating a data system for sharing disciplinary information. The compact aims to improve public access to counseling services while maintaining state regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1013 modifies Wyoming's unemployment benefits law to allow workers who voluntarily leave jobs due to an employer's failure to comply with federal COVID-19 prevention requirements (such as vaccination mandates or safety protocols) to qualify for benefits. This applies when the employer violates specific federal laws or policies related to pandemic response. The bill adds this scenario as "good cause" for leaving employment without disqualifying workers from benefits, ensuring they remain eligible even if they leave voluntarily. Benefits awarded under this provision are noncharged, meaning they won’t affect the employer’s experience rating account. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1021 creates Wyoming's Individual and Family COVID-19 Impact Support Program, providing temporary financial assistance to residents affected by the pandemic. The program offers money for essentials like food, medicine, childcare, mental health support, and lost wages, funded by $20 million in unused federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. County commissioners can request support for eligible individuals/families, with benefits distributed through community organizations meeting state standards. The program must be fully implemented by October 1, 2024, using funds specifically designated for pandemic-related hardship relief.

Maddy summaryHB 1018 adds a new exception to Wyoming's unemployment eligibility rules, allowing workers who voluntarily quit due to an employer's failure to follow local public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic to still qualify for benefits. This specifically covers situations where employers didn't comply with measures like vaccination requirements or other pandemic prevention rules authorized under Wyoming law. The bill directly affects workers who left jobs under these circumstances, ensuring they aren't disqualified from benefits they would otherwise lose for "voluntarily leaving without good cause." The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySF 1013 would amend Wyoming's unemployment benefits law to allow workers to qualify for benefits if they leave their job because their employer failed to follow federal rules about preventing the spread of COVID-19, such as vaccination mandates or safety protocols. The bill adds a new exception to the standard rule that typically disqualifies people who quit without "good cause," explicitly stating that an employer's noncompliance with federal pandemic-related requirements constitutes valid reason for leaving. This change would directly affect workers in Wyoming who face such employer noncompliance and seek unemployment benefits. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 1018 amends unemployment benefits law to allow workers who voluntarily leave jobs due to employer non-compliance with local COVID-19 prevention measures to qualify for benefits. This directly affects employees who quit because their employer failed to follow health orders from state or local officials, including requirements like vaccinations or safety protocols during the pandemic. The bill creates a new exception (subparagraph E) in the eligibility rules, overriding standard disqualifications for "voluntary quit" without "good cause." It applies specifically to public health orders issued under Wyoming law in response to COVID-19 and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.