Rep. Cathy Connolly

Maddy summaryHB 161 requires Wyoming's governor to appoint a statewide 911 coordinator - a qualified Wyoming voter - who ensures the state complies with federal grant requirements for 911 system funding. The coordinator manages federal funding alignment and can be removed by the governor. The bill mandates this appointment within 30 days of the law's effective date. This change directly affects how Wyoming administers its 911 emergency service funding under federal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 233 establishes Wyoming's first state income tax system. It imposes a 0% tax on the first $200,000 of taxable income and a 4% tax on amounts above that threshold. The bill creates administrative rules for the Department of Revenue to collect the tax, requiring taxpayers with over $200,000 in income to file annual returns (matching federal filing deadlines), while exempting those with $200,000 or less. Key provisions include confidentiality protections for tax returns, apportionment rules for multi-state income, and enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance. This bill, which died in committee in 2019, would have directly affected Wyoming residents and businesses earning taxable income.

Maddy summaryHB 170 amends Wyoming law to require child protective service workers to complete training on specific federal and state child welfare laws. The bill directly affects all state-employed child protective service workers by mandating they understand key legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act, and Family First Prevention Services Act. This training requirement ensures workers are knowledgeable about legal standards governing child welfare practice. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for violating Wyoming's child labor laws, raising the maximum fine from $500 to $750 and adding potential jail time of up to 100 days for employers who break the rules. It clarifies that children under 14 may still work for parents, grandparents, or family-owned businesses in non-hazardous jobs outside school hours. The bill repeals one outdated provision and takes effect July 1, 2019. It directly affects employers who hire children in violation of these specific regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a legal barrier that previously prevented illegitimate children from inheriting from their parents under Wyoming's estate laws. It amends the definition of "child" in the estate code to include illegitimate children (aligning them with adopted children), repealing the prior exclusion. The change applies to all probate cases filed on or after July 1, 2019, ensuring illegitimate children have equal inheritance rights to legitimate children. It directly affects illegitimate children in Wyoming who now inherit under the same rules as other children.

Maddy summaryHB 220 creates a new income tax on businesses operating in Wyoming, requiring them to pay tax based on their income earned within the state. It uses a three-factor formula (property, payroll, and sales) to calculate how much tax a business owes, especially for companies operating across multiple states. The Wyoming Department of Revenue will administer the tax, with strict confidentiality rules protecting business tax returns. This bill directly affects businesses with operations in Wyoming, including out-of-state companies conducting business there.

Maddy summaryHB 91 corrects a technical error in the legal description of "Prexy's Pasture" (a campus green space at the University of Wyoming), fixing a geometric inconsistency in its boundary coordinates. The bill amends a statute to replace an inaccurate parcel description that incorrectly described the pasture as a parallelogram. This adjustment ensures the written legal description matches the actual land boundaries, without changing any existing restrictions on construction or land use. The pasture remains protected from buildings per current law, and the correction became effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a rule that previously excluded certain noncitizens from eligibility for the Hathaway scholarship program. It directly affects noncitizen students in Wyoming who were previously barred from receiving this state-funded scholarship. The key change removes the specific exclusion provision (W.S. 21-16-1303(e)(i)) from the scholarship law. The bill would have allowed eligible noncitizens to apply for the scholarship, effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 294 requires Wyoming's Office of State Lands to study specific school trust land parcels near major highways (I-25, I-80, I-90) and the Grand Teton National Park Kelly parcel. The study must evaluate development options - including commercial, residential (including affordable housing), sustainable resource use, and limited gaming - to maximize land value, while preserving the state's royalty interests. The office must solicit proposals from development firms, estimate costs/revenue, and submit a final plan to state committees by November 2019. This is a preparatory study; it does not authorize development but sets the framework for future decisions.

Maddy summarySF 133 creates a medical assistance buy-in program allowing eligible individuals to purchase coverage similar to Medicaid, with premiums set to cover costs and potentially adjusted by age. It also establishes a prescription drug program for insurers to access pharmacy services at set fees, and requires the Department of Health to conduct outreach about contraceptive services to teens and parents covered under medical assistance or child health insurance programs. The bill mandates seeking federal waivers to operate the buy-in program through the health exchange and requires studies on expanding coverage. It affects low-income residents who don’t qualify for existing Medicaid but can afford a premium, as well as insurers and health providers.