Rep. Ken Chestek

Maddy summaryHB 146 expands Wyoming's property tax relief program to include renters who occupy rental properties as their principal residence. It allows eligible renters to apply for a refund of up to $250 (or the calculated amount, whichever is less) based on their income and assets, while existing owner-occupants continue to qualify for relief covering up to 75% of their property tax paid. To qualify, applicants must meet income limits (not exceeding 125% of their county's median household income), asset limits ($150,000 per adult), and occupy the property for at least 9 months annually. Applications must be submitted by June 1st each year, with refunds issued by September 30, and the bill takes effect January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 99 allows witnesses to sign wills remotely via audio-video technology during public health emergencies or other urgent situations. The bill requires witnesses to see/hear the testator in real time, securely sign electronically, and confirm the testator's competency and voluntary action. It directly affects individuals creating wills and their witnesses by updating how wills can be legally executed. The law amends existing statutes to include remote witnessing as a valid method, effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 230 establishes a 60-day deadline for Wyoming's Department of Transportation to impose driver's license penalties after a conviction for offenses like driving under the influence (DUI). Specifically, the department must initiate administrative actions - such as license revocation, suspension, or requiring an ignition interlock device - within 60 days of a court's conviction order or deferral of prosecution, or the penalty cannot take effect. This bill does not change the penalties themselves but ensures they are applied within a clear timeframe, directly affecting individuals convicted of traffic offenses and the department's enforcement process.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits train lengths in Wyoming to 8,500 feet or the shortest passing track/siding length on any route, whichever is shorter, and prohibits trains from routinely blocking intersections for over 10 minutes. Railroad companies operating in Wyoming must comply with these rules, facing fines of $500-$1,000 per foot for exceeding limits, or up to $250,000 for gross negligence causing injury. Penalties collected are deposited into the state highway fund. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 175 requires all public school districts, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges to adopt written policies prohibiting hazing. These policies must define hazing (as intentional acts causing harm or embarrassment for group membership), include reporting procedures (with anonymous options), specify consequences for violations, and protect against retaliation for reporting. The law mandates that school districts create these policies by July 1, 2024, with the state education department developing model guidelines by November 2023. It directly affects students, staff, and school communities by establishing clear standards to prevent hazing in educational settings.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HJ 10 is a joint resolution asking Congress to propose a constitutional amendment requiring public identification of who funds political ads and limiting corporate spending in elections. It specifically seeks to allow states and Congress to identify the natural person sources behind campaign contributions and restrict or ban spending by corporations or non-human entities. The resolution exempts groups composed of natural persons that publicly disclose their members and donors. This is a symbolic request to Congress, not a law, and it died in committee without moving forward.

Maddy summaryHB 240 amends Wyoming's initiative process to allow voters to approve funding through ballot measures (previously restricted). It requires the legislature to assign these funds in the next legislative session and mandates the Secretary of State to provide governor election voter counts to initiative committees upon request. The bill would take effect in 2024 only if a related constitutional amendment passes in the 2024 election. This procedural change affects initiative committees seeking to gather required data and the legislature’s handling of voter-approved appropriations.

Maddy summaryHJ 8 proposes constitutional changes to Wyoming's ballot initiative and referendum process. It would lower signature requirements from 15% to 5% of voters who chose the governor in the last election and eliminate the need for signatures in two-thirds of counties. The bill also changes the vote threshold to require more than 50% of voters supporting the measure (instead of 50% of all voters) and removes the ban on initiatives that dedicate funds or make spending decisions. These changes aim to make it easier for citizens to propose laws or reject legislation through direct voting.

Maddy summaryHB 115 reorganizes Wyoming's election administration by designating the state canvassing board (led by the secretary of state) as the central authority responsible for overseeing elections statewide. It directly affects county clerks, who will now operate under the board's supervision, and voters, whose felony conviction status will be verified through the board's electronic voter registration system instead of county-level processes. Key provisions include defining the "state canvassing board" in statute, requiring the board to maintain election law uniformity, and streamlining voter registration checks for felony convictions without requiring fingerprints or fees. The bill amends over 40 election code sections to centralize these responsibilities but was not advanced beyond introduction in 2023.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 180) amends trespass laws to create an exception for incidental contact when moving between adjacent land parcels. It directly affects landowners and individuals authorized to access two connected parcels of land that share a common corner. The key provision states that a person does not commit criminal trespass or game/fish trespass if they accidentally touch or pass through another person's land while traveling between two parcels they are permitted to access. This change applies to both general trespass and hunting/fishing trespass laws, effective July 1, 2023.