Rep. Trey Sherwood

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming public school districts to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention education to all students. It mandates that schools use programs consistent with existing state materials and training standards outlined in related statutes. The requirement applies to all K-12 public schools and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation directly affects students and school districts by establishing a new mandatory educational component focused on suicide prevention.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic joint resolution (HJ 3), not a binding law. It formally recognizes Wyoming's constitutional obligation to provide equal access to free public education for all students, including those in rural areas, and acknowledges the importance of small rural schools serving 102 students across 12 districts. The resolution makes no new funding or policy changes; it simply states the legislature's position and directs the Secretary of State to share it with the Department of Education for distribution to school districts. It does not require any action from schools or the state government.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's cemetery regulations to set specific structural and aesthetic standards for columbariums - above-ground structures containing urns. It requires exterior walls, roofs, and doors to be made of durable materials like granite, concrete, or similar substances that ensure structural safety and weather resistance, with walls needing a minimum six-inch thickness. The bill directly affects cemetery operators planning or constructing new columbariums within established cemeteries. These changes aim to standardize construction quality and appearance without altering burial rules or creating new requirements for existing facilities.

Maddy summarySF 89 repeals Wyoming's bed expansion limitations for hospitals and nursing care facilities, removing the requirement for state approval before adding beds. It modifies health facility regulations so the Department of Health can only review plans for health and life safety compliance, not bed count increases. The bill requires the Department of Health to report to the legislature by September 2029 on how the change affects facility construction and operations. This law takes effect July 1, 2025. (Bill SF 89, Certificate of Need Repeal-2)

Maddy summaryHB 106 creates a "Monument to America Development and Oversight Task Force" in Wyoming to plan a large-scale monument commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The task force, composed of state officials, tribal liaisons, and former leaders, must develop monument specifications (similar to Mount Rushmore), select a location on school trust lands for long-term benefit to public schools, and submit recommendations by July 4, 2026. The bill appropriates $40,000 for non-legislative members and $40,000 for legislative members to cover expenses through June 30, 2027, with the task force terminating after that date. This bill directly affects Wyoming's state government, school trust lands, and taxpayers through the allocated funding.

Maddy summaryHB 180 creates a state-administered mental health program for K-12 public schools in Wyoming, requiring all public school districts to implement it for at least two school years starting in 2025-2026. The program mandates schools to screen students for mental health needs, stabilize those identified, and refer them to appropriate services, with districts reporting on student outcomes and funding use. It allocates $5 million (reappropriated from existing funds) plus $805,000 specifically for the program, funding new roles like community project managers and coordinators at each participating district. School districts must notify parents if their child is identified for services under the program and submit annual reports to the state education department, with a final evaluation due by August 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 126 establishes a K-8 public lab school on the University of Wyoming’s main campus to serve as a teacher training site and model classroom. It directly affects pre-service teachers (through UW’s education programs), students in the surrounding school district, and the University of Wyoming’s College of Education. Key provisions include creating a governing board with members from the local school district, UW, and community; requiring annual reports on student achievement and teacher placements; and mandating the school operate under state education standards while focusing on developing teaching practices. The bill specifies enrollment preferences for students in the resident school district and requires the school to report to the education committee starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 214 allows Wyoming cities, towns, and counties to pay claims and demands using electronic payments or fund transfers, instead of physical checks or warrants. It updates existing laws to explicitly permit electronic methods while maintaining current requirements, such as requiring claim certification by a manager and approval by a governing body before payments over $50. The bill ensures electronic payments must still specify the purpose, be payable to specific recipients, and be documented in county payment registers, with effective implementation set for July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 178 increases Wyoming employees' time off to vote from one hour to two hours during election hours (polling hours) for primary, general, or special elections to fill a U.S. House of Representatives seat. It ensures employees do not lose pay for this time off when they cast a legal vote, applying to all eligible voters except those with three or more consecutive nonworking hours during polling. The bill modifies existing law (W.S. 22-2-111) to clarify these provisions and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects Wyoming workers participating in federal elections who need to vote during standard work hours.

Maddy summaryHB 239, the Reproductive Freedom Act, establishes that Wyoming residents have the right to abortion before a fetus can survive outside the womb (viability) or to protect the person's life or health, prohibiting state interference with this right. It defines key terms like "abortion" and "viability," and specifies that unauthorized abortions (outside these limits) are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine. The bill also protects healthcare providers’ professional judgment on viability or health risks, allows religious or ethical objections to participating in abortions without discrimination, and requires state-funded pregnancy programs to provide equivalent information about abortion options. It directly affects all Wyoming residents seeking abortion care, healthcare providers, and state programs offering reproductive services.