Rep. Trey Sherwood

Maddy summaryHB 202 creates a Wyoming community college loan program to cover costs for students pursuing aviation degrees and commercial pilot certificates at Wyoming community colleges. It directly affects Wyoming residents or high school graduates enrolled in eligible aviation programs who commit to working as airline pilots in Wyoming for three years to avoid repaying the loan in cash. Key provisions include requiring applicants to seek federal aid first, limiting loans to tuition/certification costs minus other aid, and allowing debt forgiveness for undue hardship. The program is funded by a $1.5 million state appropriation for 2023-2026, with repayment options deferred for military service.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 135 allows cities and towns to designate abandoned or nuisance properties (vacant, deteriorated buildings causing harm) and provides tax credits for owners who improve them. Property owners who demolish or rehabilitate designated properties within two years (or new owners within five years) can receive a tax credit covering up to 50% of approved improvement costs. Cities may also assess fees to cover abatement costs for dangerous buildings or nuisances. The bill creates new rules for tax credit eligibility and requires city approval of expenditures before credit application, effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 110 designates June 19 as Juneteenth, a state holiday in Wyoming, to be observed annually on that date. It requires all state agencies, including the University of Wyoming, to update their holiday policies and personnel rules to recognize Juneteenth as a paid day off for employees. The bill repeals prior Juneteenth holiday provisions and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health and disability insurance plans in Wyoming to cover hearing aids and related fitting, evaluation, and maintenance services when medically necessary. It mandates coverage for one hearing aid per ear (with associated professional services) and limits coverage to $2,000 per ear every three years, unless a hearing professional determines additional devices are medically needed. Insurance plans must apply the same deductibles and co-pays for hearing aid coverage as for other health services. The law applies to all covered individuals and aims to ensure equitable access to hearing aid care under existing health insurance plans. It takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 135 creates Wyoming's "General Regulatory Sandbox Program," allowing businesses to temporarily test new products or services without full compliance with certain state regulations. It directly affects businesses seeking to innovate in Wyoming by requiring them to apply to the state council for limited, time-bound waivers of licensing or regulatory requirements. Key provisions include mandatory consumer safety assessments, requirements for businesses to maintain operations and records within Wyoming, and council oversight to ensure waivers don't violate federal law or endanger public health. The program aims to support business development while protecting consumers through structured testing protocols.

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 summaryWyoming's HB 1015 would provide a $1,000 incentive payment to eligible state employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 31, 2021. It defines "state employee" broadly to include full-time staff across all government branches (executive, legislative, judicial), universities, and public institutions, but excludes elected officials. The bill appropriates $14.72 million from unused federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover these payments, distributing amounts to specific state entities like executive agencies, the University of Wyoming, community colleges, and courts. The incentive is explicitly tied to voluntary vaccination efforts during the pandemic, with payments only available to employees continuously employed through the deadline.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 1015 provides $1,000 incentive payments to state employees who received full COVID-19 vaccination by December 31, 2021. The bill directly affects all full-time state employees (excluding elected officials) across executive, legislative, judicial branches, universities, and community colleges. It is funded with $14.72 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, allocated to specific state entities for distributing the payments. The payment aims to encourage voluntary vaccination during the pandemic, with "fully vaccinated" defined as completing all recommended doses of a vaccine approved to prevent or reduce COVID-19 symptoms.