Rep. Donald Burkhart

Maddy summaryHB 141 requires Wyoming's land board to verify if oil and gas lease applicants meet defined qualifications before issuing new leases on state lands. If the highest bidder is unqualified, the board must consider the next highest bid instead. Unqualified applicants face a civil penalty equal to their bid amount, recoverable by the attorney general. The law applies only to new leases and does not affect existing agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 203 creates a property tax exemption for single-family residential properties in Wyoming, covering the first $200,000 of value in 2024 and $1 million annually thereafter. To offset lost local revenue, it adds a 2% sales tax (raising the total rate to 6%) effective July 2024. Funds from this tax are distributed to counties based on their lost property tax revenue from the exemption, with any remaining funds used for sales tax refunds to businesses paying severance and sales taxes. The bill directly affects homeowners with qualifying properties and local governments reliant on property tax revenue.

Maddy summarySF 95 removes automatic job protection ("tenure") for Wyoming teachers after three years of service. It replaces the previous system with annual performance evaluations until a teacher is rated "effective" for two consecutive years, after which evaluations occur every three years. The bill also modifies hearing procedures for teacher suspensions or dismissals and clarifies definitions like "probationary teacher" (less than three years of service). These changes directly affect all public school teachers in Wyoming by altering job security and evaluation requirements. The bill does not change salary structures or other employment benefits.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 154 amends the Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act to update rules for rent-to-own contracts, directly affecting consumers and merchants who use these agreements for items like furniture or electronics. The bill requires clear, plain-language disclosures in agreements - such as a mandatory notice in bold type about the right to terminate without penalty - and mandates that merchants provide digital notices with consumer consent. It also adds specific requirements for liability damage waivers, including a clear warning that they are optional and a recommendation to check existing insurance coverage. These changes standardize disclosures, expand digital agreement options, and enhance consumer transparency for rental-purchase transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 186 appropriates $40 million from Wyoming's general fund to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system trust fund, as specified in existing law (W.S. 35-25-506). The funding directly supports Wyoming's 988 suicide prevention hotline operations and is restricted to that purpose. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not create new policy but provides dedicated financial resources for the existing crisis hotline service.

Maddy summaryHB 207 repeals a lifetime restriction preventing certain hunters from obtaining moose or bighorn sheep hunting licenses. It directly affects individuals who, as of July 1, 2022, were subject to a five-year restriction under Wyoming law for these species. The bill allows these hunters to apply for and receive licenses as if they had never been restricted after July 1, 2022, though they will face the standard lifetime restriction if issued a license after the bill's effective date of July 1, 2024. This change modifies existing provisions in Wyoming's hunting license regulations (W.S. 23-1-703 and 23-1-705) without altering the underlying five-year restriction period.

Maddy summaryHB 178, the Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act, would prevent state government from restricting religious practices unless it proves the restriction is necessary for a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive option. It applies to individuals, businesses, and religious groups whose religious exercise is burdened by government actions like denying permits, benefits, or access to facilities. Those affected could sue in court to challenge such restrictions. The bill explicitly states it does not override laws protecting public health, safety, or order.

Maddy summaryHB 189 requires electric utilities (excluding cooperatives) to purchase electricity from natural gas power plants that would otherwise close, provided the plant owner offers to sell power. It establishes "avoided cost" pricing - what the utility would pay to generate or buy equivalent power - as the basis for these sales, and allows the utility commission to set this price in advance. Large commercial customers (over 1 megawatt demand) in the utility’s service area may receive power from these plants, but must also continue buying partial service from the utility to prevent rate increases for other customers. The bill aims to extend the operational life of retiring natural gas facilities by creating a market for their electricity, directly affecting utilities, plant owners, and eligible commercial customers.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 196 requires the federal government to exchange equivalent federal-owned lands whenever it acquires additional property in the state after July 1, 2024 (excluding specific military, infrastructure, or reclamation projects). The bill mandates that federal land acquisitions must be paired with transfers of federal lands to Wyoming to prevent a net increase in federal ownership. If an exchange isn't possible, the federal government must provide 90 days' notice to Wyoming's land board before finalizing the acquisition. Additionally, any land transferred to Wyoming under this policy must be disposed of through a public process prioritizing adjacent landowners and local uses if it would cause a net increase in state-owned lands beyond July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 215 transfers Wyoming's Integrated Test Center (established in 2014) from its current administration to the University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources, effective upon the bill's passage. The bill requires the center to focus its research on carbon capture, emissions management, and clean energy technologies, including facility design, testing, and collaboration with state agencies. It mandates reporting to the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee by specific deadlines (October 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025) and establishes the School of Energy Resources as the governing body under the Energy Resources Council. The transfer includes all property, funds, and obligations of the center, with the university required to submit a transfer plan by May 1, 2024. This bill directly affects the center's operations, the university's energy research programs, and Wyoming's carbon capture research initiatives.