Rep. Donald Burkhart

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 15 (Wyoming) removes the requirement for notarization on certain motor vehicle titles and bills of sale. It directly affects vehicle owners, dealers, and auctioneers during title transfers by eliminating the need for notarized signatures on sale documents. The bill clarifies ownership transfer rules, allowing any owner listed on a title to transfer a vehicle without signatures from other owners unless the title specifies joint tenancy or "and" ownership. This simplifies the process for most title transfers while maintaining existing requirements for lien notifications and tax payments. The changes apply to all motor vehicles requiring a Wyoming title.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 legalizes hemp production and processing by setting a 0.3% THC limit (on a dry weight basis) for hemp and hemp products. It requires licenses for producers and processors (with background checks and $500 annual fees), while allowing unrestricted possession and use of hemp products by all residents. The bill establishes enforcement through annual inspections, corrective action plans for violations, and misdemeanor penalties for intentional breaches. It also mandates a state regulatory plan, authorizes tribal agreements, and repeals conflicting laws.

Maddy summarySF 161 amends Wyoming's legislative management council membership rules. It specifies that two senators and two representatives are selected at large by each chamber's party caucuses, with strict limits on party representation (no more than one from the same party as the chamber's presiding officer). The bill also establishes a two-year rotation of the council chairmanship between the House and Senate and clarifies that the council directs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This procedural bill affects only the internal organization of the Wyoming Legislature, not public policy.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 134) provides temporary severance tax exemptions for oil and gas producers under specific conditions. It exempts new wells (after July 2019), wells undergoing workovers/recompletions, and tertiary recovery projects from severance taxes for 24 months. Exemptions are reduced or eliminated if oil prices exceed $80/WTI for sweet crude, $60/WCS for sour crude, or $6.00/MCF for natural gas at the time of production. The exemptions directly affect Wyoming oil and gas producers meeting these criteria, with partial exemptions applying during price ranges between $60-$80/WTI for sweet crude, $40-$60/WCS for sour crude, and $5-$6.00/MCF for natural gas.