Rep. Mike Yin

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 9) proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Wyoming's Constitution that would establish a fundamental right to privacy for all residents. It would create a new Section 40 in Article 1 stating: "The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed." The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the state Constitution. As a proposed constitutional change, it does not take effect immediately but would directly affect all Wyoming citizens if approved by voters.

Maddy summaryHB 150 authorizes the creation of local early childhood development special districts in Wyoming counties to provide services for children birth through age 8. These districts, formed through voter approval (requiring 15% of qualified voters' signatures or a county commission resolution), can levy up to 2 mills annually on property taxes to fund services like childcare, education, health, and developmental support. Each district must create and publish a public plan detailing eligible recipients, service providers, and funding options before offering services. The bill establishes governance rules, including requirements for public transparency and regular voter referendums on continued mill levies.

Maddy summaryHB 203 repeals two reserve accounts for Wyoming's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund (PMTF) and Common School Permanent Fund (CSPLF), eliminating their specific spending policies. It transfers funds previously held in these accounts to other designated state funds, simplifying the management of public funds. The bill removes outdated provisions related to these reserve structures and updates fund distribution rules. This change directly affects how Wyoming allocates excess investment earnings from these permanent funds.

Maddy summaryHB 179 modifies Wyoming's medical education programs to prioritize training for rural healthcare needs. It requires universities to emphasize rural health care in medical curricula, create a Medical School Student Fund (using student payments and investments), and use fund income for relocation costs, rural training, and scholarships for students committing to practice in underserved areas. The bill directly affects medical students, Wyoming's higher education institutions, and rural communities facing healthcare shortages. Universities must report annual fund usage and program modifications to legislative committees by October 1 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 91 creates a legal shield protecting Wyoming journalists from being forced to disclose news sources or information gathered in their professional work. It applies to all media (newspapers, TV, online outlets) covering public-interest topics like local events or community welfare. The law blocks courts from punishing journalists for refusing disclosure - no fines, jail, or contempt citations - except when there’s an imminent risk of death/harm or in specific defamation cases where the information is needed for the claim. Journalists can assert this protection without proving its validity upfront, but they must still meet the law’s criteria for coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 139 would have created a new criminal offense in Wyoming for knowingly making personal information about election officials or their immediate family available online when that information poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety. The bill defined "personal information" to include home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, photos, and details about a person's home or vehicle. This provision specifically targeted doxing (publicly sharing private details to intimidate) as a form of election-related intimidation. The law was intended to take effect on July 1, 2023, but the bill died in committee and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 151 creates a property tax exemption for nonprofit child care facilities in Wyoming. It directly affects nonprofit organizations operating facilities that care for minors under parental, guardian, or agency request, as defined by state law. The bill adds a new exemption category to Wyoming's property tax code, removing the tax burden on property used exclusively for these child care operations. The exemption became effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 repeals energy standards requiring public utilities to provide "reliable and dispatchable low-carbon" electricity. The bill removes definitions for "dispatchable" and "reliable" energy from state law, effectively eliminating the previous requirement for utilities to meet specific low-carbon generation targets. It mandates that utilities refund customers for rates collected under the repealed standards (with exceptions for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date), and requires the Public Service Commission to issue implementing rules. This bill directly affects Wyoming's electricity providers and their customers by changing compliance requirements and financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 162 allows Wyoming counties to voluntarily impose an excise tax on high-value real estate sales to fund affordable housing. Specifically, counties must first get voter approval (via petition or resolution) to tax sales exceeding $1.5 million at a 1% rate, with all revenue dedicated exclusively to local affordable housing projects for low/moderate-income households. The bill requires counties to define "affordable housing" based on local income standards and exempts common transfers like spousal gifts, deeds correcting prior records, and property transfers under $1.5 million. It does not mandate the tax but creates a framework for counties to adopt it through democratic processes.

Maddy summaryHB 206 requires Wyoming's Department of Administration to establish and operate a free certified child care facility within the state capitol complex for eligible state employees. The facility will serve children of employees from the executive branch, judiciary, and legislature, with no cost to the employees. The bill mandates the Department of Administration to either run the facility directly or contract with certified providers, while also requiring the department to submit a budget request for funding by July 2024. It amends existing laws to define key terms and specifies that the facility must comply with state child care certification standards. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.