Rep. Chad Banks

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 52 creates special license plates for residents to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. It allows owners of non-commercial vehicles to apply for these plates, with applicants able to register as anatomical gift donors and optionally donate $1 or more to support awareness programs. The funds collected go into a dedicated account managed by the Department of Health to promote donation education. The plates must display a distinctive symbol but match standard size and color, and production will end if fewer than 1,000 plates are issued by December 2031.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 113) extends a property tax exemption to private, nonprofit community housing development organizations that receive funding from Wyoming's Community Development Authority (WCDA). It directly affects these affordable housing providers by exempting their owned property from local property taxes. The key provision adds a new exemption under Wyoming law (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xviii)(B)), which terminates if the organization sells or leases the property. The exemption became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 51 prohibits Wyoming law enforcement from releasing mugshots taken during arrest processing (when someone is booked into jail) unless specific conditions are met. It directly affects arrested individuals who have not yet been convicted, preventing public sharing of their arrest photos. The law allows release only if the person is convicted of the offense, a judge approves it for legitimate law enforcement needs, or a criminal justice agency requests it to apprehend a fugitive or address an immediate safety threat. The bill takes effect July 1, 2022, and applies to all county jails and the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 143, the "Wyoming Patient Cannabis Act of 2022," proposes a legal framework for medical cannabis in Wyoming. It would allow patients with qualifying conditions (like chronic pain, cancer, or multiple sclerosis) to access cannabis products through licensed dispensaries, with caregivers permitted to assist them. The bill establishes licensing for cultivation facilities, testing labs, and dispensaries under the Wyoming Department of Revenue Liquor Division, prohibits local governments from banning such operations, and defines medical cannabis products while banning synthetic marijuana prescriptions. This would be the first state-regulated medical cannabis program in Wyoming, affecting patients, caregivers, and licensed businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 61 requires the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources to conduct a feasibility study on using carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured from power plants in public works projects. The study must examine potential costs, benefits, project types (like highways and state buildings), CO₂ capture capacity in Wyoming, infrastructure needs, and impacts on other industries, with a December 1, 2022 deadline. The bill appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to fund the study and consultant services, explicitly prohibiting use for university overhead costs. It does not mandate CO₂ use in projects but aims to determine if such a requirement would be feasible before any policy changes. The report will inform future legislative decisions on this potential policy.

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.

2021/Summaries/SF0152.pdf