Rep. Hans Hunt

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 107) redirects 1% of fees from historic pari-mutuel wagering events in Converse County to the state fair account instead of splitting them between the county and local municipality. It amends Wyoming law to require the commission to transfer these fees directly to the state fair fund when events are approved in Converse County under specific provisions. The change applies to all reported pari-mutuel events in Converse County, ensuring the revenue supports the state fair. The bill took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming counties from eliminating livestock grazing on state-owned land without first following specific procedures. It requires counties to comply with the zoning article and their comprehensive plan before restricting grazing. The law directly affects counties managing land use and livestock operations using state lands. It became effective July 1, 2019, ensuring existing grazing uses on state land cannot be unilaterally ended by county action.

Maddy summaryHB 134 requires Wyoming livestock brand owners to rerecord their brand every ten years. If a brand is not rerecorded by its expiration date, owners must pay a delinquent fee (capped at $150) within three years to avoid abandonment, and may use the brand for one livestock sale before paying. The bill mandates the Livestock Board to send multiple notices to owners about rerecording deadlines and abandonment timelines, including a notice at least six months before declaring a brand abandoned. This directly affects ranchers and livestock owners who register brands for their animals.

Maddy summaryHB 253 exempts small water systems from public utility regulation by Wyoming's Public Service Commission. It applies specifically to metered water sales by providers with fewer than 15 potential connections that aren’t owned by larger utilities, aren’t part of a subdivision’s water system, and aren’t located within municipal service areas. This removes regulatory oversight for these small-scale operations, such as rural homeowners or small community providers. The exemption became effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 179 establishes a statewide licensing system for food trucks in Wyoming, replacing local permitting requirements. Food truck operators must obtain a $100 annual state license, carry $1 million in general liability insurance, and comply with food safety and fire safety standards. The law prevents cities and counties from imposing additional fees or stricter rules than those set by the state. It directly affects food truck businesses and local governments, excluding ice cream trucks and pushcarts from the definition of "food truck."

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 188 would have changed zoning protest rules by lowering the threshold for property owners to block zoning changes. Specifically, it would have required only 10% of affected property owners (down from 20%) to protest a proposed change, and reduced the required governing body vote to approve changes from 75% to 66.7%. This bill directly affected residents and property owners in cities/towns where zoning regulations or district boundaries were being modified. The bill died in committee in February 2019 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 184 creates a new legal process for landowners in Wyoming who lack access to public roads to establish private road easements over neighboring properties. It requires applicants to prove they’ve exhausted other access options and pay a bond to cover costs, while courts must appoint neutral viewers to determine the most reasonable route (max 30 feet wide), minimize land damage, and set fair compensation for affected neighbors. The law prioritizes historical access paths when agreed upon and mandates compensation for land value loss, improvements, and income impacts. This directly affects isolated rural landowners and their neighbors in disputes over access rights.

Maddy summaryHB 150 modifies primary election rules for specific county offices in Wyoming, including sheriff, clerk, treasurer, and others, when more than two candidates run. It requires that the two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary - regardless of political party - advance to the general election ballot. In case of a tie for the top two spots, the county canvassing board resolves it by drawing lots. Additionally, if a candidate who qualified for the general election withdraws, dies, or becomes ineligible before ballots are printed, the remaining top candidate (with tie-breaking by lot if needed) replaces them.

Maddy summaryHB 65 amends Wyoming's procurement rules to require school districts to follow the same competitive bidding processes as other public entities for professional services. It raises the threshold for mandatory competitive bidding from $25,000 to $50,000 for professional services like architecture or engineering, meaning school districts must now obtain bids for projects over this amount instead of $25,000. The bill also updates notification requirements for larger projects and clarifies when school boards must interview multiple firms for contracts. These changes directly affect school districts and public entities purchasing professional services, streamlining procurement for larger projects while maintaining competitive processes for significant contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 196 amends Wyoming law to limit county commissioners' authority over land divisions in unincorporated areas. It clarifies that counties cannot prevent residential or agricultural uses on land divisions already exempt from standard subdivision rules under state law. The bill specifically prohibits counties from imposing restrictions that conflict with these exemptions, ensuring developers and property owners can use exempt land for those purposes. The changes took effect on July 1, 2019.