Rep. Albert Sommers

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 142 amends Wyoming's wildlife trust account board duties to require the board to recommend to specific legislative committees that funds be transferred from the income account to the wildlife and natural resource trust account. This procedural bill directly affects the wildlife trust board by adding a mandatory recommendation duty regarding fund transfers. It does not create new funding but specifies a process for moving existing funds between accounts. The change took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 87 modifies civil procedure in Wyoming by allowing healthcare providers to use the amount they agreed to accept (after discounts or forgiven debt) as proof of the fair cost of services in lawsuits. It directly affects patients, providers, and insurers involved in civil cases where healthcare costs are disputed. The law specifies that evidence of this agreed-upon payment amount becomes admissible to establish reasonable value, replacing previous methods of valuing services. This applies to all civil cases filed on or after July 1, 2019. The bill does not change healthcare costs or insurance rules but changes how those costs are proven in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 69) expands eligibility for Wyoming's Water Development Program by adding two categories of public entities that can participate. It allows any entity covered under Wyoming Constitution Article 16, Section 10 (including irrigation districts, public water corporations, and state subdivisions) and any other public entity with taxing or fee authority for serviced lands. The change directly affects water management groups, public utilities, and local governments seeking program funding. The bill became effective July 1, 2019, without altering existing program operations.

Maddy summaryHB 41 changes the title of the University of Wyoming board president to "president chairman" and allows the board's executive committee to have more than three members. It amends specific Wyoming statutes (including those governing board appointments and financial reporting) to update references to this new title and committee structure. The bill directly affects the governance of the University of Wyoming by formalizing this title change and providing flexibility for the executive committee size. It took effect on July 1, 2019, with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 246 expands Wyoming's existing volunteer firefighter and EMT pension account to include volunteer search and rescue personnel. It adds specific definitions for "county search and rescue organization" (requiring bylaws, 50% meeting/operation attendance) and "volunteer search and rescue person" (individuals engaged in county-led operations). The bill modifies contribution rules, directing 70% of fire insurance premium taxes to fund this expanded pension account. This change directly affects volunteer search and rescue members in counties meeting the new organizational requirements, providing them access to retirement benefits previously available only to volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 247 amends the state's broadband development program by updating the definition of "unserved area" to reflect current technology standards. It requires the Wyoming Business Council to revise the definition by July 2022, raising the minimum broadband speed thresholds from 25 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload to higher speeds appropriate for prevailing technology. This change directly affects which rural and underserved areas qualify for state broadband funding under the program. The bill modifies eligibility criteria through rulemaking authority rather than creating new funding or programs.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 228 requires the Department of Transportation and Game and Fish Department to study wildlife-vehicle collisions on highways and wildlife deaths along specific railroad corridors (near U.S. Highway 30). The bill mandates collecting data on accident locations, injuries, animal deaths, and injury locations from 2019-2023, then creating priority maps and lists of high-risk areas. It appropriates $5 million for wildlife safety projects like signage, crossings, and fences on identified highways, with projects requiring local matching funds (5-30% depending on the entity). This directly affects drivers, wildlife conservation efforts, and communities along Wyoming highways and railroads, focusing on reducing collisions through data-driven infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 220 creates a new income tax on businesses operating in Wyoming, requiring them to pay tax based on their income earned within the state. It uses a three-factor formula (property, payroll, and sales) to calculate how much tax a business owes, especially for companies operating across multiple states. The Wyoming Department of Revenue will administer the tax, with strict confidentiality rules protecting business tax returns. This bill directly affects businesses with operations in Wyoming, including out-of-state companies conducting business there.

Maddy summaryHB 52 requires state agencies and political subdivisions in Wyoming to procure furniture and movable equipment for capital construction projects through competitive bidding. It prioritizes products available from Wyoming resident suppliers when possible, or uses performance-based specifications if local products aren't available. Agencies may seek waivers for highly specialized items, but these require written justification and approval by designated officials. The law applies to all such procurements starting July 1, 2019.