Rep. Andrew Byron

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 167) allows individuals seeking domestic violence protection orders in Wyoming to request remote participation in court hearings via video or audio technology. It directly affects petitioners and respondents in domestic violence cases who may face barriers to in-person attendance. Courts may approve remote hearings if they have the necessary technology, but retain full discretion to deny requests. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes amending the Wyoming Constitution to authorize the legislature to create a property tax exemption for residential homes owned by elderly or infirm residents. The exemption would aim to preserve homeownership for these groups, particularly if deemed necessary for supporting the poor, but the legislature would determine specific eligibility and implementation. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect, and it does not automatically create the exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes shed antlers and horns from big game animals found on Wyoming public lands the property of the state, not private individuals. It requires the Game and Fish Commission to establish specific collection seasons, with residents allowed to begin collecting three days before nonresidents. The rules must minimize disturbance to big game populations in areas west of I-90 (from Montana to Buffalo) and west of I-25 (from Buffalo to Colorado). This directly affects hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who collect shed antlers on public lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces Wyoming's property tax assessment rate for "all other property" (including most residential and commercial properties not covered by other classifications) from 9.5% to 7.5% of fair market value. It directly affects property owners in this category by lowering the taxable value used to calculate their annual property tax bill. The change takes effect January 1, 2024, as amended in sections 39-11-101(a)(xvii)(C) and 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C) of Wyoming law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 154 creates a permanent vehicle registration option for non-commercial vehicles that are 11 years old or older. Owners pay a one-time fee (including an $87.50 state administration charge plus five times the standard annual registration fee) instead of renewing annually. The permanent registration cannot be transferred to a new owner; if sold, the new owner must pay full standard registration fees. This change took effect July 1, 2023, and applies only to qualifying non-commercial vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits posting unauthorized signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal lands where lawful wildlife hunting is permitted. It specifically targets signs placed with intent to hinder hunting activities on public lands. Landowners retain the right to prevent trespass on private property, which is explicitly excluded from the law. The law applies to all public lands used for hunting and takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 70 modifies Wyoming's legal definition of a "home-based educational program" under W.S. 21-4-101(a)(v). It specifies that such a program must be provided by a parent, legal guardian, or their designated person to a single child, and explicitly excludes programs serving more than one family unit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not create new requirements or funding but clarifies what qualifies as a home-based program for regulatory purposes. This directly affects parents or guardians providing home education to their own child, excluding multi-family educational arrangements from this definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Wyoming's worker's compensation rates to be no higher than the lowest third of nationwide state rates. It directly affects all employers in Wyoming by capping their premiums based on national averages, rather than state-specific rates. The state department of workforce services would determine national rates by state and adjust Wyoming's rates annually. Employers could contest their rate classification through administrative procedures if they disagree with the department's determination.

Maddy summaryHB 230 establishes a 60-day deadline for Wyoming's Department of Transportation to impose driver's license penalties after a conviction for offenses like driving under the influence (DUI). Specifically, the department must initiate administrative actions - such as license revocation, suspension, or requiring an ignition interlock device - within 60 days of a court's conviction order or deferral of prosecution, or the penalty cannot take effect. This bill does not change the penalties themselves but ensures they are applied within a clear timeframe, directly affecting individuals convicted of traffic offenses and the department's enforcement process.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 232 regulates commercially guided fishing operations by requiring outfitters to obtain a separate license and registration sticker for each fishing boat they operate. The bill authorizes the Game and Fish Commission to set daily limits on the number of such boats in specific river sections (like the Snake or Wind River drainages), after holding public hearings. It updates definitions to clarify that "commercially guided fishing boat" means a boat operated by an outfitter, and modifies licensing rules for outfitters and the state board of guides. The changes affect outfitters providing fishing guide services, with new rules effective July 1, 2023.