Rep. Dan Laursen

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits anyone from collecting, soliciting, or submitting completed absentee ballots for voters unless the voter personally initiates contact and provides written authorization. It directly affects voters, election workers, and organizations that might handle ballots, making unauthorized collection a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Key provisions require written voter authorization for ballot collection and mandate the Secretary of State to create implementing rules. The law amends Wyoming election statutes to clarify these restrictions and penalties, taking effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 140 requires landowners to obtain a permit from their county commission before creating a conservation easement, effective July 1, 2022. It limits all new conservation easements to a maximum 30-year duration (with possible renewal) and establishes a formal application process including survey requirements and a 45-day review timeline by the county board. The bill also mandates that county commissions adopt rules for implementation and specifies that fees for permits (capped at processing costs) fund the county general fund. This directly affects landowners seeking to create easements, county commissions managing permits, and the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Account, which cannot fund non-compliant easements.

Maddy summaryHB 139 prohibits Wyoming state agencies and local governments from using public funds or staff resources for projects involving permanent conservation easements or federal conservation efforts. It specifically restricts compliance with the Biden administration's goal to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030, requiring state agencies to host workshops on tax impacts of conservation easements and track local resolutions opposing the federal mandate. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to maintain online lists of jurisdictions supporting or opposing the 30x30 goal and designates a state coordinator for federal climate programs. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, landowners, and agricultural/mining industries by limiting state cooperation with federal conservation programs. The bill failed to pass in 2022 (30-30 vote).

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 87, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, declares that certain federal gun regulations within the state are unconstitutional and prohibits state officials from enforcing them. It defines "law abiding citizen" (excluding undocumented individuals) and allows civil lawsuits against officials who enforce federal gun laws deemed beyond federal authority. The bill asserts that federal actions restricting firearm possession, sale, or ownership within Wyoming exceed constitutional limits, except for regulations related to the military or active militia. This procedural bill, which failed to advance in 2022, does not change state gun laws but aims to block federal enforcement of gun regulations it deems invalid.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 138 creates the Hope Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships to eligible Wyoming K-12 students. It directly affects Wyoming residents enrolled in public schools who qualify (e.g., attending public school for 45+ days annually), with funds usable at participating private schools. The program establishes a scholarship account funded through state education appropriations (2% of public school funding or per-student amounts), administered by a nine-member board including state education officials. Funds cover qualifying education expenses, with annual transfers from the state education budget to the scholarship program fund. The bill defines key terms like "eligible recipient" and "participating schools" but does not specify implementation timelines beyond the 2023 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 58 requires all public high school students to pass a civics exam to graduate, using the same test used for U.S. citizenship (minimum 60% score). The bill mandates that schools teach the U.S. Constitution (including the Bill of Rights), Wyoming's constitution, and American ideals from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students graduating in 2022-2023 or later must pass this specific exam as a graduation requirement. The law affects all Wyoming public high school students and takes effect July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 133, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act-2," prohibits state officials from enforcing federal laws or actions that the state deems unconstitutional restrictions on firearm ownership within Wyoming. It directly affects Wyoming residents (defined as legally present citizens without certain disqualifications) and state officials who might otherwise comply with federal gun regulations. Key provisions include allowing citizens to sue officials for enforcing such federal actions and establishing that Wyoming retains authority to regulate firearms under state law and the Second Amendment. The bill asserts state sovereignty by declaring federal actions that infringe on firearm rights - like data collection or possession restrictions - unconstitutional within Wyoming's borders.

Maddy summaryHB 98 revises Wyoming's property tax appeal process to increase transparency and fairness for taxpayers challenging their assessments. It requires county assessors to provide property owners with specific documents (like statements of consideration for similar properties and the assessor's valuation data) during appeals, and mandates that assessors explain why certain properties weren't used in valuing the taxpayer's property. The bill also sets strict deadlines for exchanging evidence and witnesses before county board hearings, requires hearings to be recorded, and gives boards clearer authority to remand cases back to assessors if they fail to provide required information. This affects property owners who dispute tax assessments and county officials handling those appeals, without changing tax rates or property values.

Maddy summaryHB 66, the Working Animal Protection Act, prohibits Wyoming cities, towns, and counties from creating or enforcing local ordinances that ban or restrict the use of "working animals" in lawful commerce or animal enterprises. It directly affects local governments and businesses using animals for work (such as ranching, transportation, or tourism), while exempting zoning laws and public health/safety regulations. The bill defines "working animals" broadly to include animals used for specific duties (e.g., service, agriculture, or tourism), but explicitly excludes food/fiber animals like cattle, sheep, or poultry. It became effective July 1, 2022, and overrides conflicting local policies enacted before that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 112) limits how Wyoming cities and towns can collect past-due payments for trash, recycling, water, or sewer services. It states that municipalities may only recover such payments if a property owner has a specific written contract for that service. The law does not change existing contracts signed before the bill's effective date (July 1, 2022). It directly affects property owners who use municipal services and the cities/towns providing those services.