Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 196 requires the federal government to exchange equivalent federal-owned lands whenever it acquires additional property in the state after July 1, 2024 (excluding specific military, infrastructure, or reclamation projects). The bill mandates that federal land acquisitions must be paired with transfers of federal lands to Wyoming to prevent a net increase in federal ownership. If an exchange isn't possible, the federal government must provide 90 days' notice to Wyoming's land board before finalizing the acquisition. Additionally, any land transferred to Wyoming under this policy must be disposed of through a public process prioritizing adjacent landowners and local uses if it would cause a net increase in state-owned lands beyond July 1, 2024.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 183 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, or individuals (defined as citizens of Russia, China, state sponsors of terrorism, or countries under specific arms regulations) from owning most land in Wyoming, allowing only personal residences under one acre. It requires existing foreign owners to sell their land by July 2026 (unless for a qualifying personal residence) and mandates annual registration with the Secretary of State for all foreign land ownership, including personal residences. Owners who fail to register face daily civil penalties of $5,000, and county clerks must report violations to the Attorney General for enforcement, which may include court-ordered forfeiture and sale of the land. The bill also requires tax assessment notices to inform owners about the foreign ownership restrictions and registration requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 182 prohibits payment processors from assigning special merchant category codes to firearm or ammunition retailers, requiring them to be classified as general merchandise or sporting goods retailers instead. This directly affects payment entities (like banks and credit card networks) and firearm retailers who must use standard retail codes. Violations carry a $1,000 fine per violation. The bill does not change gun laws or purchase requirements but modifies payment processing rules, effective July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 114 reauthorizes a program that helps teachers in shortage areas repay student loans by teaching in specific subjects. It targets educators in special education, math, science, world languages, reading, or English as a second language who complete teacher training at the University of Wyoming. Participants can repay loans without cash by teaching at least 50% of their time in these subjects for two years after graduation. The bill appropriates $2 million (2024-2026) for the program, with 15% allocated for administration. Annual reports will track the program's impact on teacher shortages in targeted areas.
Maddy summaryHB 152 prohibits registered sex offenders (18+ years) from being on child care facility premises when children under 18 are present, loitering within 1,000 feet of such facilities, or residing within 1,000 feet of them. It directly affects adult sex offenders required to register under Wyoming law. Key exceptions include parents dropping off/picking up children, attending facility events with permission, making deliveries, working in multipurpose buildings, voting, and residing in approved shelters or licensed facilities within the 1,000-foot zone. The bill defines "child care facility" to cover licensed centers, group homes, and government-run programs providing child care or residential care, and was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryHB 113 increases scholarship amounts for Wyoming's Hathaway program, directly affecting eligible students pursuing degrees or certificates at participating institutions. The bill raises semester awards for three scholarship tiers: Opportunity ($882, up from $840), Performance ($1,323, up from $1,260), and Honor ($1,764, up from $1,680) for full-time students meeting specific GPA and standardized test score criteria. Need-based scholarships also see updated calculations, with a minimum $110 per semester and increased caps for unmet financial need. The changes apply to students qualifying under existing Hathaway program standards, effective July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 200 increases application fees for nonresident hunters seeking licenses to hunt elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, grizzly bear, and wild bison. The bill adds specific supplemental fees to existing license costs (e.g., $576 for elk, $288 for deer/antelope) and updates base license fees for all listed species. These changes directly affect nonresidents who apply for big-game hunting licenses in Wyoming. The bill takes effect January 1, 2024, with all new fees applied to nonresident applications.
Maddy summaryHB 270 caps fees, property taxes, and assessments that improvement and service districts can impose on landowners, limiting them to the maximum amount originally promised when the district was formed. Landowners within these districts are directly affected, as districts cannot exceed this pre-set limit without voter approval through mail ballot or concurrent election. The law allows districts to adjust the cap only with majority voter consent, while maintaining exceptions for bond payments. Violations can be challenged in court within 120 days by affected landowners. (HB 270, effective July 1, 2023)
Maddy summaryHB 56 designates Wyoming public schools as "Purple Star Schools" if they meet specific requirements to support military-connected students - defined as children of active or former military members (including National Guard/Reserve) or those who lost a parent in service. To qualify, schools must appoint a military liaison to identify these students and coordinate services, maintain a dedicated website with relocation, academic, and support resources, implement student transition programs, and provide staff training. Schools must also complete at least one community action, such as hosting military family events or partnering with local military installations. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all qualifying Wyoming public schools seeking the designation.
Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a separate tax class for residential property in Wyoming. This would allow the legislature to set distinct tax rates for homes compared to other property types, including authorizing subcategories like owner-occupied primary residences. If approved by voters, it would change Wyoming’s property tax system by formally separating residential real estate into its own class under the state constitution. The amendment must be ratified by Wyoming voters at the next general election to take effect.