Rep. Dalton Banks

Maddy summaryHB 66 changes how Wyoming courts review state agency decisions. It requires courts to interpret statutes and regulations without giving extra weight to agency interpretations (de novo review), and to favor interpretations that limit agency power and protect individual rights. This affects courts, state agencies (like environmental or business regulators), and people challenging agency actions. The law applies to judicial review cases filed after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 118 requires legislative approval before state-funded water projects can use eminent domain to acquire private land. It directly affects water districts, cities, or public entities seeking to build or expand water infrastructure using state funds. The bill adds a new requirement (W.S. 41-2-124(m)) that mandates the legislature must approve such eminent domain actions for water projects, modifying existing laws that previously allowed these entities to proceed without this step. This change applies specifically to projects utilizing state funds, not all eminent domain uses.

Maddy summaryHJ 7 is a non-binding resolution requesting the Wyoming State Board of Education to amend social studies content standards to include teaching about the negative consequences of communism, fascism, and socialism in the 20th and 21st centuries. It specifically asks for curriculum that covers documented historical abuses (such as human rights violations and loss of freedoms) under these ideologies and compares them with U.S. principles like democracy and individual rights. The resolution does not mandate changes but urges the Board to consider adding these teaching benchmarks during their standard review process. If adopted, this would affect social studies curriculum in Wyoming public schools, altering how these political ideologies are taught to students.

Maddy summaryHB 180 requires cities and towns in Wyoming to address surface water runoff systems established before April 1, 2026. By July 1, 2027, these systems must either be reorganized into a drainage utility (with voter approval) or operated using only city funds without user fees after April 1, 2026. If cities fail to comply by the deadline, they must refund all fees collected before April 1, 2026 to users by September 1, 2027. The bill also allows fees for other services (like water or trash) but prohibits new fees for runoff systems after 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 170 would amend Wyoming's parole eligibility rules to make prisoners ineligible for parole if they were convicted of assault or escape in district court *or* found guilty of those acts through the Wyoming Department of Corrections' administrative disciplinary process. This change directly affects individuals serving sentences who have been disciplined for assault or escape while incarcerated. The bill adds administrative disciplinary findings (not just court convictions) as a basis for parole ineligibility under state law. It would take effect on July 1, 2026, if enacted. (Note: The bill is currently pending introduction and has not yet been considered by the legislature.)

Maddy summaryHB 158, the EV Charging Stations Transparency Act, requires operators of direct current (DC) fast-charging stations in Wyoming to display a clear 3x3 inch label showing the primary energy source (e.g., wind, natural gas, coal) powering the station. This applies to stations connected to public utilities or using on-site generation, with labels updated annually based on the utility’s annual energy mix in the station’s service area. If the primary source accounts for less than 50% of electricity, the label must show the top two sources. The law aims to provide transparency for EV drivers about the energy sources powering charging stations, with violations punishable by fines up to $750.

Maddy summaryHB 156 creates a state-funded program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming municipalities (cities, towns, and special districts) for improving public water and wastewater systems. The program covers preliminary planning, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and costs for joining regional systems, but only for projects meeting specific eligibility criteria like those approved under existing water pollution or drinking water loan programs. Funding comes from state loans up to $50 million annually, which must be repaid with interest capped at 1.5%, and the state loan board administers applications and reports annually to legislative committees. This program directly affects local governments managing water infrastructure by offering new funding options for system upgrades and regionalization efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 14 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully defend against criminal charges by reasonably using self-defense, resulting in a not-guilty verdict, dismissed charges, or release from prosecution. It also mandates automatic expungement (permanent removal) of criminal records for these individuals without requiring a court hearing, including no filing fees for either reimbursement petitions or expungement requests. The bill directly affects people prosecuted for crimes but acquitted or having charges dismissed due to lawful self-defense. Key provisions include county-funded reimbursement for defense costs and streamlined court orders to erase all related arrest and prosecution records. The law applies to cases where self-defense was used to prevent injury or property damage, as defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 81, the "Less is More Plate Act," would have removed the requirement for Wyoming vehicle owners to display a license plate on the front of their vehicles, while keeping the rear plate requirement. This bill directly affected all drivers who currently display front plates under Wyoming law (W.S. 31-2-205(a)(i)). The key provision repealed front plate mandates in multiple sections of the vehicle code, including those governing registration and display rules. The bill failed to pass in the Wyoming House (38-23) in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 43 requires commercial websites that profit from content harmful to minors (such as obscene material or child pornography) to verify users' ages before allowing access. Covered platforms must use specific, accepted methods like driver's licenses, passports, or credit cards (excluding those not requiring users to be 18+) to confirm users are not under 18. The law creates legal liability for platforms that fail to verify ages, imposing penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and allows parents or minors to sue for damages. It directly affects commercial online platforms hosting such content, not general websites or non-profit services.