Rep. John Winter

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 174 creates a new Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board to oversee public charter schools statewide. The board, consisting of five members (including the state superintendent and appointees from the governor, Senate, and House), will approve, renew, and oversee charter schools under specific quality standards. The bill modifies how charter schools are authorized (replacing school district oversight with the state board), adjusts funding rules, and requires transparency in decision-making. This directly affects public charter schools, their governing boards, and the state education department as the local education agency.

Maddy summaryHB 103 modifies Wyoming election rules for voters changing political party affiliation. It clarifies that voters can submit a written request to change or cancel their party affiliation at any time except during the prohibited period before primary elections. The bill specifies deadlines for submitting applications (filed with county clerks before primary nomination deadlines for primaries, or 14 days before general elections), and states that requesting a partisan primary ballot automatically declares current party affiliation. This affects all Wyoming voters who wish to change their party registration for upcoming elections.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 144 prohibits physicians and health care providers from performing or prescribing certain medical procedures related to gender transition for children under 18. The bill bans surgeries like hysterectomy or orchiectomy, mastectomies, and specific drugs that suppress puberty or alter hormone levels, with an exception for children with certain genetic disorders of sex development. It also prohibits health insurance from covering these procedures for minors and states that violating this law can lead to license suspension or revocation for medical professionals. The law applies to insurance policies issued after July 1, 2023, and takes effect on that date for medical procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 188 creates a program to compensate Wyoming livestock owners, lessees, or their agents for damages caused by gray wolves in areas where wolves are classified as predatory animals. The Wyoming Department of Agriculture will verify wolf-caused damage and determine compensation amounts based on department rules, using a $135,000 appropriation from the general fund. The program runs from July 2023 through June 2026, with funds dedicated solely to this purpose and expiring if unspent by the end of the period. It requires the department to contract with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and USDA for claims investigation and to promulgate necessary rules.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 143, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing $6,000 annually per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualifying education expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are K-12 students not yet graduated, allowing parents or guardians to use ESA funds for private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the program, disbursements occur monthly, and funds come from a dedicated state account - not local taxes - with excess funds transferred to the school foundation program if balances exceed $30 million. Qualified schools (non-governmental, non-discriminatory) are explicitly not considered state or federal agents under this program.

Maddy summaryHB 161 requires financial institutions to provide a separate written disclosure to guarantors or co-signers when a loan involves property as collateral. This disclosure must clearly state that agreeing to guarantee or co-sign a loan does not grant any ownership rights or interest in the property securing the loan. The bill directly affects individuals who co-sign or guarantee loans for property purchases or collateralized loans, ensuring they understand their limited legal position. It does not change existing property rights but mandates transparency about the lack of ownership interests from co-signing. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming joint resolution requests Congress to change federal policy by allowing the slaughter and processing of wild horses and burros for meat sale, both domestically and internationally. It specifically asks for legislation to remove the current funding ban that prevents USDA meat inspection for equine slaughter facilities, which has been in place since 2007. The resolution argues that current management is unsustainable, citing the Bureau of Land Management's $77.7 million annual cost for holding excess animals and the inability to control rapidly growing populations. The bill seeks to enable a new management tool - facilitating meat sales - to address overpopulation and reduce costs, as federal agencies struggle to maintain balanced wild horse and burro populations on public lands.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 134 requires sellers of vacant or subdivided land (under 140 acres) to provide written disclosure to prospective buyers about farm and ranch operations within one mile of the property. The disclosure notice explains that normal agricultural activities - like noise, odors, machinery use, and pesticide application - may occur at any time and are protected under Wyoming's Right to Farm law (11-44-101-104). It clarifies buyers cannot seek legal remedies for these standard practices if conducted properly. The bill directly affects rural homebuyers and sellers in areas near active farms, with the requirement taking effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 104 allows Wyoming hunters to use artificial light technologies - including thermal or infrared imaging - for night hunting of predatory animals (like coyotes or wolves) on both private and public land. It directly affects landowners (with written permission), residents managing property, and hunters on public land. The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to create specific rules governing the permitted technology and hunting methods. The changes take effect July 1, 2023, with rulemaking provisions active immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 160 allows Wyoming veterans with a "veteran designation" on their driver's license to use it as proof of service instead of the military form DD 214. This directly affects Wyoming veterans who have the designation on their license when interacting with local government entities (like city offices or county services). The bill requires these entities to accept the designated driver's license as valid proof, though they may still request the DD 214 if additional documentation is needed. The law took effect on July 1, 2023.