Rep. John Winter

Maddy summaryHB 66 prohibits businesses and organizations from refusing service, goods, or facilities to the public based on a person's vaccination status, use of face coverings (masks), or medical testing results related to infectious diseases like COVID-19. It also bans advertisements or communications requiring masks, vaccines, or testing as a condition for public services. Violations are punishable by a misdemeanor fine of up to $5,000 or one year in jail. The law applies to all public-facing businesses and services, such as restaurants, stores, and venues. It repeals prior immunization requirement laws and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 103) adds a sales tax exemption for current Wyoming state legislators purchasing lodging services while acting in their official capacity. It amends Wyoming tax law to exempt these specific lodging purchases from the state sales tax. The exemption applies only to legislators using lodging for official duties, not personal travel. The change took effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 105 reduces Wyoming's severance tax rate for surface coal mining from 7% to 6.5% by lowering the statutory tax portion from 5.5% to 5%, while maintaining the constitutional 1.5% rate. This change directly affects surface coal mining companies operating in Wyoming, reducing their tax burden on coal extracted from the surface. The bill updates tax distribution rules to reflect the new rate, with the constitutional portion (1.5%) continuing to fund Wyoming's permanent mineral trust fund. The reduced rate applies to surface coal produced on or after July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 44 updates procedures for issuing and transferring vehicle and mobile home titles. It allows a single co-owner to transfer a mobile home without others' signatures unless the title specifies "and" or joint ownership. The bill requires county treasurers to issue excise tax receipts and mandates duplicate titles to include a warning that they may be subject to rights under the original title. These changes apply to all vehicle and mobile home owners, dealers, and county clerks handling title transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 85 creates a new felony offense for pregnant individuals who knowingly use methamphetamine or certain narcotics (like heroin or fentanyl) without a prescription from a healthcare provider. It directly affects pregnant people using these substances without medical authorization, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically targets non-prescribed use of Schedule I/II controlled substances during pregnancy, framing it as endangering the unborn child, and takes effect July 1, 2022. The bill does not address medical treatment or addiction support, focusing solely on criminal penalties for non-prescribed substance use.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 109 prohibits members and staff of the state gaming commission from engaging in, investing in, or pursuing any business regulated by the commission, including horse racing betting or other gaming activities. It requires immediate disclosure and divestment of any such interests if they exist, and mandates that affected individuals recuse themselves from related commission decisions. This applies directly to commission members and staff who own or have family interests in regulated businesses, such as racetracks or casinos. The law, effective July 1, 2022, strengthens ethics safeguards by preventing conflicts of interest in gaming regulation. It amends existing rules to clarify prohibitions and repeals a duplicate provision.

Maddy summarySF 99 allows Wyoming state agencies and local governments to deposit public funds into credit unions that meet state approval requirements, expanding options beyond traditional banks. The bill amends state law to explicitly include credit unions as "approved depositories" under the same rules as banks, requiring all deposits to be fully insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA) or FDIC. It maintains existing requirements for security, withdrawal terms (including 30-day notice for some accounts), and approval by the state board of deposits. This change directly affects state treasurers, county governments, and other political subdivisions managing public funds, giving them access to credit unions as a deposit option. The law took effect July 1, 2022.

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 75 requires Wyoming's political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and school districts) to hold bond elections only on days when a primary or general election is scheduled, aligning bond votes with existing statewide election cycles. Exceptions allow bond elections on specific dates in May or August for natural disasters or emergencies, with the secretary of state mandated to create emergency rules by July 1, 2022. The bill also requires local governments to provide 110 days' written notice of bond elections to the county clerk, detailing bond purposes and terms. This change directly affects how local entities schedule and conduct bond elections for projects like infrastructure or public facilities.

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.