Rep. Ken Pendergraft

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's state guard laws to remove the requirement that the National Guard must be activated for U.S. service before the Wyoming State Guard can be organized. It eliminates federal oversight by removing the secretary of defense's role in governing the state guard and grants the governor sole authority to establish, maintain, and equip the force. The governor will now fund the state guard through a $25,000 state appropriation (expiring June 2026) instead of federal sources, with members receiving up to 75% of National Guard pay rates. This directly affects the governor, state guard members, and Wyoming's defense structure by shifting control and funding entirely to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 148 increases the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees from 12 to 19 members, with 14 voting trustees (7 appointed by the governor and 7 elected by voters) and 5 nonvoting ex officio members (including the governor, university president, and education officials). The bill establishes elections for the 7 elected trustees every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, requiring at least one elected trustee per designated district. It specifies that appointed trustees serve six-year terms after 2026, replaces outdated provisions, and clarifies vacancy procedures for elected members. This directly affects how the university's governing board is selected, shifting part of the process from gubernatorial appointment to voter elections.

Maddy summaryHB 206 changes Wyoming's voter identification rules for in-person voting. It requires all acceptable ID to include a photograph of the voter, repealing Medicaid and Medicare insurance cards as valid forms of identification. The bill directly affects voters who need to present ID at polling places or absentee voting locations. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 307 amends Wyoming election law to regulate poll watchers, who are certified volunteers from political parties. The bill limits poll watchers to one per political party per polling place (with exceptions for multiple precincts), requires electronic certification to county clerks before voting begins, and specifies they may observe voter check-in, ballot counting, and polling place setup/shutdown without challenging voters or disrupting voting. It mandates polling places provide chairs for watchers and allows optional ID badges, while prohibiting removal for failure to schedule. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 31 requires all Wyoming school districts to adopt formal safety and security policies, including threat assessment procedures, by their boards of trustees. These policies and drafts must remain confidential and not be public records, allowing school boards to discuss them in closed sessions. The bill also limits the state fire marshal's authority by prohibiting bans on door securement devices used under these policies, though the marshal may create rules for their proper use during threats or drills. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting school districts and the state fire marshal's regulatory role.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires voters in Wyoming to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It defines "proof of U.S. citizenship" to include documents like a Wyoming driver's license (without citizenship indicators), tribal ID cards, U.S. passports, birth certificates, or naturalization certificates. This applies to all voter registration processes, both in-person and by mail, and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects any Wyoming resident seeking to register to vote for the first time or update their registration.

Maddy summaryHB 116 invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses issued to unauthorized aliens (non-citizens not lawfully present in the U.S.) in Wyoming. It deems such licenses invalid if issued by another state or marked to indicate the holder didn't prove lawful presence. The bill modifies existing law to exclude these licenses from valid exemptions for nonresidents and adds penalties for driving with an invalid license, including fines up to $750 or jail time. It requires the Wyoming Department of Transportation to create rules for implementation and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects undocumented immigrants holding out-of-state licenses who would no longer be permitted to drive legally in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Wyoming's "budget reserve account" and changes how excess state funds are managed. Instead of holding surplus general fund money in this account, it requires transferring unobligated balances above a set amount directly to the "legislative stabilization reserve account" at the end of each biennium. The bill also removes outdated references to the repealed account from state statutes and adds reporting requirements. This is a procedural budget adjustment affecting state financial management, not specific programs or services.