Rep. Mark Jennings

Maddy summaryHB 83 clarifies that Wyoming's parental rights protections apply to all legal proceedings involving parentage, neglect, termination of parental rights, child custody, or visitation. The bill specifically requires these protections to be considered in cases under Wyoming Statutes Title 14 (family law) or Title 20 (child welfare). It adds a new section to define this scope, ensuring consistent application across court and administrative decisions. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 97) changes Wyoming's rules for voters changing political party affiliation. It specifies that voters must submit a signed application to their county clerk to change party affiliation before primary elections (by the nomination filing deadline) or before general elections (at least 14 days prior, or at the polls). Requesting a partisan primary ballot automatically counts as declaring party affiliation. The bill directly affects Wyoming voters who wish to switch party affiliations for upcoming elections.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming's state budget process by requiring that recommended spending for each two-year budget cycle cannot exceed two-thirds of the state's actual revenue from the previous three fiscal years. This limits how much the state can spend based on verified past revenue, excluding certain funds like pension reserves and unencumbered balances. The bill directly affects state budget planners, the governor's office, and the legislature when developing annual budgets. It repeals older budget rules about fund transfers and stabilization accounts, effective July 1, 2023. The key change is a new revenue-based spending cap to prevent budgeting based on projected or hypothetical revenue increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of chemical abortion drugs (such as RU-486, mifepristone, and misoprostol) for abortions in Wyoming, affecting healthcare providers who prescribe, dispense, or administer these drugs. Exceptions include contraceptive use before pregnancy confirmation, treatment for natural miscarriages, and medical care for immediate physical threats to a woman's life (excluding mental health concerns or self-harm risks). Violating the ban would result in misdemeanor charges with penalties of up to six months in jail or a $9,000 fine. Women undergoing abortions with chemical drugs would not face criminal prosecution under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges in Wyoming to designate athletic teams based on students' biological sex at birth, as recorded on their birth certificates. It prohibits biological males from participating on teams designated for females, women, or girls, and mandates that schools must clearly label teams as male, female, or coed. The law also allows students denied athletic opportunities due to violations, or those facing retaliation for reporting issues, to pursue legal action for damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. Schools must implement specific rules by August 15, 2022, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2022.

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 summaryThis bill prohibits anyone from collecting, soliciting, or submitting completed absentee ballots for voters unless the voter personally initiates contact and provides written authorization. It directly affects voters, election workers, and organizations that might handle ballots, making unauthorized collection a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Key provisions require written voter authorization for ballot collection and mandate the Secretary of State to create implementing rules. The law amends Wyoming election statutes to clarify these restrictions and penalties, taking effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 149 prohibits abortions performed solely because of an unborn child's disability, sex, race, color, national origin, or ancestry. It directly affects health care providers who perform abortions, requiring them to avoid these specific reasons for termination. The bill imposes felony charges (up to 14 years imprisonment), civil liability for wrongful death, and potential license discipline for violations under Wyoming's health licensing laws. It also defines "disability" broadly to include conditions like Down syndrome and "lethal fetal anomaly" as a condition likely causing death within three months of birth.

Maddy summaryHB 141 appropriates $1.2 million from Wyoming's general fund to the Governor's office for lawsuits challenging state or federal laws that block Wyoming coal exports or cause early closures of coal-fired power plants using Wyoming coal. The funds are specifically for litigation to defend Wyoming's coal industry against legal actions that impede coal exports or force plant shutdowns. The appropriation expires on June 30, 2030, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury. The Governor and Attorney General must submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing how the funds were used in these lawsuits.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 138 creates the Hope Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships to eligible Wyoming K-12 students. It directly affects Wyoming residents enrolled in public schools who qualify (e.g., attending public school for 45+ days annually), with funds usable at participating private schools. The program establishes a scholarship account funded through state education appropriations (2% of public school funding or per-student amounts), administered by a nine-member board including state education officials. Funds cover qualifying education expenses, with annual transfers from the state education budget to the scholarship program fund. The bill defines key terms like "eligible recipient" and "participating schools" but does not specify implementation timelines beyond the 2023 fiscal year.