Rep. John Bear

Maddy summaryHB 127 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real property in Wyoming's "all other property" category. It exempts a portion of a property's value above its prior year's taxable value, adjusted by the county's median household income change (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who acquired their property in the prior calendar year are excluded, and tax assessment notices must now show exemption details. The exemption applies starting with the 2024 tax year.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 144 creates special suicide awareness and prevention license plates for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicle owners pay a $150 initial fee plus a $50 annual fee, with all funds going to the state's 988 suicide prevention hotline system. The plates must display the national lifeline number (988), a slogan, and a symbol, and require 500 plates sold by 2033 to continue. The program begins January 1, 2025, and will terminate if the 500-plate threshold isn't met.

Maddy summarySF 119 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real estate in Wyoming. It exempts value above last year's taxable amount plus the county's median household income growth (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who purchased their property in the prior calendar year are excluded from the exemption. Tax assessment notices must now clearly show if this exemption applies to a property. The exemption begins for 2024 property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes federal oversight from Wyoming's State Guard, granting the governor full authority to organize and maintain it without federal approval. It specifies that state funds - not federal resources - will cover guard members' pay and equipment, aligning with existing state budget processes. The changes directly affect Wyoming State Guard members and the governor's operational control over the force. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 59 prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their vaccination status, mask-wearing, or COVID-19 testing results. It bans businesses and service providers from denying access to public services, goods, or facilities - like restaurants or retail stores - because someone is unvaccinated, not wearing a mask, or refuses testing. The law also prevents businesses from advertising requirements for masks, vaccines, or testing as a condition for service. Violators face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and affected individuals can file lawsuits to seek this compensation. The bill directly impacts businesses serving the public, ensuring equal access regardless of health-related choices.

Maddy summaryHB 211 changes how property tax assessments work for certain real property by establishing a rebuttable presumption that acquisition value (what a property was purchased for) should be used instead of market value for tax calculations. It directly affects property owners and tax assessors dealing with properties classified under W.S. 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C), typically commercial or industrial properties. The bill removes confidentiality rules for sworn statements about these properties, making them public records accessible to anyone contesting tax assessments, and prohibits criminal penalties for disclosing them. This shifts transparency in property tax disputes by prioritizing purchase price data over market value for specific property types.

Maddy summaryHB 91 prohibits Wyoming from enforcing health mandates or requirements from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) related to mask-wearing, vaccines, or medical testing for COVID-19 or its variants. The bill explicitly states these federal and international health organizations have "no jurisdiction" in Wyoming, meaning their guidance cannot be used to justify such requirements within the state. It directly affects Wyoming residents, businesses, and local officials who would otherwise be subject to CDC or WHO directives. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies specifically to pandemic-related health measures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 prohibits cities, towns, and counties from adopting policies that restrict local officials from sharing non-confidential immigration status information with federal immigration authorities. It defines "immigration status information" as details about a person's legal presence in the U.S. and requires local governments to cooperate with federal enforcement on immigration matters. The bill allows the governor, with advice from the attorney general, to withhold state and federally administered funding from localities that violate this requirement. This directly affects all Wyoming municipalities and counties by mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and imposing financial penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 115 requires blood donation centers to ask donors if they've received a COVID-19 or mRNA vaccine during their lifetime. Blood from vaccinated donors must be clearly labeled, and in non-emergency situations, transfusion recipients can request blood based on the donor's vaccination status if available. The bill applies to blood collectors, donation centers, and patients receiving transfusions. It takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 159 prohibits unauthorized fees for advising on veterans benefits, directly affecting veterans seeking benefits and third-party advisors (like claim assistants). The bill requires written fee agreements meeting federal standards, mandates clear disclosures that free government services exist (including Wyoming Military Department and county agencies), and bans guarantees of specific benefit outcomes or pre-disagreement fees. It also prohibits excessive fees and requires advertising disclosures about free alternatives. Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under Wyoming law.