Rep. John Bear

Maddy summaryHB 264 prohibits Wyoming state agencies from accepting or requiring central bank digital currency (CBDC) as payment for government services, taxes, or fees. It also bans state agencies from using public funds to test, adopt, or implement CBDCs. The bill cites concerns about CBDCs enabling government surveillance, restricting financial privacy, and allowing control over personal spending. Wyoming’s legislature urges Congress to prohibit federal CBDC development and requires the Secretary of State to share the bill with federal officials. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 156 requires voters in Wyoming to prove they have been a bona fide resident of the state for at least 30 days before an election. It mandates that voters provide documentation verifying their residency when registering and prohibits registration based on documents showing noncitizen status. The bill defines "proof of residence" and directs the Secretary of State to establish acceptable documents through rulemaking. This affects all individuals registering to vote in Wyoming elections by adding a residency verification step to the registration process.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 228 prohibits state and county election officials (including county clerks) from accepting private money, grants, or services for election administration costs like voter education, registration, or outreach. The bill requires all election-related expenses to be funded solely with public money, with exceptions only for meals provided to poll workers on election day or during training. It also bans private entities from offering such funds and explicitly allows federal election funding. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and creates misdemeanor penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Wyoming's "strategic investments and projects account" and requires all remaining funds in that account to be transferred to the state general fund by July 1, 2026. It eliminates a dedicated state fund that previously held money for capital projects, redirecting those resources to the general budget. The bill also includes reporting requirements for the state auditor on the transfer process. This is a procedural budget adjustment affecting state fund management, not a policy change impacting specific programs or constituents.

Maddy summaryHB 32, titled "What is a Woman Act," defines "sex" as biological sex at birth for all state laws, rules, and regulations. It requires state agencies, schools, and public facilities to distinguish between males and females based on biological sex (e.g., XX chromosomes for females, XY for males) and mandates separate accommodations in settings like restrooms, prisons, shelters, and sports. The bill also requires collecting vital statistics identifying individuals as male or female at birth and states that sex-based distinctions are permitted when related to safety, privacy, or health objectives. It explicitly states that "woman" refers only to biological females and includes protections for intersex individuals under disability laws.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 154 clarifies that voting more than once in the same federal election - including voting in another state and then voting in Wyoming - is considered illegal "false voting." It directly affects voters who attempt to cast multiple ballots across states for the same election and election officials responsible for enforcement. The bill adds specific language to the false voting statute and authorizes the Secretary of State to request investigations into such cases, requiring county sheriffs to investigate when requested and refer cases to prosecutors if warranted. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 94 removes a limit on the number of charter schools the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board can approve, effective March 15, 2025. Previously, the board could authorize no more than three (later amended to four) charter schools operated by entities other than school districts before July 1, 2026. The bill eliminates this cap, allowing the board to authorize any number of charter schools meeting statutory requirements. It directly affects the authorizing board and organizations seeking to establish new charter schools outside school district management.

Maddy summaryHB 64 requires healthcare providers to offer an ultrasound to women seeking a chemical abortion (using drugs) at least 48 hours before dispensing the medication. The ultrasound must show the fetus and, if audible, the heartbeat, and providers must document details like the date, physician, and fetal age. Before providing the abortion drugs, the physician or pharmacist must verify the ultrasound occurred. The law excludes exceptions for life-saving care, ectopic pregnancy, or medical treatments where the fetus may be harmed, and penalties for non-compliance apply only to providers (not patients). This directly affects women seeking medication abortions and the healthcare facilities providing them in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 121, the "Hospital Price Transparency Act," requires Wyoming hospitals to publicly list detailed pricing for all services and items they provide. Specifically, hospitals must display a machine-readable online list showing standard charges - including gross charges, negotiated rates with insurers, and discounted cash prices - for every service, plus a simplified consumer-friendly list for common "shoppable" services like routine procedures. This applies to all licensed Wyoming hospitals and must be posted on their websites free of charge, without requiring login or personal information. The law also prohibits debt collection actions against patients from facilities that fail to comply and directs the Department of Health to monitor enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 144 clarifies the membership requirements for Wyoming county canvassing boards that certify election results. It specifies that boards must include the county clerk plus two voters from different political parties, appointed by the county clerk if major party committees fail to select members. The bill updates election code sections to require this bipartisan composition, sets compensation equal to election judges, and mandates that canvassing for special district elections be completed within seven business days. This affects county clerks, election boards, and voters in all counties conducting elections.