Rep. John Bear

Maddy summaryHB 293 repeals Wyoming's School Foundation Program Reserve Account and transfers all existing funds to the Common School Permanent Fund Reserve Account. The bill modifies school finance by redirecting all future revenues that would have gone to the repealed account into the Common School Permanent Fund Reserve Account. It requires the state auditor to report on these transfers to the joint appropriations committee by October 2026 and 2027. This change affects state school funding mechanisms but does not alter current school finance formulas or funding levels.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 177 creates a new legislative committee called the "federal review joint and standing committee" to monitor federal actions. The committee, composed of 5 Senate and 9 House members appointed by March 31 after each election, reviews all federal laws, regulations, and executive orders to assess whether they infringe on Wyoming's sovereignty or exceed federal constitutional limits. It must report findings and recommend legislative responses, such as new bills or resolutions, to address perceived constitutional conflicts. The committee’s work ends if the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is repealed, with the bill taking effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 89 requires wind energy facilities in Wyoming to dispose of decommissioned turbine blades and towers on the site where they operated, rather than sending them to municipal landfills. The bill prohibits landfill disposal of these materials, mandates burying only base materials (not mechanical parts), and specifies minimum depth requirements near aquifers. Exceptions include on-site recycling, removal of non-base materials, and disposal at surface coal mining sites. The rulemaking requirements and effective date (July 1, 2025) apply to new permits issued after that date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 294 amends how the state distributes excess federal mineral royalties (payments from oil, gas, and mineral leases on federal land) received above specific annual thresholds. For fiscal years 2026 and beyond, any revenue exceeding the most recent even-year revenue forecast will be split equally: half goes to the common school permanent fund reserve account, and half to the permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund reserve account. The bill also adjusts thresholds for 2025 ($549.4 million) and 2026 ($530.2 million), repeals outdated distribution provisions (sections k, m, n), and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects state school funding and the mineral trust fund by changing the allocation method for surplus royalty payments.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 271 reduces the annual spending rate for the common school account within the state's permanent land fund from 5% to 4.5% of the account's five-year average market value. This change directly affects public school funding by lowering the amount that can be spent each year from this specific account. The bill modifies statutes governing how investment earnings and federal mineral royalties are handled within the school funding system. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and represents a concrete adjustment to the state's school finance formula. The bill does not change the total funds available but alters the calculation method for annual spending.

Maddy summaryHB 174 lowers Wyoming's minimum age to obtain a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18 years old. It directly affects residents aged 18 and older who wish to carry concealed firearms. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 6-8-104(b)(ii) to reflect this age change, while repealing an outdated section (6-8-104(j)). The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 217 requires Wyoming county clerks to conduct a random hand count audit of ballots in one precinct per county after each primary and general election. The Secretary of State randomly selects the precinct, and the county clerk must compare the hand count results to the electronic tabulation within one week of the election, reporting the findings immediately. This bill adds a new verification step to existing election audits, mandating that the Secretary of State adopt implementing rules by September 2025. It directly affects county clerks (who perform audits) and the Secretary of State (who selects precincts and creates rules), but does not change voting procedures or ballot access.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates a new misdemeanor crime for distributing material deemed "harmful to minors" to individuals under 18. It directly affects anyone who shares such material - like books, films, or online content - via digital means, in-person, or at events targeting minors. The bill defines "harmful to minors" by three criteria: material appealing to prurient interests in minors, patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacking literary/scientific value for minors. It repeals an existing exemption that previously protected school, library, and museum staff from obscenity charges when handling materials in their work. The law imposes fines up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail for violations, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 270 changes Wyoming's spending policy for the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund by reducing the annual spending rate from 5% to 4.5% of the fund's five-year average market value. This adjustment directly affects how the state calculates and spends earnings from the trust fund's investments each fiscal year. The bill modifies Section 9-4-719(d)(v) of Wyoming law to implement this lower spending percentage. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, applying to all future fiscal years.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.