Rep. Scott Clem

Maddy summaryHB 251 authorizes Wyoming's legislature to sue Washington state for denying permits for coal export terminals, which Wyoming claims unconstitutionally harms its coal industry. The bill creates a $250,000 "coal export terminal litigation account" to fund legal costs, allowing a joint legislative committee to hire private counsel and pursue damages or declaratory relief. It directly affects Wyoming's coal producers and economy by enabling legal action to address permit denials that the legislature asserts disrupt interstate commerce and state revenue. The bill does not change existing laws but provides specific funding and procedural steps for this lawsuit.

Maddy summaryHB 148 requires Wyoming's five elected state officials and all legislators to annually disclose contracts they have with state entities. Specifically, they must list the business name, address, contract type, and dates for any contract involving a business they financially own (excluding small stock holdings under 1% or minor business interests). This disclosure must be submitted by January 31 each year to the Secretary of State. The bill does not change state spending rules but mandates transparency about potential conflicts of interest in existing contracts. It applies to all state agencies and judicial branches, effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 107 allows courts in Wyoming to terminate parental rights when a child was conceived as a result of sexual assault committed by the parent. The bill specifies that courts do not need to attempt family reunification and automatically accept a conviction (or guilty plea) for sexual assault as conclusive proof. It directly affects parents convicted of sexual assault who fathered children through that crime, and their children. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 55 allows mobile home owners in Wyoming to use a copy of their title instead of the original when transporting their mobile home within the state. The bill amends tax and permit rules to require owners to present a copy of the title (along with proof of tax payment) to the county treasurer before obtaining an over-width permit from the Department of Transportation. This change directly affects mobile home owners who need to move their homes on public roads, simplifying the process by eliminating the need to carry the original title. The law became effective July 1, 2019, and does not alter the requirement to pay annual property taxes for transport permits.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 118 clarifies that tax liens on mineral production (like oil and gas) have priority over most other claims against the mineral property. It requires counties to notify existing lienholders 90 days after taxes become delinquent and file their lien within 120 days, while protecting taxpayers' rights to appeal tax disputes before enforcement. This directly affects mineral producers who owe taxes, creditors holding prior liens, and counties managing tax collections. The law applies to mineral tax liens perfected on or after July 1, 2019, and ensures mineral tax claims are prioritized over most other debts except federal/state claims and pre-existing, properly recorded liens.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 103 requires physicians performing abortions to submit detailed, non-identifying reports to the state health office within 20 days. The reports must include the patient's age, race, procedure type, and gestational age (but not names or addresses), with late submissions incurring $1,000 fees per 30-day period. Failure to report or submit complete forms may lead to disciplinary action by the medical board or misdemeanor penalties for intentional falsification. The state must publish annual anonymized abortion statistics by June 30 each year, ensuring no data could identify individual patients, and these reports are shared with national health authorities. The law took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 legalizes hemp production and processing by setting a 0.3% THC limit (on a dry weight basis) for hemp and hemp products. It requires licenses for producers and processors (with background checks and $500 annual fees), while allowing unrestricted possession and use of hemp products by all residents. The bill establishes enforcement through annual inspections, corrective action plans for violations, and misdemeanor penalties for intentional breaches. It also mandates a state regulatory plan, authorizes tribal agreements, and repeals conflicting laws.

Maddy summarySF 161 amends Wyoming's legislative management council membership rules. It specifies that two senators and two representatives are selected at large by each chamber's party caucuses, with strict limits on party representation (no more than one from the same party as the chamber's presiding officer). The bill also establishes a two-year rotation of the council chairmanship between the House and Senate and clarifies that the council directs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This procedural bill affects only the internal organization of the Wyoming Legislature, not public policy.