Rep. Pepper Ottman

Maddy summarySF 102 prohibits foreign entities designated as "foreign adversaries" (including governments or companies from specified countries) from owning or acquiring real property within 10 miles of critical infrastructure or military installations in Wyoming. It requires such entities to divest property within 8 months of notice, with court-ordered sales and forfeiture of proceeds to the state if they fail to comply. The law mandates registration of foreign ownership with the Secretary of State, requires inclusion of ownership prohibitions in tax documents, and defines key terms like "critical infrastructure" and "significant interest" (25%+ ownership). These provisions apply directly to foreign governments, their entities, or U.S. entities controlled by them, aiming to protect infrastructure security through enforceable ownership restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes amending Wyoming's constitution to prohibit foreign adversaries of the U.S. and foreign entities deemed a national security threat by the legislature from owning, using, or inheriting property in Wyoming. It would block these entities from holding any real estate, mineral rights, or other property interests, including surface and subsurface rights. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect as part of the state constitution. (Note: This is a constitutional amendment proposal, not a law, and has not yet been enacted.)

Maddy summarySF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 175 allows Wyoming school districts to request fingerprint-based background checks for volunteers who regularly interact with or have unsupervised access to minors in K-12 schools. Previously, such checks applied only to school employees, but this bill extends the requirement to volunteers meeting these specific access criteria. School districts must cover all costs for the fingerprinting and background check process. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

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 194 is a proposed bill that would repeal Wyoming's current statewide student assessment system and the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act. It would remove requirements for school districts to maintain assessment systems aligned with state standards and eliminate related data collection obligations for the state education department. The bill would affect school districts, the state superintendent, and the state board of education by ending their current roles in administering and enforcing the assessment system. This is a procedural repeal bill, not a new policy, and it remains pending as of February 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 217 directs how Wyoming can use leftover federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPD) to address pandemic-related needs. It specifies funding allocations for state agencies, including $10 million for workforce programs, $22 million for outdoor recreation grants, $35 million for transportation communications systems, and $13 million for health department staffing. The bill sets conditions for spending these funds, requires reporting on their use, and ensures unspent ARPD funds revert to the federal government. It primarily affects Wyoming state agencies and local governments receiving these funds for pandemic recovery efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 57 repeals a Wyoming law (W.S. 35-4-113(b)(i)) that previously allowed healthcare providers to vaccinate minor children without parental consent. This change would require parental consent for all minor children's vaccinations and medical treatments, directly affecting parents, minors, and healthcare providers across Wyoming. The bill does not create new vaccine requirements but restores parental decision-making authority in this specific medical context. It would take effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill. The bill has not yet advanced beyond the introduction stage in the current legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a specific exception in Wyoming law (W.S. 6-4-302(c)(ii)) that previously allowed educational institutions to possess obscene materials for "bona fide educational purposes" without facing charges for promoting obscenity. It removes this legal exemption, meaning possessing such materials for educational use would no longer be exempt from obscenity laws. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting schools, libraries, and other educational entities that may handle materials previously covered by this exception.

Maddy summaryHB 176 automatically restores the right to possess firearms and other civil rights for nonviolent felons in Wyoming five years after completing their sentence (including probation or parole), provided they haven’t been convicted of another felony (except for related offenses). It repeals a misdemeanor charge for nonviolent felons possessing firearms, as the penalty is no longer applicable once rights are restored under this law. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to notify federal authorities when firearm rights are restored. These changes take effect July 1, 2024, directly affecting nonviolent felons who have served their sentences and meet eligibility criteria.