Sponsored bills
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 summaryHB 293 authorizes the construction of new student housing at the University of Wyoming to replace aging dormitories. It creates a phased project (Phase 1 for ~2,000 students) on campus, requiring new buildings to be 6 stories or less with student services, and removes a construction moratorium. The bill redirects $8 million annually from the state budget reserve to a new University of Wyoming housing account, while requiring the university to reduce its standard budget request by that amount. It also provides funds for Laramie traffic improvements related to the project and modifies bond programs to support construction financing.
Maddy summaryHB 184 creates a new legal process for landowners in Wyoming who lack access to public roads to establish private road easements over neighboring properties. It requires applicants to prove they’ve exhausted other access options and pay a bond to cover costs, while courts must appoint neutral viewers to determine the most reasonable route (max 30 feet wide), minimize land damage, and set fair compensation for affected neighbors. The law prioritizes historical access paths when agreed upon and mandates compensation for land value loss, improvements, and income impacts. This directly affects isolated rural landowners and their neighbors in disputes over access rights.
Maddy summaryHB 211 requires all health insurance plans sold in Wyoming to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as they do for physical health conditions, starting July 1, 2019. It applies to every individual and group health insurance policy, including plans from health maintenance organizations, that is delivered, renewed, or modified after that date. The law mandates compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-26), as updated through 2018. This ensures people with mental health or substance use conditions receive coverage without stricter limits than for medical or surgical care.