Rep. Tony Locke

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 summaryThis bill (SF 165) amends Wyoming's election law (W.S. 22-3-116) to update how county clerks notify voters about potential registration cancellations. It allows county clerks to send cancellation notices via email in addition to mailing them, while keeping the current 20-day window for voters to request their name remain on the registry. The bill directly affects voters whose registrations may be canceled (e.g., due to inactivity or moving) and county clerks managing voter rolls. It does not change the requirement to notify voters before cancellation or the exceptions (like voting in another state or written request). The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

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 amends Wyoming's election code to change deadlines for forming new political parties. It requires petitions to form a new party to be filed with the Secretary of State no later than June 1 before a general election year (previously May 1), and allows petition circulation to begin no earlier than April 1 of the preceding year (previously March 1). These changes directly affect groups seeking to establish new political parties in Wyoming that want to qualify for the general election ballot. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 219 grants permanent rights for existing county and municipal roads to use state and school lands without fees. It applies to roads established before January 1, 2025, that already cross state/school lands. The bill requires counties and cities to submit documentation by April 2030 to secure these rights, with the state land board handling recording and fees. New roads built after 2025 must follow separate procedures, not automatic rights. This directly affects local governments managing roads on public lands.

Maddy summaryThe Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act (HB 207) protects individuals and religious organizations from government actions that interfere with their religious practices, unless the government proves it has a compelling reason and uses the least restrictive approach possible. It defines government interference as denying benefits, imposing penalties, excluding from programs, or blocking access to facilities, and requires strict justification for such actions. People affected by these government actions can challenge them in court to seek remedies like injunctions, compensation, or other relief. The law applies to all state and local laws, rules, and policies, effective July 1, 2025.

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 summaryThis bill provides a property tax exemption for surviving parents of veterans who died while serving honorably in a war, conflict, or specified period (a "gold star veteran"), if there is no surviving spouse. To qualify, surviving parents must be Wyoming residents for at least three years and file a sworn claim with their county assessor by the fourth Monday in May, covering property they own or hold in a trust for their benefit. Divorced parents living separately may each claim the exemption in their respective counties. The Department of Revenue must create implementing rules, and the exemption takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 311 modifies Wyoming's sales tax exemption for power and fuel used in transportation. It clarifies that companies transporting goods via pipeline or railroad can claim the tax exemption for power/fuel consumed directly in moving those goods, regardless of who owns the transported items. The bill also specifies that the exemption does not apply to gasoline, gasohol, or diesel fuel used on public highways. The Department of Revenue must create rules to implement this change, with the main provision taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 147) expands Wyoming's protections for service and assistance animals by explicitly including animals currently in training under the legal definitions of these animals. It increases criminal penalties for injuring or killing such animals, making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $5,000 fine. The law applies directly to individuals who harm or kill service animals (including those in training) or assistance animals, and affects all Wyoming residents and businesses serving people with disabilities. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.