Rep. Art Washut

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution encourages Wyoming's Law Enforcement Memorial Committee to add Patrolman Michael A. Rosa's name to the Wyoming Law Enforcement Fallen Officer Memorial at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas. Rosa, a Rock Springs police officer killed in 1978 while working undercover, was not included on the state memorial despite meeting national memorial criteria (his name appears on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the Officer Down Memorial Page). The resolution requests the committee rectify this omission before the next memorial service. It is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, formally recognizing Rosa's sacrifice.

Maddy summaryHB 170 would amend Wyoming's parole eligibility rules to make prisoners ineligible for parole if they were convicted of assault or escape in district court *or* found guilty of those acts through the Wyoming Department of Corrections' administrative disciplinary process. This change directly affects individuals serving sentences who have been disciplined for assault or escape while incarcerated. The bill adds administrative disciplinary findings (not just court convictions) as a basis for parole ineligibility under state law. It would take effect on July 1, 2026, if enacted. (Note: The bill is currently pending introduction and has not yet been considered by the legislature.)

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 190 directs the Board of Land Commissioners to transfer specific parcels of land (totaling approximately 3,000 acres in Natrona County) to the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources for development as a state park. The bill requires the transfer to occur by July 1, 2027, after completing a site criteria process, with lands sold at fair market value (funds going to the common school account). It appropriates $6.5 million from the general fund specifically for land procurement and resolving mineral leases on the properties. The department must report on the site criteria process to a legislative committee by October 2027.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 192 proposes changes to penalties for drivers who refuse chemical tests after a DUI arrest when a search warrant has been obtained. The bill increases penalties for refusal to include up to six months in jail, a $750 fine, and mandatory license suspension (30 days to one year) for all drivers, including those under 21 and commercial drivers. It also allows refusal to be used as evidence in court and requires offenders to complete substance use disorder assessments and treatment at their own expense. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 172 limits the number of historic horse racing terminals operators can run based on track size and requires a minimum of 16 live racing days at a track to qualify for a permit. It caps terminals at 1,200 per track that’s 7/8 mile or longer and 1,000 per shorter track, and prohibits adding new terminals if existing ones at a location are unused. The bill directly affects racetrack operators seeking simulcasting permits to operate these terminals. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with some provisions effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires three-judge panels to handle cases challenging the constitutionality of Wyoming state laws or session laws. When a party seeks an injunction against a law's enforcement, the district court clerk must notify the state court administrator, who then randomly selects two judges from other districts to join the local judge on a panel. Individual judges may no longer issue permanent injunctions blocking state laws in these cases - only temporary orders for up to 30 days while the panel reviews the challenge. All decisions by these panels are appealable directly to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for the Wyoming Supreme Court to adjust court automation fees annually. It requires the Supreme Court to set fees based on actual costs (without exceeding them), maintain records, and submit annual reports to legislative committees. The fee changes directly affect courts (district, supreme, and municipal) and individuals filing court documents, as these fees fund court technology systems. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify that the $40 automation fee (currently charged for most civil filings) must be adjusted to cover technology costs, with the Supreme Court having authority to modify the amount. The bill focuses on procedural adjustments to fee-setting, not new services or eligibility changes.

Maddy summarySF 107 prohibits most noncompete agreements in Wyoming, making them void for workers in skilled or unskilled labor roles. It directly affects employees and employers by banning restrictions on earning wages after job termination, with key exceptions for business sales, trade secret protection, and training costs for employees with less than two years of service. Physicians are specifically covered: noncompete clauses in their employment contracts are void upon termination, but they may share new practice details with patients having rare disorders who were previously treated. The law applies only to contracts signed on or after July 1, 2025, leaving existing agreements unaffected. This bill aims to expand worker mobility by eliminating common employment restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 62 amends Wyoming's prostitution and solicitation laws to explicitly include "sexual contact" as a prohibited act. The bill defines "sexual contact" as touching intimate areas (or clothing covering them) with sexual intent, expanding the scope of what constitutes prostitution. This change directly affects individuals engaging in or soliciting sexual contact for money, now covered under existing misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail or a $750 fine. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, updating statutes W.S. 6-4-101 and 6-4-102.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming law to change the cutoff date for when defendants convicted after a certain date must prove they exercised "due diligence" to request DNA testing. Specifically, for convictions occurring after July 1, 2008, defendants must show they weren't at fault for not seeking DNA testing earlier (unless due to ineffective counsel), while those convicted before that date face no such requirement. The bill updates the statute governing post-conviction DNA testing procedures and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects individuals seeking DNA testing after 2008 who were convicted under the previous rules.