Rep. Art Washut

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 116) creates new criminal offenses for money laundering and illegal investments. It defines money laundering as knowingly handling property derived from crime (like cash from theft or fraud) or structuring transactions to evade reporting rules. The law imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fines for these offenses, effective July 2025. It directly affects individuals, businesses, and financial institutions involved in transactions that conceal criminal proceeds or bypass required reporting. The bill updates Wyoming's criminal code to align with federal anti-money laundering standards.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 8) requests Congress to propose a constitutional amendment allowing states and Congress to establish reasonable limits on money spent to influence elections. It specifically seeks authority to distinguish between natural persons (individuals) and artificial entities like corporations, unions, or AI when setting these limits. The resolution argues that current Supreme Court interpretations equating unlimited spending with free speech undermine political equality, election integrity, and local representation. It does not create new laws but formally asks Congress to initiate a constitutional amendment process to address these concerns.

Maddy summarySF 79 creates a new rule for civil cases filed in the wrong district court in Wyoming. It allows courts to transfer such cases to a proper venue, and treats the transferred case as if it were originally filed in that correct location. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies directly to parties involved in civil lawsuits filed in an incorrect court.

Maddy summarySF 130 expands Wyoming’s existing civil immunity for emergency responders to include mental health crises. It protects licensed healthcare providers, volunteer ambulance/rescue staff (earning under $1,000 annually or per call), hospitals, and trainees who provide emergency mental health assistance in good faith. The immunity applies to acts or omissions during mental health emergencies but excludes gross negligence or willful misconduct. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and aligns mental health crisis response with existing emergency medical service protections.

Maddy summaryHB 172 repeals restrictions on concealed weapons in specific public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry guns in government meetings, school athletic events on public property, and school facilities (like classrooms and offices). It also strengthens Wyoming’s state law by preventing local governments from regulating firearms, declaring that only the state legislature can set rules for guns, ammunition, and weapons. The bill includes exceptions for health facilities, explosive materials, and private property rules, and adds penalties for blocking someone from entering permitted areas. School districts must establish training rules for employees carrying concealed weapons, requiring 16 hours of initial training and annual 12-hour recertification.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming law enforcement agencies to accept all reasonable reports of missing persons without delay, unless specific exceptions apply (such as knowing the person's location, confirming their safety, or verifying they are not a Wyoming resident). It mandates that reports be entered into state and national databases within 8 hours and requires agencies to compile detailed records - including photos - after 30 days, forwarding them to the attorney general and criminal investigation division. The law affects all Wyoming law enforcement agencies and ensures consistent handling of missing persons cases, improving data sharing for investigations. It also updates a related law to allow public sharing of missing person information to aid recovery efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 181 updates rules for prepaid funeral contracts in Wyoming. It allows funeral homes to invest buyer funds in special trust accounts (compliant with existing laws) instead of requiring direct deposits in banks, while clarifying that investment earnings benefit the seller, not the buyer. The bill requires sellers to notify buyers about investment types and risks, and specifies that contracts become irrevocable once funds enter the trust. It also ensures that bond requirements for these funds won’t exceed existing minimums. This directly affects funeral homes selling prepaid services and their buyers.

Maddy summaryHB 189 prohibits adults (18+) from engaging in a "pattern of communication" with minors (under 18) that includes obscene content defined as explicit sexual descriptions, requests for sexual images, or attempts to normalize adult-minor sexual contact. It specifically targets communications intended for personal sexual gratification, requiring two or more instances across any communication method (written, electronic, or verbal). Violations are felonies with penalties up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $20,000, plus social media restrictions and device forfeiture for convicted individuals. The law exempts school, college, or university activities involving sexual education. It directly affects adults communicating with minors in non-educational contexts and provides victims a civil lawsuit option.

Maddy summaryHB 329 modifies Wyoming law to give the Office of Homeland Security discretion over whether to cooperate with other states' and federal homeland security agencies (previously required). It mandates that Wyoming's Division of Criminal Investigation must cooperate with the Office of Homeland Security. The bill also authorizes the Office to receive criminal identification and intelligence information from law enforcement for security purposes. These changes directly affect Wyoming's homeland security office, law enforcement agencies, and their coordination with state and federal partners. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 225 allows people attending Wyoming legislative meetings to park on streets without time limits during official sessions. It specifically prohibits local ordinances from restricting parking duration: (1) within the Capitol complex during active legislative or committee meetings, and (2) within one-half mile of any official meeting location during those sessions. The law applies to all attendees, including the public and legislators, and takes effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly modifies parking regulations to accommodate meeting attendance without imposing time restrictions.