Rep. Steve Harshman

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the process for mineral producers to pay monthly ad valorem taxes (taxes based on the value of minerals produced) in Wyoming. It specifies that producers must report production by the 25th of the second month after production and pay taxes by the 25th of the third month, with payments calculated using the previous year's county mill levy rate. Funds collected are distributed monthly by the state department to county treasurers, who then allocate them to local taxing entities based on the production year. The changes take effect July 1, 2023, and apply to all mineral and mine producers in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 170 establishes a spending policy for Wyoming's Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account, limiting annual withdrawals to 5% of the trust's five-year average market value (phased in over 2024-2028). It also modifies how funds flow to the Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship endowment, requiring transfers back to the endowment when the scholarship expenditure account exceeds 9% of its five-year average market value. The bill directly affects state financial management of these two trust funds, ensuring spending aligns with long-term fund values. Key mechanisms include the phased calculation method for the wildlife trust's spending limit and the 9% threshold for scholarship fund transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 177 modifies Wyoming's school expulsion policy for students possessing deadly weapons, requiring a mandatory one-year expulsion from public schools for such violations. The bill allows school boards to extend expulsion beyond one year if the district provides alternative educational services during the additional period. It directly affects public school students in Wyoming who are found with deadly weapons, as defined under existing law. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter the grounds for expulsion but specifies the minimum expulsion duration.

Maddy summaryHB 262, the Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act, would have created new legal protections for individuals whose religious practices face government restrictions. It defines "burden" to include actions like denying benefits, imposing penalties, or excluding people from programs due to their religious exercise. The bill would have required state government to prove that any restriction on religious practice serves a "compelling interest" and is the "least restrictive means" to achieve it. This law would directly affect anyone whose religious practices might conflict with state regulations or programs. Note: The bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 176 limits the number of K-12 content standards Wyoming schools must teach, capping at four per subject for grades K-6 and eight per subject for grades 7-12. It allows school districts to use course completion (like passing a class) instead of standardized tests to measure student performance in some cases. The bill requires districts to report on their assessment systems and directs the state to propose reducing testing by August 2023, potentially using college entrance exams to meet federal requirements. This directly affects Wyoming public schools, teachers, and students by changing curriculum expectations and assessment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 77 modifies Wyoming's definition of "average daily membership" (ADM), the metric used to calculate state school funding. It lowers the threshold for counting part-time students as full-time from 80% to 75% of a full-time schedule, allowing districts to include more part-time students in funding calculations. The bill clarifies that part-time enrollment is prorated based on actual hours attended versus full-time hours, and excludes students absent over 10 consecutive days or withdrawn. This change directly affects school districts receiving state education funding starting with the 2023-2024 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 287 creates designated "gaming districts" in Wyoming where casino-style gambling may occur, directly affecting gaming operators and counties meeting population requirements. The bill requires operators to have operated two or more gaming facilities in Wyoming for at least 10 years, limits districts to counties with a metropolitan area of 250,000+ people within 100 miles, and caps total districts at two statewide (one per county). It mandates that gaming revenue be remitted to the state, with specific rules for how funds are distributed, while prohibiting online wagering except for regulated sports betting. The law also defines key terms like "gaming activities" (excluding skill-based games and pari-mutuel events) and establishes licensing requirements for operators.

Maddy summaryHB 211 limits who can return absentee ballots for others in Wyoming elections. It restricts designated returners to handling no more than two ballots per election, unless the ballots belong to immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, siblings, children, or blood relatives living in the same household). The bill requires designated returners to notify the county clerk using a state-prescribed form. This directly affects voters who ask others to submit their absentee ballots, particularly those who might have used ballot harvesting services. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 114 amends Wyoming's state land leasing rules to make them more flexible and clear. It increases the amount lessees can spend on improvements without permission from $2,000 to $4,000 per land section, extends maximum lease terms from 75 to 99 years, and explicitly allows residential leases for the first time. The bill also requires all leases to follow minimum state standards for safety and land use, and clarifies that lessees must get approval for improvements exceeding $4,000. This directly affects individuals and businesses leasing Wyoming state lands for farming, ranching, or residential development.

Maddy summaryHB 138 requires Wyoming school districts to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention education to students. It directly affects all public school districts and their students across the state. The bill mandates that programs align with existing state materials under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxv) and training requirements in W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxiii). The law was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, if passed. This is a policy change requiring specific educational programming in schools, not a procedural or commemorative measure.