Rep. Steve Harshman

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the December 31, 2022 expiration date for certifications allowing businesses to operate greater sage grouse game bird farms in Wyoming. It directly affects owners of these farms by making their certifications permanent, eliminating the need for renewal. The bill maintains existing rules requiring forfeiting birds if certification is revoked and prohibits reimbursement claims for birds held at expiration (which no longer occurs under this change). The policy change became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain after-school programs in Wyoming from requiring full child care facility certification. It applies to programs operating primarily when school is out (before/after school, summer), exclusively serving school-aged children, and focused on educational/recreational activities - while still following local health and safety codes. The exemption became effective July 1, 2022, and directly affects qualifying after-school programs that meet all four specified criteria. It simplifies regulatory requirements for these specific programs without altering broader child care standards.

Maddy summarySF 43 adjusts the timing for community college district board elections in Wyoming, requiring the first regular election to occur in May during the first fiscal year a special mill tax is levied, rather than following a previous schedule. It clarifies that the first election will have four members serving four-year terms and three serving two-year terms, with all subsequent elections held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The bill standardizes election dates and term start dates (beginning December 1) for all community college district boards, affecting how these boards are organized and elected across Wyoming. These changes apply directly to community college districts and their voters, streamlining the election process under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 88 removes the requirement for public notice publication when minors seek name changes in Wyoming. Previously, courts had to publish notices in local newspapers for minor name change petitions, but this bill eliminates that step. The change directly affects minors and their families seeking to legally change a child's name, streamlining the court process. The law took effect on July 1, 2022, and applies to all name change petitions for minors filed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming's state budget process by requiring that recommended spending for each two-year budget cycle cannot exceed two-thirds of the state's actual revenue from the previous three fiscal years. This limits how much the state can spend based on verified past revenue, excluding certain funds like pension reserves and unencumbered balances. The bill directly affects state budget planners, the governor's office, and the legislature when developing annual budgets. It repeals older budget rules about fund transfers and stabilization accounts, effective July 1, 2023. The key change is a new revenue-based spending cap to prevent budgeting based on projected or hypothetical revenue increases.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 54 establishes the "Interstate Compact for Licensed Professional Counselors," allowing counselors licensed in Wyoming to practice across other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill directly affects licensed professional counselors and their clients, enabling multistate practice where the client is located at the time of service. Key provisions include preserving each state's authority to license counselors, supporting military spouses through streamlined licensure, and creating a data system for sharing disciplinary information. The compact aims to improve public access to counseling services while maintaining state regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 149 prohibits abortions performed solely because of an unborn child's disability, sex, race, color, national origin, or ancestry. It directly affects health care providers who perform abortions, requiring them to avoid these specific reasons for termination. The bill imposes felony charges (up to 14 years imprisonment), civil liability for wrongful death, and potential license discipline for violations under Wyoming's health licensing laws. It also defines "disability" broadly to include conditions like Down syndrome and "lethal fetal anomaly" as a condition likely causing death within three months of birth.

Maddy summaryHB 142 updates Wyoming's rules for filling vacancies in elected offices. It requires special elections to fill vacancies for governor, state legislators, and congressional representatives within specific timeframes before general elections (60 days for governor, 3 months for state offices, 6 months for Congress). For district attorney vacancies, county commissioners must appoint replacements following the same process used for legislative vacancies. The bill also clarifies that special elections for congressional seats must occur on the first Tuesday after the 89th day before the general election, and ensures employees get time off to vote in these elections. These changes apply to federal and state offices covered under Wyoming Statutes §22-18-103 through §22-18-109.

Maddy summaryHB 98 revises Wyoming's property tax appeal process to increase transparency and fairness for taxpayers challenging their assessments. It requires county assessors to provide property owners with specific documents (like statements of consideration for similar properties and the assessor's valuation data) during appeals, and mandates that assessors explain why certain properties weren't used in valuing the taxpayer's property. The bill also sets strict deadlines for exchanging evidence and witnesses before county board hearings, requires hearings to be recorded, and gives boards clearer authority to remand cases back to assessors if they fail to provide required information. This affects property owners who dispute tax assessments and county officials handling those appeals, without changing tax rates or property values.

Maddy summaryHB 95 would provide a single, one-time benefit payment to retirees under specific Wyoming public employee retirement plans (including those for state workers, highway patrol, and firefighters). It requires the Wyoming Retirement System Board to study inflation impacts on retirees, current funding levels, and potential adjustments to benefit formulas. The bill mandates a detailed report by September 2022, analyzing plan costs, contribution rates, and whether endowments could fund future cost-of-living adjustments. The bill was introduced in February 2022 but was not considered for passage. It does not change existing benefit restrictions but seeks to address historical payment gaps.