Rep. Steve Harshman

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 114) requires local governments (counties, cities, towns) to recognize contractor licenses issued by other Wyoming jurisdictions. It ensures contractors with active, good-standing licenses from one area can work elsewhere in Wyoming without paying new fees or retaking tests - only minimal verification (like proof of license validity) is allowed. The law does not force recognition for unrelated license types and lets localities maintain their own application processes for work outside a contractor’s original license scope. It applies to all Wyoming local governments issuing contractor licenses and takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 197 revises Wyoming's sales tax administration by clarifying key definitions, tax collection rules, and exemptions. It updates the definition of "vendor" to explicitly include remote sellers and marketplace facilitators, standardizes a $60 annual sales tax license fee for new vendors, and clarifies that county treasurers - not vendors - collect sales tax on motor vehicle registrations. The bill also modifies exemptions, such as removing sales tax on admission fees for county-owned recreation facilities (e.g., pools, sports centers). These changes aim to modernize compliance requirements and align with current business practices, directly affecting retailers, remote sellers, and local tax collectors.

Maddy summaryHB 134 revises Wyoming's property tax deferral program for primary residences under 40 acres. It shifts administration to the Department of Revenue, limits deferrals to half the annual property taxes owed, and changes interest calculations (to 4% compounded or based on treasury yields). The bill requires annual financial verification from applicants and ties deferrals to available state funding, ending automatic deferrals if funds run short. This directly affects qualifying homeowners who own their primary residence on small parcels, ensuring they must re-qualify yearly and face potential immediate payment if their financial situation changes.

Maddy summaryHB 66 requires Wyoming's workers' compensation program to provide annual cancer screenings for firefighters who have worked at least 10 years, including paid, volunteer, and municipal firefighters. It mandates specific screenings: annual mammograms for female firefighters, colon cancer screenings (including stool tests or colonoscopies), and prostate screenings for male firefighters, plus other screenings for cancers more common among firefighters. These screenings are considered work-related injuries under workers' compensation, covering up to 10 years after retirement. The bill creates a new "Aaron Booker Firefighter Cancer Screening Act" and amends existing statutes to implement these benefits.

Maddy summarySF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 54 designates the third Tuesday in May as "Wyoming Reads Day" to recognize efforts supporting early childhood literacy, primarily honoring John and Sue Jorgensen. The bill requires public schools, state/local governments, and organizations to appropriately observe the day through celebrations that promote reading. It mandates the governor issue an annual proclamation for the observance but explicitly states the day does not authorize school or business closures, nor affect legal agreements or court proceedings. This is a ceremonial measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 203 creates a property tax exemption for single-family residential properties in Wyoming, covering the first $200,000 of value in 2024 and $1 million annually thereafter. To offset lost local revenue, it adds a 2% sales tax (raising the total rate to 6%) effective July 2024. Funds from this tax are distributed to counties based on their lost property tax revenue from the exemption, with any remaining funds used for sales tax refunds to businesses paying severance and sales taxes. The bill directly affects homeowners with qualifying properties and local governments reliant on property tax revenue.

Maddy summarySF 92 prohibits adult sex offenders required to register under Wyoming law for offenses involving minor victims from applying for or accepting employment or volunteer positions involving direct interaction with minors (either as co-workers or when providing services to unaccompanied minors). Offenders may seek court relief through a petition requiring proof they pose no substantial risk of reoffending, with a hearing and prosecutor notification. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors with up to six months in jail or a $750 fine. The law applies to positions beginning July 1, 2024, and does not affect existing positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 48) amends a Wyoming statute to rename the "deaf, dumb and blind account" to the "Deaf, dumb and hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired account." It only changes the name of an existing state fund account established under Wyoming law to better reflect current terminology and respect for people with disabilities. The bill does not alter funding levels, eligibility, or policy for the account. It takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 144 creates special suicide awareness and prevention license plates for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicle owners pay a $150 initial fee plus a $50 annual fee, with all funds going to the state's 988 suicide prevention hotline system. The plates must display the national lifeline number (988), a slogan, and a symbol, and require 500 plates sold by 2033 to continue. The program begins January 1, 2025, and will terminate if the 500-plate threshold isn't met.