Rep. Jayme Lien

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 87 creates a new felony offense for intentionally causing bodily injury to a police officer while the officer is performing lawful duties. This amendment specifically targets individuals who assault officers during the course of their work, making such acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill directly affects people who physically harm officers in the line of duty, strengthening penalties for this specific conduct. It amends existing law (W.S. 6-5-204(b)) to clarify that causing bodily injury during officer engagement constitutes a felony. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming cities and towns to hold elections for existing surface water drainage fee systems that began collecting payments before July 1, 2026, without prior voter approval. Municipalities must hold these elections by July 1, 2027, and if voters reject the fees, they must stop collecting them within 60 days. It clarifies that new or existing drainage systems must follow specific rate-setting rules for water use and runoff management after an election. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting local governments managing surface water drainage.

Maddy summaryHB 108 requires Wyoming's Department of Audit to post specific financial reports from local governments and special districts on its official website by set deadlines. This includes annual reports from counties, cities, and towns by December 31 each year, special district budgets within 30 days of submission, and annual audits within 30 days of their due date. The bill increases transparency by making these documents publicly accessible online without changing existing reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 109 changes the rules for claiming the homeowner property tax exemption. Starting in 2026, homeowners must actually live in their primary residence for at least eight months each year to qualify, unless they or an immediate family member are active-duty military personnel whose service prevents meeting this requirement (in which case the property must be their legal home address). Homeowners must submit exemption claims to their county assessor by May 2 each year. The bill applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and modifies existing law (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xlvi)).

Maddy summaryHJ 7 is a non-binding resolution requesting the Wyoming State Board of Education to amend social studies content standards to include teaching about the negative consequences of communism, fascism, and socialism in the 20th and 21st centuries. It specifically asks for curriculum that covers documented historical abuses (such as human rights violations and loss of freedoms) under these ideologies and compares them with U.S. principles like democracy and individual rights. The resolution does not mandate changes but urges the Board to consider adding these teaching benchmarks during their standard review process. If adopted, this would affect social studies curriculum in Wyoming public schools, altering how these political ideologies are taught to students.

Maddy summaryHB 162 creates a $6,000 annual property tax exemption for first responders in Wyoming, directly affecting peace officers, dispatchers, firefighters, and ambulance personnel (both paid and volunteer) who own or occupy their primary residence. To qualify, claimants must submit proof of status (like an employer ID or pay stub) by May 4th each year and confirm ongoing eligibility annually with their county assessor. The exemption applies only to the primary residence and is limited to $6,000 per year in assessed value. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 171 amends Wyoming's online sports wagering revenue distribution to fund gambling treatment programs. It requires sports wagering operators to remit 10% of monthly revenue to the state commission, with the first $300,000 annually allocated directly to the Department of Health for county-level programs preventing and treating problematic gambling behavior. The remaining revenue from this 10% goes to the state general fund. This bill specifically targets funding for gambling-related health services, directing resources to counties through the Department of Health. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 58 requires voter approval for new mill levies imposed by school districts and educational boards for recreational facilities, cooperative education services, and special school taxes. Before any new levy can be implemented, a proposition must be submitted to voters at the general election, requiring majority approval. Approved levies would last four years and require renewal votes at the second general election every four years. This bill applies only to new levies; existing levies are unaffected by this requirement.

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 summarySJ 7 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Wyoming legislature, not courts, the authority to define what constitutes "health care" for the purpose of the constitutional right to health care access. It would also require that any health care laws passed by the legislature undergo judicial review under the "rational basis" standard (meaning courts would only strike down laws lacking a reasonable connection to a government interest). This change would directly shift how health care decisions are legally defined and regulated in Wyoming, moving authority from judges to elected lawmakers. The amendment must be approved by Wyoming voters to become part of the state constitution.