Rep. Cody Wylie

Maddy summaryThis non-binding joint resolution (HJ 5) directs Wyoming's state agencies to research and coordinate with neighboring states on expanding passenger rail service. It requires the Wyoming Department of Transportation and governor's office to study funding opportunities, collaborate with Colorado and Montana on rail planning, and prepare a report for the legislature and congressional delegation. The bill does not create new funding or mandate rail service but focuses on gathering data and building regional partnerships. It died in committee in February 2023 and directly affects state transportation officials and regional stakeholders.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Wyoming's worker's compensation rates to be no higher than the lowest third of nationwide state rates. It directly affects all employers in Wyoming by capping their premiums based on national averages, rather than state-specific rates. The state department of workforce services would determine national rates by state and adjust Wyoming's rates annually. Employers could contest their rate classification through administrative procedures if they disagree with the department's determination.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Wyoming calculates the maximum duration of unemployment benefits. It bases the maximum benefit period (ranging from 12 to 23 weeks) on the state's average unemployment rate: 12 weeks if the rate is 5% or lower, plus one additional week for every 0.5% above 5%, capped at 23 weeks if the rate reaches 10.5% or higher. The change applies only to unemployment claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects Wyoming residents who qualify for unemployment insurance by adjusting how long they can receive benefits based on statewide job market conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 78, titled "Protection of parental rights," would have amended Wyoming statutes to expand where parental rights protections apply. It specifically required that parental rights protections cover judicial proceedings involving custody, neglect, or termination of parental rights (under Title 14), and mandated that schools and educational agencies communicate with parents about their children (under Title 21). The bill aimed to ensure parents' rights in family court decisions and school-related communications. However, it died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 136 modifies Wyoming's rules for state capital construction projects by removing a requirement that public works contracts must first be offered to Wyoming residents. The bill allows state agencies to award contracts to nonresident contractors when no qualified resident contractor is available for the specific work. It clarifies definitions of terms like "capital construction project," "renovation," and "routine maintenance" to ensure consistent application of the new rules. These changes directly affect state agencies managing public building projects and contractors bidding on construction work for state facilities. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 277 allows Wyoming county treasurers to issue vehicle registration certificates electronically instead of on paper. It extends the grace period for displaying license plates from the current requirement to 30 days after registration, meaning vehicle owners have up to 30 days to display physical plates after receiving their registration. The bill directly affects all Wyoming vehicle owners who register their vehicles, updating how registration documentation is provided and displayed. These changes take effect July 1, 2023, and amend specific sections of Wyoming law regarding registration issuance and plate display requirements.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 171, the "Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act," prohibits financial institutions from using or disclosing payment card transaction data to identify lawful firearm or ammunition purchases. It bans assigning "firearms codes" (like special merchant category codes) that would allow banks or payment networks to track gun-related transactions, preventing such data from being shared with government entities. The law defines "protected financial information" as payment records linked to firearm codes and allows civil lawsuits if the ban is violated. It directly affects banks, payment processors, and gun retailers by restricting how they handle transaction data related to firearm sales within Wyoming.

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 summaryThis bill changes Wyoming's wildlife terminology by replacing "trophy game animal" with "large carnivore game animal" in statutes. It specifically designates two geographic areas (in northwest Wyoming) where gray wolves will be classified as "trophy large carnivore game animals," allowing them to be hunted under regulated conditions. The change applies after gray wolves are removed from federal endangered species protections. The bill requires the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to establish implementing rules and affects how wolves are managed for hunting in designated zones. This redefinition clarifies wildlife management jurisdiction without altering existing hunting seasons or quotas.

Maddy summaryHB 265 increases the interest rate public entities must pay on late payments for goods and services from 1.5% to 5% per month after a 45-day payment deadline. It directly affects contractors and vendors who sell to Wyoming state or local governments by ensuring they receive higher compensation for delayed payments. The bill amends existing statutes to require public entities to pay interest at this new rate on overdue amounts unless a good-faith dispute exists. The law was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, but the bill died in committee in February 2023.