Rep. Cody Wylie

Maddy summaryHB 233 creates a dedicated "natural resource litigation account" to fund Wyoming's legal defense against lawsuits that restrict the state's management of coal and other natural resources. It appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for the governor and attorney general to cover costs defending, commencing, or prosecuting lawsuits involving federal, state, or local actions that impede coal leasing, use, export, or coal-fired facility operations in Wyoming. The account requires annual reports on fund usage and expires June 30, 2027, with unspent funds reverting to the state. This bill directly affects Wyoming's government (via the governor's office and attorney general) and aims to support legal efforts protecting the state's coal industry and resource management authority. Note: The bill was introduced in January 2025 but has not yet been considered by the legislature.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 277 authorizes a public-private partnership to build a hotel and conference center on a specific downtown Cheyenne parcel near the state capitol. The project must include at least 200 hotel rooms and conference space for 1,000 attendees, with food/beverage options and adequate parking. The state will solicit bids from developers, requiring them to meet specific standards for construction, operations, and financial planning. All revenues from the facility will fund Wyoming's public school foundation program. This bill affects state government operations and private developers selected through the bidding process.

Maddy summaryHB 266 creates statewide licensing for food trucks in Wyoming, allowing operators licensed in one county or city to legally operate anywhere in the state. The bill requires food trucks to maintain proof of a valid license from the Department of Agriculture or local health department, a sales tax license if needed, compliance with fire safety rules, and adherence to other applicable laws. It directly affects food truck businesses by eliminating local licensing barriers and updating definitions to include food trucks under "commercial food establishment" in state law. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with rulemaking requirements for the Departments of Agriculture and Health to implement the changes.

Maddy summaryHB 325, the "Industrial Power Consumption Freedom Act," allows large-scale industrial power users in Wyoming (defined as those with annual demand of at least 1 megawatt-hour) to directly purchase electricity from any provider, not just their local utility. Key provisions require electricity to be consumed solely on-site for commercial/industrial use, prohibit resale to other customers, and mandate that providers notify the state commission about agreements. The bill exempts these direct procurement arrangements from standard utility rate regulation and service territory rules, though transmission costs for other customers remain regulated. This policy change aims to give large industrial facilities more flexibility in sourcing power while maintaining service obligations for other utility customers.

Maddy summaryHB 253 revises Wyoming's construction lien law by changing the timing for preliminary notice requirements. It requires subcontractors and material suppliers to send a notice within 30 days of starting work on a project (before final payment to the general contractor) to preserve their lien rights. Failure to send this notice will bar lien claims, except when the general contractor failed to provide required information under §29-2-113. The bill affects contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers working on construction projects in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 302 creates legal immunity for government entities when public employees use or fail to use firearms while performing official duties. It amends two statutes (W.S. 1-39-104 and W.S. 21-3-132) to state that governmental entities cannot be held liable for tort claims arising solely from such firearm-related actions. This applies to all public employees, including school district staff carrying firearms on school property as permitted by law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change existing firearm laws or create new obligations for employees.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 230 creates a task force to study interstate highway traffic and authorizes up to $250 million from the state mineral trust fund to provide loans for highway construction projects. It requires annual $50 million transfers from the legislative stabilization reserve fund starting in 2026 to repay these loans, with interest rates set by the state treasurer. The bill specifically directs funding for adding passing lanes on segments of U.S. Highway 20 (between Casper and Thermopolis) and expanding U.S. Highway 287 near Laramie to four lanes. These provisions directly affect Wyoming's transportation infrastructure and the state's budget allocation for highway projects.

Maddy summaryHB 92 clarifies that Wyoming courts and state agencies cannot infringe on parental rights without proving a compelling state interest using the least restrictive means. It specifically requires school districts to communicate and disclose information about students to parents to protect those rights, amending education statutes to mandate this communication. The bill directly affects parents, school boards, and educational agencies by establishing new disclosure obligations. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not alter existing parental rights protections but codifies requirements for school communication.

Maddy summaryHB 45 creates a property tax exemption for single-family homes in Wyoming, directly affecting homeowners with residential structures. The exemption covers increases in a home's value above 5% of the previous year's assessed value, meaning homeowners pay tax only on growth exceeding that threshold. However, the exemption doesn't apply if the value increase comes from new construction, additions, or if the property was purchased in the prior year. The law requires tax assessment notices to include exemption details and applies to tax years starting January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 80 amends definitions in solid waste management law to clarify what constitutes solid waste and recycling facilities. It excludes certain materials (like post-use polymers processed through advanced recycling) from "solid waste" definitions and creates new terms for "advanced recycling" (using processes like pyrolysis) and "advanced recycling facilities." This change specifically affects recycling operations that convert plastic waste into raw materials, removing them from standard solid waste management regulations. The bill requires the Environmental Quality Council to create implementing rules, with most provisions effective July 1, 2024.