Rep. Jeremy Haroldson

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 123) modifies the state's adverse possession law by stopping the 10-year clock for someone claiming ownership through long-term occupation whenever the property owner pays all property taxes. It directly affects property owners who pay taxes and individuals attempting adverse possession claims. The key provision states that the adverse possession timeline pauses during any period the owner has paid all taxes on the property. The law applies to claims starting after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 60 requires all public schools, the University of Wyoming, and Wyoming community colleges to designate athletic teams by sex and prohibits male students from competing on teams designated for female students. The bill creates legal remedies allowing schools or students harmed by violations to seek damages, attorney fees, and injunctions through private lawsuits within two years of the violation. It defines "female" and "male" based on biological reproductive systems and prohibits schools from participating in female-designated sports with teams known to include male students. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for all institutions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 160 repeals the provision allowing school identification cards as valid forms of ID for in-person voting. The bill directly affects voters in Wyoming who previously used school IDs to verify their identity at polling locations. It removes school IDs from the list of acceptable voter identification documents, effective July 1, 2025. This change modifies the state's voter ID requirements without adding new ID types or altering other voting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 200 requires Wyoming public schools to notify parents about student health changes and obtain written parental permission before instruction on gender identity, sexual orientation, or diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. It prohibits schools from requiring staff or students to use pronouns inconsistent with biological sex and allows school personnel to opt out of related trainings. Schools must publish curriculum materials online and report complaints to the state education department. The bill directly affects parents' rights to information, student privacy, and school staff obligations in Wyoming public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 209 repeals Wyoming's low-carbon energy standards for public utilities, removing requirements that previously mandated certain carbon-reduction measures. The bill directly affects electric utilities by eliminating statutory obligations related to low-carbon energy generation and dispatchable/reliable power definitions. Key provisions repeal specific sections of Wyoming law (W.S. 37-1-101, 37-18-101, and 37-18-102) that established these standards. The Public Service Commission must then create new rules to implement the repeal, with the bill taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 100 allows Wyoming school districts and charter schools to hire certain K-12 staff without teaching certificates or permits, provided they adopt specific board policies. These policies require applicants to be at least 18 years old and undergo criminal background checks, including fingerprinting. The bill amends existing laws to permit this hiring path while maintaining background check requirements for uncertified personnel. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 184 requires electricity sellers to obtain a written agreement (a "customer allocation agreement") with both the customer and the utility that serves the customer's specific service area (certificated territory) before selling power for use within that utility's territory. This applies when electricity is delivered to a point outside the seller's service area but consumed inside another utility's territory. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for lost income, attorney fees, and other costs if this requirement is violated. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 149 prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against adoption and foster care agencies that decline placements based on religious beliefs. It specifically protects religious organizations (including faith-based groups) that provide these services, ensuring they cannot be excluded or penalized for refusing to place children with same-sex couples or others due to sincerely held religious convictions. The law creates new legal protections requiring government entities to avoid actions that conflict with an agency’s religious practices, consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedents like *Fulton v. Philadelphia*. It directly affects adoption/foster care providers and government agencies managing child welfare services in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 108 prohibits payment processors (like banks and credit card networks) from using special merchant codes to categorize firearm or ammunition retailers differently from general merchandise or sporting goods stores. It requires these businesses to be classified under standard retail codes, preventing financial institutions from treating them as high-risk. Violations carry a misdemeanor penalty of $1,000 per violation. The law directly affects firearm retailers and payment processors, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 128 amends Wyoming's public health emergency laws to require the governor to declare when such an emergency exists or ends, then convene the legislature within two days for a vote on whether to concur with the declaration or terminate it. The bill allows the legislature to meet in person or remotely via electronic means to satisfy quorum and vote during emergencies. It updates the definition of "public health emergency" to include threats like pandemics or biological toxins, and clarifies that temporary health care provider licenses issued during emergencies (e.g., for out-of-state professionals) automatically end when the governor declares the emergency over. The changes apply to emergencies declared on or after July 1, 2025.