Rep. Gary Brown

Maddy summaryHB 247 would require Wyoming cities or towns to obtain written approval from a simple majority of landowners (excluding public streets and tax-exempt property) before annexing their land. It mandates specific notice requirements to landowners and adjacent property owners, and requires cities to provide cost estimates for infrastructure improvements with a 4% cap on actual costs. The bill also extends the appeal period for annexation disputes from 60 to 120 days and modifies notice rules for public hearings. These changes directly affect landowners in annexation zones, local governments, and public utilities.

Maddy summaryHB 287 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully use self-defense in criminal cases and are found not guilty, have charges dismissed, or are released from prosecution. It also mandates courts to automatically expunge all related criminal records in these cases, removing arrest and prosecution history from public records. The bill directly affects people facing criminal charges who defend themselves, streamlining access to reimbursement and record removal through simplified court petitions with no filing fees.

Maddy summaryHB 158 requires Wyoming's legislature to install an electronic voting system in both chambers of the state capitol. It appropriates $250,000 from the general fund specifically for planning, purchasing, and installing devices at each legislator's desk to cast votes electronically, with systems required to display results in chambers and online. The bill mandates security measures to ensure votes are cast by individual legislators and specifies that any additional system functions must fit within the budget. The funds must be spent by June 30, 2026, and unspent money reverts to the state. This bill directly affects Wyoming legislators and their voting process, with no policy changes beyond modernizing the voting mechanism.

Maddy summaryHJ 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment to change Wyoming's judicial selection process. It would replace the current system - where judges are appointed by the governor from a list by a judicial nominating commission and then face retention votes - with direct elections. Under this amendment, justices and judges would run for re-election at general elections (instead of retention votes) to serve new terms, and the judicial nominating commission would be abolished. This change would apply to all Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges, affecting how judicial offices are filled and maintained. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the Wyoming Constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 185 requires Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to provide live video broadcasts of specific public legislative meetings, including committee sessions like the joint appropriations committee, and make recordings available on the legislature's website. This applies to meetings staffed by the Legislative Service Office but excludes executive sessions and situations where broadcasting isn't reasonably possible. The bill clarifies that video recordings won't replace official written minutes and won't delay meetings or invalidate actions if broadcasting fails. It takes effect July 1, 2025.