Rep. Ben Hornok

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 174 creates a new Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board to oversee public charter schools statewide. The board, consisting of five members (including the state superintendent and appointees from the governor, Senate, and House), will approve, renew, and oversee charter schools under specific quality standards. The bill modifies how charter schools are authorized (replacing school district oversight with the state board), adjusts funding rules, and requires transparency in decision-making. This directly affects public charter schools, their governing boards, and the state education department as the local education agency.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 144 prohibits physicians and health care providers from performing or prescribing certain medical procedures related to gender transition for children under 18. The bill bans surgeries like hysterectomy or orchiectomy, mastectomies, and specific drugs that suppress puberty or alter hormone levels, with an exception for children with certain genetic disorders of sex development. It also prohibits health insurance from covering these procedures for minors and states that violating this law can lead to license suspension or revocation for medical professionals. The law applies to insurance policies issued after July 1, 2023, and takes effect on that date for medical procedures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 86 amends election law to allow concealed carry permits as valid identification for in-person voting. The bill adds "a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm" to the list of acceptable IDs under state election code, directly affecting voters who use concealed carry permits as their primary ID. This change takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all polling places and absentee voting locations. The policy update simplifies voter ID requirements for permit holders without altering other identification options.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 143, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing $6,000 annually per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualifying education expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are K-12 students not yet graduated, allowing parents or guardians to use ESA funds for private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the program, disbursements occur monthly, and funds come from a dedicated state account - not local taxes - with excess funds transferred to the school foundation program if balances exceed $30 million. Qualified schools (non-governmental, non-discriminatory) are explicitly not considered state or federal agents under this program.

Maddy summaryHB 119 authorizes Wyoming prescribers (physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and advanced practice nurses) and pharmacists to prescribe and dispense FDA-approved medications for off-label uses - treatments not specified in the drug's FDA labeling - without facing disciplinary action from licensing boards or employers. The bill explicitly excludes Schedule I/II controlled substances under federal law. It provides legal immunity from civil lawsuits or professional discipline for healthcare providers acting under these provisions, defining "off-label indication" as using approved drugs for unapproved medical purposes. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 104 allows Wyoming hunters to use artificial light technologies - including thermal or infrared imaging - for night hunting of predatory animals (like coyotes or wolves) on both private and public land. It directly affects landowners (with written permission), residents managing property, and hunters on public land. The bill requires the Game and Fish Commission to create specific rules governing the permitted technology and hunting methods. The changes take effect July 1, 2023, with rulemaking provisions active immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 239 repeals Wyoming's requirement that drivers stop a vehicle's engine, lock the ignition, remove the key, and set the brake before leaving a vehicle unattended. This change directly affects drivers in Wyoming who previously could have faced penalties for not following these specific parking procedures. The bill removes these legal requirements, meaning drivers are no longer prohibited from leaving a vehicle running unattended under this statute. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment shifts responsibility for school facility construction from the state to local school districts, requiring districts to secure voter approval for capital projects via bonds or other means. The state would provide mandatory equalization funding to ensure no district's local property tax burden exceeds what a statewide average would require, calculated using per-person assessed valuation. It also allows optional state funds to address financial hardships for districts pursuing capital projects. The amendment directly affects school districts (as primary builders) and the state (as funder of equalization).

Maddy summaryHB 257 requires written consent from surface landowners (who are not the mining operator or mineral owner) before any revisions to mining permits or reclamation plans can be approved by Wyoming's environmental agencies. The bill specifically applies to all mining permits except surface coal mining permits and affects landowners who lease or own land where mining occurs but do not operate the mine. Key provisions mandate that operators must obtain this written landowner approval for any permit or reclamation plan changes, including boundary adjustments or operational modifications. The law became effective July 1, 2023, for all applications submitted after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 104) sets annual limits on property tax mill levies for Wyoming school districts, counties, and cities/towns based on inflation adjustments. It requires that tax rates for schools (max 25 mills), counties (max 12 mills), and municipalities (max 8 mills) be adjusted each year to match the previous year's revenue when adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. The bill would directly affect local governments and property owners by preventing tax increases that exceed inflation. It would take effect January 1, 2024, if enacted.