Rep. Ann Lucas

Maddy summaryHB 307 amends Wyoming election law to regulate poll watchers, who are certified volunteers from political parties. The bill limits poll watchers to one per political party per polling place (with exceptions for multiple precincts), requires electronic certification to county clerks before voting begins, and specifies they may observe voter check-in, ballot counting, and polling place setup/shutdown without challenging voters or disrupting voting. It mandates polling places provide chairs for watchers and allows optional ID badges, while prohibiting removal for failure to schedule. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts natural hair braiding from Wyoming's cosmetology licensing requirements. It defines "practice of natural hair braiding" to include hand-twisting, weaving, and extending hair with tools or accessories (but excludes dyeing, chemical treatments, or altering hair structure). Salon owners may still require private certification for braiders working at their locations. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to braiders not otherwise regulated under cosmetology law.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires voters in Wyoming to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It defines "proof of U.S. citizenship" to include documents like a Wyoming driver's license (without citizenship indicators), tribal ID cards, U.S. passports, birth certificates, or naturalization certificates. This applies to all voter registration processes, both in-person and by mail, and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects any Wyoming resident seeking to register to vote for the first time or update their registration.

Maddy summaryHB 166 requires Wyoming's state auditor to publish detailed vendor payment information on the official state auditor website within 30 days of each payment. It directly affects all state agencies making vendor payments by mandating the public posting of payment dates, vendor names, agencies involved, amounts, and payment descriptions. The law specifies that this information must remain online for at least five years, applying to all payments made on or after July 1, 2025. The bill aims to increase transparency in state spending without altering existing procurement processes.

Maddy summaryHB 189 prohibits adults (18+) from engaging in a "pattern of communication" with minors (under 18) that includes obscene content defined as explicit sexual descriptions, requests for sexual images, or attempts to normalize adult-minor sexual contact. It specifically targets communications intended for personal sexual gratification, requiring two or more instances across any communication method (written, electronic, or verbal). Violations are felonies with penalties up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $20,000, plus social media restrictions and device forfeiture for convicted individuals. The law exempts school, college, or university activities involving sexual education. It directly affects adults communicating with minors in non-educational contexts and provides victims a civil lawsuit option.

Maddy summaryHB 234 prohibits state and local governments from collecting or maintaining lists of privately owned firearms or their owners using specific merchant codes (like "firearms codes") in payment processing. It also bans payment processors from requiring such codes for firearm retailers or discriminating against them by charging higher fees or refusing transactions based on firearm sales. The bill directly affects firearm retailers, payment processors, and state agencies by restricting how firearm-related transaction data can be handled. Violations could lead to civil actions or criminal penalties, including misdemeanor charges for knowingly violating these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 274 prohibits students assigned male at birth from competing on women's sports teams at Wyoming schools and colleges, affecting high school and higher education athletic programs. It expands existing rules to include institutions of higher education, creates liability for government entities that violate the prohibition through negligent or intentional acts, and establishes private lawsuits for harmed students or schools. The bill adds whistleblower protections for employees reporting violations and removes immunity for entities that retaliate against those who report or pursue legal action under the law. It also sets a three-year statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related to violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 102 changes Wyoming's Attorney General from a governor-appointed position to a statewide elected office starting in the 2026 general election. It establishes a four-year term, sets the salary, and creates rules for filling vacancies, making the Attorney General a state-elected official like the governor and other top state officers. The bill also updates ethics laws and other statutes to apply to the elected Attorney General, requiring them to be a licensed attorney with four years of practice. This directly affects Wyoming voters, who will elect the Attorney General beginning in 2026, and the Attorney General’s office, which will now operate under elected official rules.

Maddy summaryHB 328 sets a fixed 8.3% taxable value rate for owner-occupied primary residences in Wyoming, while maintaining a 9.5% rate for all other property types. It directly affects homeowners who live in their primary residence for at least six months annually, clarifying that this includes single-family homes, condos, mobile homes, and trailers used as primary homes. The bill defines "owner occupied primary residence" and "residential real property" (including up to 35 acres of associated land) to ensure consistent tax application. This change will take effect for property taxes beginning in 2025.