Rep. Lee Filer

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming law to change the cutoff date for when defendants convicted after a certain date must prove they exercised "due diligence" to request DNA testing. Specifically, for convictions occurring after July 1, 2008, defendants must show they weren't at fault for not seeking DNA testing earlier (unless due to ineffective counsel), while those convicted before that date face no such requirement. The bill updates the statute governing post-conviction DNA testing procedures and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects individuals seeking DNA testing after 2008 who were convicted under the previous rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 165) amends Wyoming's election law (W.S. 22-3-116) to update how county clerks notify voters about potential registration cancellations. It allows county clerks to send cancellation notices via email in addition to mailing them, while keeping the current 20-day window for voters to request their name remain on the registry. The bill directly affects voters whose registrations may be canceled (e.g., due to inactivity or moving) and county clerks managing voter rolls. It does not change the requirement to notify voters before cancellation or the exceptions (like voting in another state or written request). The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 133 prohibits cities, towns, counties, and the state of Wyoming from implementing or designating "sanctuary" policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It specifically bans local governments from adopting rules that prevent officials from sharing immigration status information with federal law enforcement or declaring their jurisdiction a "sanctuary." Violations could result in withholding state funding from non-compliant localities and criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fines for local officials refusing to share such information. The bill also explicitly prohibits the governor from designating Wyoming as a sanctuary state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's election code to change deadlines for forming new political parties. It requires petitions to form a new party to be filed with the Secretary of State no later than June 1 before a general election year (previously May 1), and allows petition circulation to begin no earlier than April 1 of the preceding year (previously March 1). These changes directly affect groups seeking to establish new political parties in Wyoming that want to qualify for the general election ballot. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's Court Supervised Treatment Program Act to expand treatment options for individuals involved in the justice system. It changes "substance abuse" to "substance use" throughout the law, adds mental health treatment to program offerings, and allows programs to accept participants from any jurisdiction within Wyoming. The bill also permits public defenders to join treatment teams and represent participants, while updating definitions to clarify terms like "dual diagnosis" (co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders). These changes aim to improve access to integrated treatment and reduce incarceration for people with substance use disorders and mental health needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows special purpose depository institutions (SPDIs) in Wyoming to convert into public trust companies. It removes restrictions requiring SPDIs to serve only legal entities and lowers the minimum deposit requirement from $5,000 to $1,000. The bill also repeals a supervision fee for banks offering digital asset custodial services and creates a formal application process for conversion, including shareholder approval and detailed asset/liability plans. SPDIs converting under this law must adopt a new business name and operate as public trust companies without using terms like "bank" or "special purpose depository institution."

Maddy summarySF 127 requires the Wyoming legislature to approve "major agency rules" before they take effect. This affects state agencies creating significant regulations (like environmental or business rules) and the legislature, which must vote to approve or reject these rules within the next regular or special session after receiving them. The bill establishes a timeline for review, specifies that rules not approved become void, and allows the governor to temporarily bypass this for emergency rules (limited to 120 days). Key provisions include requiring agencies to provide impact analyses and ensuring rules cannot take effect without legislative approval, except for short-term emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 199, titled the "Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act" (not "Steamboat Legacy," which appears to be a misreference), creates a state-funded scholarship program for K-12 students in Wyoming. It increases the maximum annual scholarship from $6,000 to $7,000 for students at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, with annual inflation adjustments, and funds it through a new "Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Program Account" using state education revenues. The bill eliminates mandatory certification for private schools and providers but adds voluntary registration, while prohibiting funding from local taxes. It directly affects low-income Wyoming families seeking to use scholarships for public, private, or online education options.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's confidentiality laws to allow the Department of Family Services (DFS) to share certain data for specific purposes. It creates a new exception permitting DFS to share information across agencies (like health, education, and workforce services) for referrals, service provision, and bona fide research, while still complying with federal law. The bill requires DFS to develop rules for data sharing and report to the legislature by October 2025 on shared data types and privacy safeguards. It directly affects DFS and the agencies receiving shared data, without creating new programs or altering eligibility for services. The main provisions take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 124 repeals the excise tax on malt beverages (like beer) in Wyoming, removing a tax of $0.005 per liter that previously applied to beer sales. It also adjusts limits for personal importation of malt beverages, allowing individuals to bring in up to five (5) gallons for personal use without paying state taxes. The bill directly affects beer wholesalers, retailers, and consumers who import beer for personal use. Key changes include removing the tax collection requirement for malt beverages and updating importation rules, effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not change taxes on wine or distilled spirits.