Rep. Charles Pelkey

Maddy summaryHB 90 allows current Wyoming community college police officers to choose between two retirement plans. It amends the law to include them under the "law enforcement officer" definition, enabling them to switch to the law enforcement retirement plan starting July 1, 2019. Officers had until April 30, 2019, to elect this change in writing to the Wyoming Retirement Board, with no option to reverse the decision. Service credit from prior retirement plans would not count toward the new law enforcement plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a legal barrier that previously prevented illegitimate children from inheriting from their parents under Wyoming's estate laws. It amends the definition of "child" in the estate code to include illegitimate children (aligning them with adopted children), repealing the prior exclusion. The change applies to all probate cases filed on or after July 1, 2019, ensuring illegitimate children have equal inheritance rights to legitimate children. It directly affects illegitimate children in Wyoming who now inherit under the same rules as other children.

Maddy summaryHB 265 modifies Wyoming's property offense laws by raising the value threshold for felony charges from $1,000 to $2,000 for theft, shoplifting, property destruction, and related crimes. This means offenses involving property valued between $1,000 and $2,000 will now be classified as high misdemeanors (with penalties up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 fines) instead of felonies. The bill also doubles the maximum civil penalty for shoplifting from $1,000 to $2,000 per incident. These changes directly affect individuals committing property crimes in Wyoming, particularly those involving items valued under $2,000. The law updates sentencing classifications and penalties to better align with property values.

Maddy summaryHB 76, the Wyoming Beer Freedom Act, allows microbreweries to obtain permits for 24-hour alcohol service. It amends licensing laws to permit microbreweries to hold both a microbrewery permit and a separate 24-hour malt beverage permit simultaneously. This directly affects small breweries seeking extended operating hours without losing other license types. The law, effective July 1, 2019, modifies existing statutes to enable this dual permitting structure.

Maddy summarySF 87 allows any person to temporarily acquire the use of an existing water right (not new rights) for instream flow purposes - such as maintaining river flow for ecological health - without permanently changing ownership. It requires the state engineer to administer these temporary uses, ensuring they don’t interfere with existing water rights or reduce their value. The temporary right is limited to a specific stream segment, preserves the original water right’s priority date, and lasts no longer than two years. This bill directly affects landowners, environmental groups, or entities seeking short-term water access for river conservation.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 81 defines electric bicycles into three classes with specific speed limits: Class 1 (20 mph assist only while pedaling), Class 2 (20 mph without pedaling), and Class 3 (28 mph assist only while pedaling). The bill requires manufacturers to affix permanent labels showing class, speed, and motor wattage on all e-bikes, prohibits modifications without relabeling, and clarifies e-bikes are not motor vehicles (so they don’t require licenses or registration). It also sets operational rules: Class 3 bikes are restricted on some paths, require helmets for minors, and must have speedometers, while all e-bikes must meet federal safety standards and disengage motors when braking or not pedaling. The law directly affects e-bike manufacturers, riders, and local authorities managing bicycle paths.

Maddy summaryHB 127 raises income thresholds for Wyoming's tax refund program for elderly and disabled residents. It increases the income limit for single individuals (65+ or totally disabled) from $13,500 to $17,500 annually, and for married couples (with one spouse 65+ or disabled) from $22,000 to $28,500. The refund amount for singles is $800 (reduced if income exceeds $10,000), and for married couples it is $900 (reduced if income exceeds $16,000). The bill appropriates $2.5 million to fund these refunds, effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new misdemeanor offense in Wyoming called "burglary for minor theft." It applies to individuals who enter a building, structure, or vehicle without permission to commit theft of property valued at less than $1,000, provided the building was unoccupied, not locked, and not designed for overnight use. The law specifies that the person must not have entered to commit a felony and must not commit a felony during the act. Violating this offense carries penalties of up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The bill took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 117) allows University of Wyoming (UW) license plates to be issued for both passenger cars and trucks using the same distinctive number, with a symbol or letter (like "C" or "T") to differentiate vehicle types. It directly affects UW license plate holders who own both a car and a truck, enabling them to use the same plate number for both vehicles. The key provision modifies existing law to permit this shared numbering system starting July 1, 2019, while requiring the Department of Transportation to reimburse the University of Wyoming for implementation costs up to $76,200. The bill does not change the $100 fee or plate design requirements.