Rep. Karlee Provenza

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 175 requires all public school districts, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges to adopt written policies prohibiting hazing. These policies must define hazing (as intentional acts causing harm or embarrassment for group membership), include reporting procedures (with anonymous options), specify consequences for violations, and protect against retaliation for reporting. The law mandates that school districts create these policies by July 1, 2024, with the state education department developing model guidelines by November 2023. It directly affects students, staff, and school communities by establishing clear standards to prevent hazing in educational settings.

Maddy summaryHB 240 amends Wyoming's initiative process to allow voters to approve funding through ballot measures (previously restricted). It requires the legislature to assign these funds in the next legislative session and mandates the Secretary of State to provide governor election voter counts to initiative committees upon request. The bill would take effect in 2024 only if a related constitutional amendment passes in the 2024 election. This procedural change affects initiative committees seeking to gather required data and the legislature’s handling of voter-approved appropriations.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 repeals energy standards requiring public utilities to provide "reliable and dispatchable low-carbon" electricity. The bill removes definitions for "dispatchable" and "reliable" energy from state law, effectively eliminating the previous requirement for utilities to meet specific low-carbon generation targets. It mandates that utilities refund customers for rates collected under the repealed standards (with exceptions for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date), and requires the Public Service Commission to issue implementing rules. This bill directly affects Wyoming's electricity providers and their customers by changing compliance requirements and financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHJ 8 proposes constitutional changes to Wyoming's ballot initiative and referendum process. It would lower signature requirements from 15% to 5% of voters who chose the governor in the last election and eliminate the need for signatures in two-thirds of counties. The bill also changes the vote threshold to require more than 50% of voters supporting the measure (instead of 50% of all voters) and removes the ban on initiatives that dedicate funds or make spending decisions. These changes aim to make it easier for citizens to propose laws or reject legislation through direct voting.

Maddy summaryHB 273 amends Wyoming's game and fish trespass law to require that a person must "knowingly" enter private property to hunt, fish, collect antlers, or trap without permission for it to be a violation. This change clarifies that accidental or unintentional entry does not constitute a trespass under this statute. The bill directly affects hunters, anglers, and trappers who might enter private land without authorization, ensuring the law applies only to intentional violations. It does not change penalties or create new regulations, merely specifying the required mental state for the offense. The amendment becomes effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 180) amends trespass laws to create an exception for incidental contact when moving between adjacent land parcels. It directly affects landowners and individuals authorized to access two connected parcels of land that share a common corner. The key provision states that a person does not commit criminal trespass or game/fish trespass if they accidentally touch or pass through another person's land while traveling between two parcels they are permitted to access. This change applies to both general trespass and hunting/fishing trespass laws, effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health and disability insurance plans in Wyoming to cover hearing aids and related fitting, evaluation, and maintenance services when medically necessary. It mandates coverage for one hearing aid per ear (with associated professional services) and limits coverage to $2,000 per ear every three years, unless a hearing professional determines additional devices are medically needed. Insurance plans must apply the same deductibles and co-pays for hearing aid coverage as for other health services. The law applies to all covered individuals and aims to ensure equitable access to hearing aid care under existing health insurance plans. It takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 143, the "Wyoming Patient Cannabis Act of 2022," proposes a legal framework for medical cannabis in Wyoming. It would allow patients with qualifying conditions (like chronic pain, cancer, or multiple sclerosis) to access cannabis products through licensed dispensaries, with caregivers permitted to assist them. The bill establishes licensing for cultivation facilities, testing labs, and dispensaries under the Wyoming Department of Revenue Liquor Division, prohibits local governments from banning such operations, and defines medical cannabis products while banning synthetic marijuana prescriptions. This would be the first state-regulated medical cannabis program in Wyoming, affecting patients, caregivers, and licensed businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 106 decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana in Wyoming by replacing criminal penalties with civil fines. It eliminates jail time for possessing up to 3 ounces of marijuana in plant form or equivalent amounts in edibles (up to 16 ounces), paraphernalia, or other forms. The bill also removes marijuana possession as a criminal offense but does not legalize recreational use or expand medical access - doctors remain restricted to prescribing only FDA-approved products like dronabinol. This change affects individuals caught with specified small quantities, shifting enforcement from criminal courts to civil penalties. The bill was introduced in 2022 but was not advanced for consideration.