Rep. Bill Haley

Maddy summaryHB 169 authorizes Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission to issue free, lifetime fishing licenses and conservation stamps to residents who are permanently and totally disabled. It directly affects eligible disabled residents by eliminating annual license fees and the requirement to purchase conservation stamps. The bill amends existing statutes to create a process for issuing these complimentary licenses, requiring the Commission to establish rules by July 1, 2019. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2019, providing permanent cost savings for this specific group of residents.

Maddy summaryHB 142 amends Wyoming's wildlife trust account board duties to require the board to recommend to specific legislative committees that funds be transferred from the income account to the wildlife and natural resource trust account. This procedural bill directly affects the wildlife trust board by adding a mandatory recommendation duty regarding fund transfers. It does not create new funding but specifies a process for moving existing funds between accounts. The change took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 42 amends Wyoming's hunting license laws to establish a preference point system for resident and nonresident hunters seeking big game licenses (like moose, bighorn sheep, or elk). It allows the Game and Fish Commission to award points based on years of unsuccessful applications and adds a new provision (subsection j) granting one point to resident youth or first-time residents who complete a state-approved hunter safety course. The bill also authorizes nonresidents to pay a nonrefundable fee (up to $75 per species) to accumulate preference points for future license drawings. These changes apply specifically to licenses issued through preference point systems, not random drawings, and affect all hunters applying for limited-quota species in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 149 creates a property tax credit for individuals who purchase and improve abandoned buildings in Wyoming cities or towns. It allows owners to claim a tax credit equal to their documented costs for rehabilitating designated abandoned properties, such as removing or repairing deteriorating structures. To qualify, owners must get city/town approval for expenses directly tied to the building and submit them to the state revenue department within five years of purchase. The credit is limited to actual improvement costs, cannot exceed the property's tax liability, and must be used within 10 years of eligibility. This policy directly affects property owners and local governments seeking to revitalize vacant, deteriorating buildings.

Maddy summaryHB 28 regulates when and where people can collect shed antlers and big game animal horns on public lands west of Wyoming's Continental Divide. It restricts collection to the period between January 1 and May 1 each year, aiming to minimize disturbance to big game populations. The law directly affects individuals who gather these items during that window on public lands in the specified region. The key provision amends the Game and Fish Commission's authority to enforce this seasonal restriction, effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 91 corrects a technical error in the legal description of "Prexy's Pasture" (a campus green space at the University of Wyoming), fixing a geometric inconsistency in its boundary coordinates. The bill amends a statute to replace an inaccurate parcel description that incorrectly described the pasture as a parallelogram. This adjustment ensures the written legal description matches the actual land boundaries, without changing any existing restrictions on construction or land use. The pasture remains protected from buildings per current law, and the correction became effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 127) changes penalties for fleeing police by elevating certain cases to a felony. It makes fleeing a felony if the driver causes bodily injury, damages property over $5,000, or violates another specific traffic law (W.S. 31-5-229). Drivers convicted under these aggravated circumstances face up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine, instead of the previous misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months or $750). The law directly affects drivers who flee police and cause serious harm or significant property damage. It took effect on July 1, 2019.

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 (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.