Rep. Ocean Andrew

Maddy summaryHB 94 removes a limit on the number of charter schools the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board can approve, effective March 15, 2025. Previously, the board could authorize no more than three (later amended to four) charter schools operated by entities other than school districts before July 1, 2026. The bill eliminates this cap, allowing the board to authorize any number of charter schools meeting statutory requirements. It directly affects the authorizing board and organizations seeking to establish new charter schools outside school district management.

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 121, the "Hospital Price Transparency Act," requires Wyoming hospitals to publicly list detailed pricing for all services and items they provide. Specifically, hospitals must display a machine-readable online list showing standard charges - including gross charges, negotiated rates with insurers, and discounted cash prices - for every service, plus a simplified consumer-friendly list for common "shoppable" services like routine procedures. This applies to all licensed Wyoming hospitals and must be posted on their websites free of charge, without requiring login or personal information. The law also prohibits debt collection actions against patients from facilities that fail to comply and directs the Department of Health to monitor enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 249 requires runoff elections for Wyoming's governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent of public instruction, and federal offices when no primary candidate receives over 50% of the vote. If a runoff is needed, the top two candidates from the primary advance to a runoff held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August, with ballot rules specifying how voters mark choices for candidates or write-ins. The bill creates a runoff election account funded by the state to cover costs, including reimbursement to counties for runoff administration. It directly affects voters and candidates in primary elections for these specific statewide and federal offices by changing nomination procedures when no majority is achieved.

Maddy summaryHB 188 exempts home-based child care providers who care for up to four children from multiple families (with no more than two children under age two) at one parent's home from standard child care facility certification requirements. This directly affects informal caregivers operating in private residences, allowing them to provide care without full licensing while still meeting basic safety standards. The bill requires the Wyoming Department of Family Services to create implementing rules within 180 days. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, streamlining oversight for small-scale, family-shared home care arrangements. The legislation does not alter certification rules for licensed child care centers or larger facilities.

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 summaryHB 72 requires public facilities in Wyoming, including schools, correctional facilities, and government buildings, to designate multi-occupancy changing rooms, restrooms, and sleeping quarters exclusively for males or females. It prohibits access to opposite-sex designated areas and allows individuals to sue public entities if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in a designated space, unless exceptions apply (like single-occupancy unisex rooms, medical emergencies, or cleaning staff). The bill defines "female" and "male" biologically and specifies that civil lawsuits must be filed within two years of a violation, with successful plaintiffs able to recover attorney fees. This directly affects public facility operators and users in shared spaces, aiming to enforce single-sex facility use through legal accountability.

Maddy summarySF 162 requires Wyoming school districts to use all funds allocated for teachers under the education resource block grant model exclusively for teacher salaries, health insurance, and benefits starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It applies to all districts except charter schools, schools with fewer than 49 students, and districts with fewer than 243 students. The state education department must collect annual data on teacher spending and report findings to education committees by October 1 each year, including recommendations for refining the grant model. These provisions ensure transparency and direct funding toward teacher-related expenses as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 135 requires the state Attorney General to defend the state's dual banking system when federal or other state regulators allegedly treat Wyoming-chartered banks unfairly. The bill creates a new legal provision (W.S. 13-1-901) directing the Attorney General to investigate complaints from Wyoming banks about unlawful disparate treatment and take action to ensure fair treatment. It directly affects Wyoming state-chartered banks and the state government, aiming to protect Wyoming's banking revenue and regulatory framework. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, without changing existing banking regulations but adding a defense mechanism for state banks.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 123) modifies the state's adverse possession law by stopping the 10-year clock for someone claiming ownership through long-term occupation whenever the property owner pays all property taxes. It directly affects property owners who pay taxes and individuals attempting adverse possession claims. The key provision states that the adverse possession timeline pauses during any period the owner has paid all taxes on the property. The law applies to claims starting after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date.