Rep. Ocean Andrew

Maddy summaryHB 126 clarifies that home-based child care provided in a private residence (for up to 15 children regularly) is considered a "residential use" of property. This means property covenants that only allow "residential" uses cannot block family day care operations, unless the covenant explicitly and clearly prohibits child care. The law applies to existing and future property covenants that don't address child care directly. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, directly affecting homeowners operating family day care in their residences.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 96 clarifies that certain custodial and fiduciary accounts held by banks - where customers' assets (including digital assets) are managed - cannot be treated as the bank's assets during bankruptcy or receivership. The bill requires banks to keep these assets fully segregated from their own funds, maintain separate accounting, and use written agreements explicitly stating customers retain ownership. It specifically governs digital asset handling, allowing stablecoin reserves and third-party trading platforms under strict segregation rules, while prohibiting commingling of customer assets with the bank’s or third parties’ assets. This directly affects banks offering digital asset custody services and their customers by ensuring asset protection in financial distress.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 61) allows charter schools to directly apply for and receive federal and state education grants by treating them as local education agencies (LEAs). It requires school districts to pay charter schools based on specific funding formulas and repeals previous rules designating school districts as the LEA for charter schools. Charter schools will now handle special education services for their students under federal law. The changes take effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 79) allows small malt beverage manufacturers (producing 25,000 barrels or less annually) to terminate distribution agreements with distributors without needing a specific reason. It requires manufacturers to pay distributors compensation equal to the franchise’s fair market value plus the cost of inventory held in warehouses or transit. Disputes over compensation are resolved through binding arbitration under specific rules, with costs shared equally unless a good-faith estimate was made. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, applying to new agreements and renewals of existing ones after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for minors to file lawsuits against providers of gender transition services from age 18 to their 21st birthday. It applies to medical procedures like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries (including genital and nongenital procedures) performed for gender transition. The law defines "gender transition services" broadly to include all medical care related to changing physical characteristics tied to gender identity. The change takes effect July 1, 2024, for cases arising after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 81 removes mandatory fiscal training requirements for state public officers in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2024. It specifically eliminates the requirement that public officers complete minimum fiscal training within one year of taking office and excludes members of governing bodies (like city councils or school boards) from the definition of "public officer" under this law. The bill repeals existing provisions that required the state auditor to establish training rules and monitor compliance. This change directly affects state-level officials handling public funds, removing a compliance obligation that previously applied to them.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 82 (Summer Vacation Preservation Act) reduces the minimum required school year from 175 to 165 days and mandates that public school years begin after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day, unless the state board approves an alternative schedule. The bill requires school districts to hold public meetings before proposing alternative schedules and annually evaluate their effectiveness. It also adjusts funding calculations, changing the required minimum operating days for full foundation funding from 185 to 170 days. These changes apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, affecting all Wyoming public school districts and their funding.

Maddy summaryHB 127 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real property in Wyoming's "all other property" category. It exempts a portion of a property's value above its prior year's taxable value, adjusted by the county's median household income change (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who acquired their property in the prior calendar year are excluded, and tax assessment notices must now show exemption details. The exemption applies starting with the 2024 tax year.

Maddy summarySF 84 sets limits on fees school districts can charge for renting their facilities in Wyoming. It requires districts to charge no more than the *additional* costs incurred for each specific rental (like extra utilities or cleaning), provide a clear breakdown of those costs, and keep fees consistent for similar uses. This directly affects school districts (who set the fees) and renters (like community groups or businesses using school buildings). The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 121 establishes a property tax exemption for primary residences, allowing homeowners to exclude up to $300,000 of their home's value from annual property taxes. To qualify, residents must have lived in Wyoming for at least five years and resided in the home for nine months of the prior tax year, and must submit an annual sworn claim by May 4th. The exemption applies to single-family homes only, with no more than one exemption per property per year, and includes penalties for false claims. Funding for the exemption will come from the state's legislative stabilization account, with counties reporting impacts to the state department of revenue. The bill takes effect January 1, 2025.