Rep. Clark Stith

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 91) clarifies how married couples can establish "tenancy by the entirety" for real property. It allows spouses to automatically create this ownership type simply by listing themselves as "husband and wife" or "spouses" on a property deed, without needing additional legal steps. The change directly affects married couples purchasing or transferring real estate in Wyoming, ensuring their joint ownership is legally recognized as tenancy by the entirety. This provision streamlines property ownership for married couples but does not alter other aspects of property law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 148 clarifies that state firearm laws override local regulations, directly affecting cities and counties that might have attempted to enact stricter gun rules. The bill amends a definition in existing law to explicitly state that state statutes (W.S. 6-8-401 through 6-8-406) take precedence over local ordinances. This is a procedural clarification - no new restrictions or exceptions are added - and takes effect immediately upon enactment. It ensures local governments cannot impose additional firearm regulations beyond what the state already permits.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 143, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing $6,000 annually per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualifying education expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are K-12 students not yet graduated, allowing parents or guardians to use ESA funds for private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the program, disbursements occur monthly, and funds come from a dedicated state account - not local taxes - with excess funds transferred to the school foundation program if balances exceed $30 million. Qualified schools (non-governmental, non-discriminatory) are explicitly not considered state or federal agents under this program.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces Wyoming's maximum unemployment benefit period from 26 weeks to 13 weeks for claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects workers who file for unemployment benefits after that date, limiting their total benefit duration. Key provisions amend sections of the unemployment law to change the maximum payment calculation (from 26 to 13 weeks) and update the commission name to "unemployment re-employment insurance commission." The law takes effect July 1, 2023, with no retroactive application.

Maddy summaryHB 124 imposes a tax on electricity produced from wind and solar resources in Wyoming for sale or trade. It directly affects wind and solar electricity producers who sell power within the state, requiring them to pay a tax per megawatt-hour at the point where electricity connects to transmission lines. Producers must report their annual electricity output by February 1 each year. The tax applies to solar electricity sold after January 1, 2024, while existing wind electricity production tax rules remain in effect. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 134) changes Wyoming's rules for how alcohol retailers and distillers can purchase alcohol. It allows retail liquor license holders to buy up to nine liters per week of alcohol directly from other retail licensees or from distillers (federally licensed manufacturers), removing previous restrictions. The change directly affects licensed liquor stores and distillers by expanding their options for sourcing inventory. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter tax collection or licensing fees.

Maddy summaryHB 239 repeals Wyoming's requirement that drivers stop a vehicle's engine, lock the ignition, remove the key, and set the brake before leaving a vehicle unattended. This change directly affects drivers in Wyoming who previously could have faced penalties for not following these specific parking procedures. The bill removes these legal requirements, meaning drivers are no longer prohibited from leaving a vehicle running unattended under this statute. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming law to extend the deadline for filling vacancies in chancery court judgeships from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025. It modifies the existing requirement in W.S. 5-13-109(b) to delay the effective date of filling these vacancies by one year. The change is procedural, affecting only the timeline for filling judicial positions in Wyoming's chancery courts, with no new eligibility rules or direct impacts on specific groups. The bill became effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Wyoming's criminal fraud law to explicitly include unauthorized use of charge cards and debit cards, which were previously only covered under "credit card" fraud statutes. It defines a "charge card" as one requiring full payment at statement time and a "debit card" as one drawing funds from an existing account. The law now treats unauthorized use of these cards - such as using someone else's card without permission or using a revoked card - as criminal fraud, applying the same penalties as existing credit card fraud rules. This directly affects individuals committing fraud with these payment methods, making such acts punishable under the same legal framework.

Maddy summaryHB 97 amends Wyoming law to allow chancery courts to handle certain government contract disputes when the contract itself designates chancery court as the venue for resolving disagreements. This change applies only to lawsuits filed after July 1, 2023, and affects government entities and contractors who include this specific venue choice in their agreements. The bill does not alter existing jurisdiction rules but adds chancery court as an option under these limited, contract-specified conditions.