Rep. Darin McCann

Maddy summaryHB 269 establishes a licensure system for naturopathic medicine in Wyoming, requiring practitioners to graduate from accredited naturopathic programs (CNME-accredited in the U.S. or Canada) and pass the NABNE licensing exam. It creates the "Wyoming Board of Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine" with nine members, including three licensed naturopathic physicians, to oversee licensing, set practice standards, and enforce penalties for unlicensed practice. The bill directly affects naturopathic medicine practitioners, who must obtain a license by January 1, 2026, to legally practice. Key provisions include defining "naturopathic medicine," establishing board authority, and requiring continuing education for license holders.

Maddy summaryHB 169 creates a temporary property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners, reducing their tax bill by 50% on the first $1 million of their home's value for tax years 2025 and 2026. It applies to single-family residential properties like houses, mobile homes, and condos, directly benefiting homeowners who own these properties. The state will compensate local governments and schools for lost revenue using $125 million from the general fund, with funds expiring after June 2027. The exemption does not apply to tax year 2027 or later.

Maddy summaryHB 215 would require all Wyoming elections to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting systems, directly affecting voters, election officials, and counties conducting elections. The bill mandates hand counting of paper ballots, bans electronic pollbooks and internet-connected tabulating equipment, and repeals existing provisions allowing electronic voting machines. Key mechanisms include requiring paper ballots formatted for manual tabulation, specifying hand-counting procedures, and establishing penalties for non-compliance. The bill also revises post-election audit processes and election observer protocols. (Note: The bill died in committee on March 3, 2025, and has not become law.)

Maddy summaryHB 128 amends Wyoming's public health emergency laws to require the governor to declare when such an emergency exists or ends, then convene the legislature within two days for a vote on whether to concur with the declaration or terminate it. The bill allows the legislature to meet in person or remotely via electronic means to satisfy quorum and vote during emergencies. It updates the definition of "public health emergency" to include threats like pandemics or biological toxins, and clarifies that temporary health care provider licenses issued during emergencies (e.g., for out-of-state professionals) automatically end when the governor declares the emergency over. The changes apply to emergencies declared on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 174 lowers Wyoming's minimum age to obtain a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18 years old. It directly affects residents aged 18 and older who wish to carry concealed firearms. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 6-8-104(b)(ii) to reflect this age change, while repealing an outdated section (6-8-104(j)). The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 118) allows landowners who hold hunting licenses for elk, deer, antelope, or turkey to sell those licenses to others, subject to specific rules. Landowners cannot sell to immediate family, and buyers must follow all standard hunting license rules. The bill also exempts these sold licenses from a separate landowner coupon fee. The Game and Fish Department must create rules for the sale process, and the changes take effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects landowners with hunting licenses and potential buyers seeking access to these licenses.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 117 establishes a legal presumption that courts should grant "shared custody" in child custody cases unless specific exceptions apply. This means courts would default to ordering arrangements where children spend roughly equal time with both parents and parents share decision-making, unless parents agree otherwise in writing or circumstances like domestic violence, child abuse, or extreme distance between homes exist. The bill defines "shared custody" as combining both joint legal custody (shared decision-making on health/education) and joint physical custody (equal time with each parent). The law would take effect for new custody cases filed on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 223, the "Wyoming Anti-SLAPP Act," creates legal immunity for individuals and groups exercising constitutional rights (free speech, petition, expression) in public discussions about matters of community concern. It allows defendants to quickly dismiss lawsuits deemed "strategic" (SLAPPs) meant to silence criticism, requiring plaintiffs to prove their case has merit before trial. If a defendant successfully invokes immunity, they can recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees. This law applies to all public discourse on issues like government actions, community projects, or policy debates, protecting citizens and organizations from being forced into costly legal battles simply for speaking out.

Maddy summaryHB 173 modifies requirements for independent candidates running for partisan offices in Wyoming. It requires candidates to swear they are unaffiliated with major parties or not registered with one, increases the signature requirement from 2% to 5% of votes cast for the relevant office in the last general election, and extends the petition filing deadline from 70 to 81 days before the primary election. These changes directly affect independent candidates seeking statewide, county, or district offices. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.