Rep. Bob Wharff

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming state agencies and local law enforcement from using state funds to enforce federal gun regulations that conflict with Second Amendment rights. It creates criminal penalties (up to 1 year in jail or $2,000 fine) and civil penalties of $50,000 per violation for agencies that enforce such federal rules. The law specifically exempts cooperation with federal authorities on non-gun-related matters and defines key terms like "federal regulation" and "law abiding citizen."

Maddy summaryHB 95 allows individuals legally carrying concealed weapons without a permit under Wyoming law to do so at public colleges and universities, with one exception: they cannot carry during athletic events where alcoholic beverages are sold. The bill amends Wyoming's concealed carry statute to explicitly include college/university facilities as permitted locations, removing prior restrictions. It directly affects permitless concealed carry holders who are already authorized to carry under existing law (specifically W.S. 6-8-104(a)(ii)-(iv)). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change rules for campus employees or volunteers, who remain subject to separate school district regulations.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 70, the GRANITE Act, creates legal protections for Wyoming residents and businesses against foreign governments or international organizations enforcing censorship laws that conflict with U.S. and Wyoming constitutional free speech protections. It establishes a cause of action allowing lawsuits against foreign entities for imposing penalties (like fines or platform shutdowns) on U.S.-based platforms for constitutionally protected speech, such as the UK's threat to 4chan or Brazil's actions against X (Twitter). The bill prohibits Wyoming from recognizing, enforcing, or cooperating with foreign judgments related to such censorship, and imposes civil penalties on foreign entities. It directly affects Wyoming-based digital platforms, blockchain companies, and residents whose speech is targeted by foreign censorship laws. The law aims to prevent foreign coercion of U.S. speech by placing the burden on foreign governments to justify their censorship under strict scrutiny.

Maddy summaryHB 90 requires Wyoming's state engineer to study how large-scale industrial water use permanently removes water from the natural water cycle (like data centers, carbon capture, and hydrogen production), excluding normal evaporation from irrigation. The study must analyze current impacts on all water users - including agriculture, municipalities, and recreation - and recommend ways to limit future impacts. It mandates a report to the legislature by November 2026, funded by a $500,000 appropriation specifically for this study. This bill does not change water rules but creates a formal process to assess emerging industrial water demands.

Maddy summarySF 118 requires legislative approval before state-funded water projects can use eminent domain to acquire private land. It directly affects water districts, cities, or public entities seeking to build or expand water infrastructure using state funds. The bill adds a new requirement (W.S. 41-2-124(m)) that mandates the legislature must approve such eminent domain actions for water projects, modifying existing laws that previously allowed these entities to proceed without this step. This change applies specifically to projects utilizing state funds, not all eminent domain uses.

Maddy summaryHB 180 requires cities and towns in Wyoming to address surface water runoff systems established before April 1, 2026. By July 1, 2027, these systems must either be reorganized into a drainage utility (with voter approval) or operated using only city funds without user fees after April 1, 2026. If cities fail to comply by the deadline, they must refund all fees collected before April 1, 2026 to users by September 1, 2027. The bill also allows fees for other services (like water or trash) but prohibits new fees for runoff systems after 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 158, the EV Charging Stations Transparency Act, requires operators of direct current (DC) fast-charging stations in Wyoming to display a clear 3x3 inch label showing the primary energy source (e.g., wind, natural gas, coal) powering the station. This applies to stations connected to public utilities or using on-site generation, with labels updated annually based on the utility’s annual energy mix in the station’s service area. If the primary source accounts for less than 50% of electricity, the label must show the top two sources. The law aims to provide transparency for EV drivers about the energy sources powering charging stations, with violations punishable by fines up to $750.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's DUI laws to clarify that "vehicle" does not include horses or other equines when ridden. It specifically updates sections 31-5-233 (DUI penalties) and 31-5-234 (youthful driver alcohol laws) to exclude horse riders from these provisions. The change directly affects people riding horses, ensuring they are not subject to motor vehicle DUI laws. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 71 allows businesses to round cash payments to the nearest five cents when exact change isn't available due to missing pennies. It specifies that payments ending in 1¢, 2¢, 6¢, or 7¢ must round down, while those ending in 3¢, 4¢, 8¢, or 9¢ round up - except exact 1¢ or 2¢ amounts, which round up to 5¢. Businesses must display a sign about rounding, and rounding applies only to cash payments (not credit/debit), with taxes added before rounding. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not override federal rounding rules for SNAP purchases.

Maddy summarySJ 7 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Wyoming legislature, not courts, the authority to define what constitutes "health care" for the purpose of the constitutional right to health care access. It would also require that any health care laws passed by the legislature undergo judicial review under the "rational basis" standard (meaning courts would only strike down laws lacking a reasonable connection to a government interest). This change would directly shift how health care decisions are legally defined and regulated in Wyoming, moving authority from judges to elected lawmakers. The amendment must be approved by Wyoming voters to become part of the state constitution.