Rep. Scott Smith

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 270 changes Wyoming's spending policy for the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund by reducing the annual spending rate from 5% to 4.5% of the fund's five-year average market value. This adjustment directly affects how the state calculates and spends earnings from the trust fund's investments each fiscal year. The bill modifies Section 9-4-719(d)(v) of Wyoming law to implement this lower spending percentage. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, applying to all future fiscal years.

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 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 307 amends Wyoming election law to regulate poll watchers, who are certified volunteers from political parties. The bill limits poll watchers to one per political party per polling place (with exceptions for multiple precincts), requires electronic certification to county clerks before voting begins, and specifies they may observe voter check-in, ballot counting, and polling place setup/shutdown without challenging voters or disrupting voting. It mandates polling places provide chairs for watchers and allows optional ID badges, while prohibiting removal for failure to schedule. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires voters in Wyoming to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It defines "proof of U.S. citizenship" to include documents like a Wyoming driver's license (without citizenship indicators), tribal ID cards, U.S. passports, birth certificates, or naturalization certificates. This applies to all voter registration processes, both in-person and by mail, and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects any Wyoming resident seeking to register to vote for the first time or update their registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Wyoming's "budget reserve account" and changes how excess state funds are managed. Instead of holding surplus general fund money in this account, it requires transferring unobligated balances above a set amount directly to the "legislative stabilization reserve account" at the end of each biennium. The bill also removes outdated references to the repealed account from state statutes and adds reporting requirements. This is a procedural budget adjustment affecting state financial management, not specific programs or services.