Rep. David Northrup

Maddy summaryHB 148 requires Wyoming's five elected state officials and all legislators to annually disclose contracts they have with state entities. Specifically, they must list the business name, address, contract type, and dates for any contract involving a business they financially own (excluding small stock holdings under 1% or minor business interests). This disclosure must be submitted by January 31 each year to the Secretary of State. The bill does not change state spending rules but mandates transparency about potential conflicts of interest in existing contracts. It applies to all state agencies and judicial branches, effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 legalizes hemp production and processing by setting a 0.3% THC limit (on a dry weight basis) for hemp and hemp products. It requires licenses for producers and processors (with background checks and $500 annual fees), while allowing unrestricted possession and use of hemp products by all residents. The bill establishes enforcement through annual inspections, corrective action plans for violations, and misdemeanor penalties for intentional breaches. It also mandates a state regulatory plan, authorizes tribal agreements, and repeals conflicting laws.

Maddy summaryHB 204 establishes a standardized course numbering and transcript system for Wyoming's community colleges and the University of Wyoming. It requires common course numbers, electronic course catalogs, and shared transfer software to simplify credit transfers between institutions and support student program planning. The system mandates that all community colleges and UW use consistent course numbering to automatically transfer credits for students moving between schools, particularly for those with articulation agreements. This directly affects students transferring between institutions, faculty developing curricula, and administrators managing course equivalencies and data systems.

Maddy summaryHB 240 exempts drivers operating irrigation district vehicles from Wyoming's commercial vehicle licensing and regulatory requirements when used solely for operating or maintaining irrigation infrastructure. The bill specifically covers vehicles driven for tasks related to headgates, canals, laterals, ditches, pipelines, and reservoirs. This exemption applies to irrigation district employees performing routine facility maintenance and operations, removing a layer of administrative burden for these specific duties. The policy change was intended to take effect July 1, 2019, though the bill did not advance beyond committee.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming law to make foreign language instruction for kindergarten through second grade optional for school districts, rather than mandatory. School districts may choose to offer such programs, but if they do, they must follow state board standards for instruction. This bill directly affects all Wyoming public school districts serving K-2 students. It became effective July 1, 2019, after passing the Education Committee unanimously.

Maddy summarySF 80 requires all Wyoming school buses transporting students to have external video systems starting with the 2016-2017 school year. It allows recordings from these systems to be used as evidence for violations of passing a stopped school bus (W.S. 31-5-507), with a $195 fine issued to the vehicle's registered owner if the driver cannot be identified. This fine does not count as a moving violation for license suspension or as a conviction for other purposes. The bill also specifies defenses for owners who did not consent to the driver using the vehicle or who sold the vehicle before the violation occurred.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 145 requires hunters and anglers to purchase a $6 annual recreation permit to access state trust lands (lands held for public schools and institutions). The permit fee distributes $4 to land beneficiaries (schools/institutions) and $2 to the game and fish commission for access programs. Exceptions include children under 12 with permit holders, public road travel, and state employees on duty. Violating the permit requirement is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $200 or up to one week in jail. The law mandates an agreement between the game commission and land board by November 2019 to implement the fee system.