Rep. Reuben Tarver

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 128 provides a 5-year severance tax exemption for oil and gas operators using certified advanced extraction methods (tertiary production) between July 2026 and July 2031. It directly affects oil and gas producers who implement qualifying projects approved by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission after July 1, 2026. The bill requires annual reports by the Commission and Department detailing production volumes, qualifying operators, wells, and the tax savings from the exemption. This exemption applies specifically to severance taxes under Wyoming law, with reports due each November 1 from 2026 through 2036.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million from Wyoming's tourism reserve fund to support the development of a rodeo and cowboy museum and hall of fame in Wyoming. The funds will be distributed in three installments of $5 million each on July 1, 2026, 2027, and 2028, contingent on the Wyoming Tourism Board certifying that relocation efforts will boost tourism, jobs, and state revenue. Applicants must provide matching funds (at least $1 for every $1 granted) and relocate to Wyoming by June 30, 2028, or repay the grant. The Wyoming Office of Tourism must report annually on fund usage until 2036.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 228 prohibits state and county election officials (including county clerks) from accepting private money, grants, or services for election administration costs like voter education, registration, or outreach. The bill requires all election-related expenses to be funded solely with public money, with exceptions only for meals provided to poll workers on election day or during training. It also bans private entities from offering such funds and explicitly allows federal election funding. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and creates misdemeanor penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 310 allows owners of commercial trailers (defined as part of a commercial vehicle under Wyoming law) to permanently register their trailers for a one-time $350 fee instead of paying annual registration fees. This applies to trailers qualifying as commercial vehicles under existing statutes, directly affecting commercial trailer owners and operators. The bill creates a permanent registration option with fee exemptions for these trailers, while directing 50% of the $350 fee to county treasurers and 50% to the highway fund. It amends several statutes to establish this process and clarifies that permanent registration does not transfer to new owners upon sale.

Maddy summaryHB 147 prohibits all Wyoming state and local government entities - including state agencies, schools, universities, counties, and cities - from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, activities, or policies. It defines "institutional discrimination" as concepts like claiming inherent superiority based on race or requiring individuals to acknowledge guilt based on their race, and bans governmental entities from requiring attendance at related trainings. The bill mandates that all affected entities comply by July 1, 2025, including creating necessary rules. It directly affects all public institutions in Wyoming that receive state funding or operate under state authority.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 313 modifies how counties can lower speed limits on non-interstate highways and local streets. It requires county commissioners to submit proposed speed limit decreases to the Transportation Commission within 60 days, giving the Commission 60 days to override the proposal with a majority vote. The bill applies to state highways and county roads (excluding interstates) and takes effect July 1, 2025. This change streamlines the approval process by centralizing authority with the Transportation Commission for speed limit adjustments.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 160 repeals the provision allowing school identification cards as valid forms of ID for in-person voting. The bill directly affects voters in Wyoming who previously used school IDs to verify their identity at polling locations. It removes school IDs from the list of acceptable voter identification documents, effective July 1, 2025. This change modifies the state's voter ID requirements without adding new ID types or altering other voting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 209 repeals Wyoming's low-carbon energy standards for public utilities, removing requirements that previously mandated certain carbon-reduction measures. The bill directly affects electric utilities by eliminating statutory obligations related to low-carbon energy generation and dispatchable/reliable power definitions. Key provisions repeal specific sections of Wyoming law (W.S. 37-1-101, 37-18-101, and 37-18-102) that established these standards. The Public Service Commission must then create new rules to implement the repeal, with the bill taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 161 would impose a severance tax on hydrogen production in Wyoming, specifically targeting hydrogen separated from ground water. It sets two tax rates: 3% for hydrogen from "by-product water" (as defined in existing law) and 6% for all other hydrogen production. The tax would be calculated based on the fair market value of the hydrogen, similar to how natural gas is taxed, and collected by the state department. The bill, which died in committee in March 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but is not currently law.

Maddy summaryHB 208 prohibits anyone from intentionally injecting chemicals or substances into Wyoming's atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It directly affects government entities, researchers, or private companies conducting such atmospheric experiments within the state. Key provisions require the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to test air quality at affected sites (using methods like transmission electron microscopy) and protect individuals who report suspected violations in good faith. The bill also clarifies that existing publicly disclosed contracts are unaffected. This legislation aims to address concerns about unproven health and environmental risks from geoengineering activities.