Rep. Chris Knapp

Maddy summaryHB 172 designates Wyoming State Highway 24 in Crook County as the "Purple Heart Memorial Trail." The bill requires the Wyoming Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage identifying this highway segment, in compliance with federal and state laws. This ceremonial bill has no policy changes or financial impact - it simply establishes a named route for commemorative purposes and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 219 requires Wyoming corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) to file annual reports with the Secretary of State by the first day of their registration month each year. These reports must include current details on the business's Wyoming capital, property, and assets, certified under penalty of perjury, and include a license fee of either $60 or 0.0002% of reported value (whichever is greater). The bill affects all Wyoming-organized corporations, foreign corporations operating in Wyoming (excluding banks/insurance), and all Wyoming LLCs. It takes effect for reports filed on or after July 1, 2024, with the Secretary of State tasked with creating implementing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 183 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, or individuals (defined as citizens of Russia, China, state sponsors of terrorism, or countries under specific arms regulations) from owning most land in Wyoming, allowing only personal residences under one acre. It requires existing foreign owners to sell their land by July 2026 (unless for a qualifying personal residence) and mandates annual registration with the Secretary of State for all foreign land ownership, including personal residences. Owners who fail to register face daily civil penalties of $5,000, and county clerks must report violations to the Attorney General for enforcement, which may include court-ordered forfeiture and sale of the land. The bill also requires tax assessment notices to inform owners about the foreign ownership restrictions and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 153 modifies Wyoming's sex offender registration law to prevent certain offenders from qualifying for relief (the ability to stop registering) after meeting time and behavior requirements. It specifically denies relief for individuals convicted of offenses involving victims under 13 years old or victims aged 13-15 years, as listed in the bill. This change applies only to cases where the offense was committed on or after July 1, 2024, meaning these offenders must continue registering for life without the possibility of petitioning for relief.

Maddy summaryHB 185 exempts qualifying oil and gas producers from specific severance taxes when using enhanced recovery techniques with Wyoming-sourced carbon dioxide. It provides a 50% exemption on one tax portion and a 100% exemption on another tax portion for production meeting strict criteria, including use of carbon capture technology and Wyoming-origin CO2. Producers must apply for the exemption, and the state must report annual revenue impacts to legislative committees. The exemption expires on July 1, 2032, applying only to production completed before that date. This directly affects oil and gas companies using enhanced recovery methods with in-state CO2.

Maddy summaryHB 182 prohibits payment processors from assigning special merchant category codes to firearm or ammunition retailers, requiring them to be classified as general merchandise or sporting goods retailers instead. This directly affects payment entities (like banks and credit card networks) and firearm retailers who must use standard retail codes. Violations carry a $1,000 fine per violation. The bill does not change gun laws or purchase requirements but modifies payment processing rules, effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers Wyoming's minimum age requirement for obtaining a concealed firearm permit from 21 to 18 years old. It amends Section 6-8-104(b)(ii) of the Wyoming Statutes to allow 18-year-olds to apply for permits, directly affecting young adults seeking concealed carry authorization. The bill repeals a conflicting provision (W.S. 6-8-104(j)) and takes effect July 1, 2024. It makes no changes to permit issuance procedures or other eligibility criteria beyond the age adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 78 requires websites publishing over one-third material harmful to minors to implement age verification for access, using government ID or transaction data. It prohibits retaining personally identifying age information after verification and bans websites from allowing minors to access such content without verification. Violations carry fines of up to $1,000 per day for non-compliance with age verification or data retention rules. The law applies to websites accessible in Wyoming and becomes effective July 1, 2024. It directly affects website operators hosting content meeting the defined "material harmful to minors" standard.

Maddy summaryHB 158 requires Wyoming's governor to rescind all existing refugee resettlement plans by July 1, 2024, and submit new plans to the legislature for approval before they take effect. The bill mandates that proposed plans include specific details on promoting refugee economic self-sufficiency, language training, employment services, coordination of resources, care for unaccompanied minors, medical needs, and detailed funding projections. A legislative committee must review these plans, hold public hearings, and report recommendations to the legislature. This bill directly affects state agencies and the governor's office by shifting authority for refugee resettlement oversight from executive action to legislative approval and public input.

Maddy summaryWyoming HB 128, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualified educational expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are public school-eligible but haven’t graduated high school, allowing parents to use ESA funds for tuition at qualified schools (including private or online programs), textbooks, tutoring, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the accounts, which are funded by state appropriations - not local tax revenues - and require parental agreements specifying eligible uses. The bill explicitly states qualified schools are not considered state or federal agents and establishes oversight mechanisms for the program.