Rep. Joel Guggenmos

Maddy summaryHB 135 (Wyoming) establishes rules for autologous and direct blood donations. It requires hospitals and licensed health facilities to allow patients to donate their own blood (autologous) or donate blood specifically for another person (direct) before a medical procedure, as ordered by a healthcare provider. Blood banks must follow these orders unless the donor has health conditions making donation unsafe, and may charge reasonable fees for facilitating and storing the blood. The bill directly affects hospitals, blood banks, and patients seeking pre-donated blood for future procedures. It takes effect July 1, 2025, with rulemaking by the Department of Health required for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 200 requires Wyoming public schools to notify parents about student health changes and obtain written parental permission before instruction on gender identity, sexual orientation, or diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. It prohibits schools from requiring staff or students to use pronouns inconsistent with biological sex and allows school personnel to opt out of related trainings. Schools must publish curriculum materials online and report complaints to the state education department. The bill directly affects parents' rights to information, student privacy, and school staff obligations in Wyoming public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 100 allows Wyoming school districts and charter schools to hire certain K-12 staff without teaching certificates or permits, provided they adopt specific board policies. These policies require applicants to be at least 18 years old and undergo criminal background checks, including fingerprinting. The bill amends existing laws to permit this hiring path while maintaining background check requirements for uncertified personnel. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 269 establishes a licensure system for naturopathic medicine in Wyoming, requiring practitioners to graduate from accredited naturopathic programs (CNME-accredited in the U.S. or Canada) and pass the NABNE licensing exam. It creates the "Wyoming Board of Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine" with nine members, including three licensed naturopathic physicians, to oversee licensing, set practice standards, and enforce penalties for unlicensed practice. The bill directly affects naturopathic medicine practitioners, who must obtain a license by January 1, 2026, to legally practice. Key provisions include defining "naturopathic medicine," establishing board authority, and requiring continuing education for license holders.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 177 creates a new legislative committee called the "federal review joint and standing committee" to monitor federal actions. The committee, composed of 5 Senate and 9 House members appointed by March 31 after each election, reviews all federal laws, regulations, and executive orders to assess whether they infringe on Wyoming's sovereignty or exceed federal constitutional limits. It must report findings and recommend legislative responses, such as new bills or resolutions, to address perceived constitutional conflicts. The committee’s work ends if the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is repealed, with the bill taking effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 89 requires wind energy facilities in Wyoming to dispose of decommissioned turbine blades and towers on the site where they operated, rather than sending them to municipal landfills. The bill prohibits landfill disposal of these materials, mandates burying only base materials (not mechanical parts), and specifies minimum depth requirements near aquifers. Exceptions include on-site recycling, removal of non-base materials, and disposal at surface coal mining sites. The rulemaking requirements and effective date (July 1, 2025) apply to new permits issued after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 217 requires Wyoming county clerks to conduct a random hand count audit of ballots in one precinct per county after each primary and general election. The Secretary of State randomly selects the precinct, and the county clerk must compare the hand count results to the electronic tabulation within one week of the election, reporting the findings immediately. This bill adds a new verification step to existing election audits, mandating that the Secretary of State adopt implementing rules by September 2025. It directly affects county clerks (who perform audits) and the Secretary of State (who selects precincts and creates rules), but does not change voting procedures or ballot access.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates a new misdemeanor crime for distributing material deemed "harmful to minors" to individuals under 18. It directly affects anyone who shares such material - like books, films, or online content - via digital means, in-person, or at events targeting minors. The bill defines "harmful to minors" by three criteria: material appealing to prurient interests in minors, patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacking literary/scientific value for minors. It repeals an existing exemption that previously protected school, library, and museum staff from obscenity charges when handling materials in their work. The law imposes fines up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail for violations, effective July 1, 2025.

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.