Rep. Elissa Campbell

Maddy summaryWyoming's SJ 9 is a joint resolution urging Congress to protect the state's access to federal public lands while ensuring local communities have a say in land management decisions. It opposes broad or indiscriminate sales of public lands and demands federal agencies respect Wyoming's existing land-use plans, county-level input, and multiple-use frameworks that support recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, and resource development. The resolution also calls for funding to streamline efficient land exchanges under current laws when they benefit local communities and public access, without advocating for specific policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Wyoming to renew their state-issued identification cards by mail instead of appearing in person. To qualify, residents must be full-time facility occupants, submit a notarized attestation from facility staff, pay a fee, provide documentation for any ID changes, and surrender their old card. The renewal method cannot be used if a resident has already renewed twice in 16 years or is changing information on their ID. The Wyoming Department of Transportation must create rules to implement this process, which takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Wyoming school districts to create and adopt written policies governing student use of cell phones and smart watches during school hours. It defines "smart watch" as a wearable device that functions like a phone (excluding basic timepieces or health trackers) and mandates that districts submit their policies to the state superintendent by July 1, 2026. The law applies directly to every public school district in Wyoming, setting a clear deadline for policy implementation. It does not specify exact restrictions but establishes a framework for districts to develop their own rules.

Maddy summaryHB 146, the "Affordable Electricity Act of 2026," exempts small residential solar devices (called "plug-in solar generation devices" or PIPVs) from most utility regulations. It directly affects homeowners who install compliant PIPVs - devices under 1,200 watts per meter, designed for standard 120V outlets, and meeting safety standards - to offset their personal electricity use. Key provisions include banning utility fees for these devices, eliminating requirements for interconnection agreements or net metering approvals, and mandating safety features to prevent backfeeding during outages. The bill also shields utilities from liability for customer-installed PIPVs, making it easier for residents to adopt small-scale solar without utility hurdles.

Maddy summaryHB 144 clarifies and updates Wyoming law regarding fire protection districts' tax authority. It amends statutes to specify that districts may levy up to 3.10 mills (three ten mills) annually for operations, plus additional mills needed for debt payments on approved bonds, without exceeding limits set in other sections. This directly affects fire protection districts across Wyoming by defining their tax levy limits for funding operations and debt service. The bill makes no change to the existing mill levy cap but ensures consistent language in related statutes. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 167 increases K-12 school funding in Wyoming by modifying special education reimbursement rules and raising the base teacher salary used in funding calculations. It requires full reimbursement (100% of previous year's spending) for most special education costs (excluding out-of-district placements), with those placements reimbursed quarterly in the year incurred. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the base teacher salary used to calculate school funding will be set at $65,000 annually. The bill appropriates $348.6 million for school district payments and $8.9 million for retirement cost reimbursements, both expiring June 30, 2028. These changes directly affect all Wyoming public school districts and their special education programs.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 190 directs the Board of Land Commissioners to transfer specific parcels of land (totaling approximately 3,000 acres in Natrona County) to the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources for development as a state park. The bill requires the transfer to occur by July 1, 2027, after completing a site criteria process, with lands sold at fair market value (funds going to the common school account). It appropriates $6.5 million from the general fund specifically for land procurement and resolving mineral leases on the properties. The department must report on the site criteria process to a legislative committee by October 2027.

Maddy summarySF 115 transitions Northern Wyoming Community College to the Gillette Community College District. It ensures the Northern Wyoming district continues receiving full funding for both districts during the transition period - through either institutional accreditation for the new Gillette district or July 1, 2026, whichever comes first. The bill modifies existing law to maintain current funding allocations until this transition is complete. This directly affects the two community college districts and their funding under Wyoming’s community college commission model. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's DUI laws to clarify that "vehicle" does not include horses or other equines when ridden. It specifically updates sections 31-5-233 (DUI penalties) and 31-5-234 (youthful driver alcohol laws) to exclude horse riders from these provisions. The change directly affects people riding horses, ensuring they are not subject to motor vehicle DUI laws. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 156 creates a state-funded program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming municipalities (cities, towns, and special districts) for improving public water and wastewater systems. The program covers preliminary planning, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and costs for joining regional systems, but only for projects meeting specific eligibility criteria like those approved under existing water pollution or drinking water loan programs. Funding comes from state loans up to $50 million annually, which must be repaid with interest capped at 1.5%, and the state loan board administers applications and reports annually to legislative committees. This program directly affects local governments managing water infrastructure by offering new funding options for system upgrades and regionalization efforts.