Rep. Bill Allemand

Maddy summaryHB 143 prohibits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) from having jurisdiction in Wyoming. It explicitly states that requirements, mandates, or guidance from these organizations - such as mask, vaccine, or testing rules - cannot be enforced in the state or used to justify such mandates. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, and directly affects Wyoming residents and state/local authorities by blocking the use of federal or international health directives for public health enforcement. The bill creates a new statutory provision (W.S. 35-4-1001) to nullify CDC and WHO mandates within Wyoming's borders.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Wyoming calculates the maximum duration of unemployment benefits. It bases the maximum benefit period (ranging from 12 to 23 weeks) on the state's average unemployment rate: 12 weeks if the rate is 5% or lower, plus one additional week for every 0.5% above 5%, capped at 23 weeks if the rate reaches 10.5% or higher. The change applies only to unemployment claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects Wyoming residents who qualify for unemployment insurance by adjusting how long they can receive benefits based on statewide job market conditions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 253, the "Credit Card Defense Act," requires merchants selling firearms or ammunition in the state to use a "sporting goods" merchant category code for all transactions, instead of codes specifying firearms. Financial institutions, credit cards, and payment processors must not collect or generate personally identifying information beyond this category code for such purchases. The law directly affects firearm retailers, banks, and payment processors handling these transactions in Wyoming. It mandates that all relevant financial institutions adopt this coding standard by July 1, 2023, to limit transaction data collection related to firearm purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 75 requires property owners in Wyoming to mark gates and access points with at least 50 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink paint to legally prohibit trespassing. It directly affects landowners (especially those with property along public roads), recreational users like hunters and anglers, and state agencies. The bill specifies that metal fence posts must be fully painted above ground, exempts public road entrances, and mandates the Game and Fish Commission and State Parks Department to include trespassing notice rules in permit materials and develop signs for public road entries. This standardizes property marking to clarify boundaries and reduce accidental trespassing on private land.

Maddy summaryHB 285 requires hunters using private land for antelope, deer, or elk hunting to deliver a landowner coupon to the landowner upon harvest or at the end of a hunt without harvest (based on where the majority of the hunt occurred). Landowners can redeem these coupons by submitting them with an affidavit by March 1 to receive $16 per coupon from the state. The bill also allows landowners to redirect their $16 payment to the Animal Damage Management Board instead of receiving it directly. This amendment clarifies the existing landowner coupon process and adds a payment redirection option for Wyoming landowners.

Maddy summaryHB 215 creates a property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners who are either 65+ years old or honorably discharged veterans, provided they have lived in their primary residence for at least 15 years. To qualify, residents must file a signed annual statement by March 1 with their county assessor and confirm ongoing eligibility by May 4 each year. The exemption applies only to the primary residence and requires proof of veteran status through military separation documents showing an honorable discharge. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and directly affects qualifying elderly residents and veterans in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 256 would have provided a temporary property tax reduction for Wyoming property owners during the 2023 tax year. It offered a 33.33% reduction for most properties and a 16.67% reduction for industrial properties, as defined in existing law. The tax relief applied only to 2023 taxes and would have expired on June 30, 2024, with no permanent change to tax rates. This bill specifically affected property owners paying ad valorem taxes, including those with mineral production properties.

Maddy summaryHB 191 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Wyoming to protect pharmacies and patients. It requires PBMs to report quarterly on drug reimbursement appeals, including denial reasons and cost adjustments, and prohibits retroactive claim denials or fees for claim processing. The bill bans PBMs from basing pharmacy payments on patient outcomes without prior agreement, restricting point-of-sale fees, and preventing unfair contract changes without 45 days' notice. These provisions directly affect pharmacies and pharmacy designees that contract with PBMs, aiming to ensure fair reimbursement practices and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 194, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible Wyoming students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover approved educational expenses. It directly affects K-12 students who are Wyoming residents and not yet graduated, allowing parents to use funds for tuition at qualified schools, online programs, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational services. The state treasurer administers the program, prohibits using local tax revenues for funding, and requires parents to sign agreements outlining permitted uses. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 88 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, and individuals from purchasing or acquiring agricultural land in Wyoming. It requires existing foreign owners (as of July 1, 2023) to register their land with the Secretary of State within 60 days and annually thereafter, providing details like location and ownership structure. Violations - including failure to register - carry a $5,000 daily civil penalty, and county clerks must report suspected violations to the Secretary of State. The law also mandates that property tax statements include notices about the ownership restriction and registration requirement.