Rep. Pat Sweeney

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryHB 212 allows microbreweries and wineries in Wyoming to hold both their existing permits and a manufacturer's license simultaneously. This changes existing rules by removing restrictions that previously prevented these small producers from owning both license types, specifically exempting them from Section 12-5-401's ownership rules. The bill directly affects microbrewery and winery owners who wish to expand production or retail operations under a single business structure, effective July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 211 requires all health insurance plans sold in Wyoming to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as they do for physical health conditions, starting July 1, 2019. It applies to every individual and group health insurance policy, including plans from health maintenance organizations, that is delivered, renewed, or modified after that date. The law mandates compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-26), as updated through 2018. This ensures people with mental health or substance use conditions receive coverage without stricter limits than for medical or surgical care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming state agencies to use a single, standardized payment processor for collecting fees, taxes, and other payments instead of each agency managing its own system. It directly affects all executive branch agencies (including departments like Transportation and Game and Fish), the judiciary, legislature, and institutions like the University of Wyoming. The Department of Enterprise Technology Services must establish and administer this statewide contract, with limited waivers only if an agency proves it cannot feasibly use the centralized system. This standardizes payment processing methods (like credit cards or checks) for state collections without changing the types of fees or taxes collected.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for violating Wyoming's child labor laws, raising the maximum fine from $500 to $750 and adding potential jail time of up to 100 days for employers who break the rules. It clarifies that children under 14 may still work for parents, grandparents, or family-owned businesses in non-hazardous jobs outside school hours. The bill repeals one outdated provision and takes effect July 1, 2019. It directly affects employers who hire children in violation of these specific regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 196 amends Wyoming law to limit county commissioners' authority over land divisions in unincorporated areas. It clarifies that counties cannot prevent residential or agricultural uses on land divisions already exempt from standard subdivision rules under state law. The bill specifically prohibits counties from imposing restrictions that conflict with these exemptions, ensuring developers and property owners can use exempt land for those purposes. The changes took effect on July 1, 2019.