Rep. Bunky Loucks

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 summaryThis Wyoming bill changes how state agencies select firms for professional services like architecture, engineering, and land surveying. It defines a "resident firm" as one with an in-state office staffed by local employees and requiring at least 50% of the project work to be performed by staff or contractors based in Wyoming. Agencies must now consider whether a firm meets this residency standard when evaluating bids and selecting contractors. The rule applies to all new contracts issued on or after July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 legalizes hemp production and processing by setting a 0.3% THC limit (on a dry weight basis) for hemp and hemp products. It requires licenses for producers and processors (with background checks and $500 annual fees), while allowing unrestricted possession and use of hemp products by all residents. The bill establishes enforcement through annual inspections, corrective action plans for violations, and misdemeanor penalties for intentional breaches. It also mandates a state regulatory plan, authorizes tribal agreements, and repeals conflicting laws.

Maddy summaryHB 238 would have required Wyoming's Department of Transportation to create an online platform by January 1, 2020, for commercial vehicle permit applications, payments, and renewals. This bill directly affected commercial vehicle operators and businesses needing permits under Wyoming law. The key provision mandated the department to replace paper-based processes with a digital system for permit transactions. The bill was procedural (not substantive policy change) and did not become law, as it died in committee in 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 240 exempts drivers operating irrigation district vehicles from Wyoming's commercial vehicle licensing and regulatory requirements when used solely for operating or maintaining irrigation infrastructure. The bill specifically covers vehicles driven for tasks related to headgates, canals, laterals, ditches, pipelines, and reservoirs. This exemption applies to irrigation district employees performing routine facility maintenance and operations, removing a layer of administrative burden for these specific duties. The policy change was intended to take effect July 1, 2019, though the bill did not advance beyond committee.

Maddy summaryHB 183 repeals restrictions that previously banned concealed weapons in certain public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry concealed firearms in government meetings, the legislature, and most public schools (with exceptions for specific school district policies under existing law). It establishes that only the Wyoming state legislature can regulate firearms, weapons, and ammunition, preempting local governments from creating their own firearm restrictions. The bill explicitly preserves private property owners' rights to ban firearms on their land and maintains existing prohibitions in courtrooms. This directly affects concealed carry permit holders, local governments seeking to regulate firearms, and school districts managing firearm policies on school property.

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.