Rep. Bunky Loucks

Maddy summaryHB 210 increases Wyoming's Collection Agency Board from three to five members, requiring four governor-appointed members and the state banking commissioner to serve ex officio. The bill specifies detailed qualifications: one appointed attorney actively in collection work, two appointed representatives from licensed collection agencies (not attorneys), and one public member with credit service experience. Board members receive compensation from license fees paid by collection agencies, and appointments require five years of Wyoming residency or relevant industry experience. This bill modifies board composition and operations without changing how collection agencies are regulated.

Maddy summaryHB 234 would allow individuals convicted of marijuana-related felonies before July 1, 2019, to petition courts to reduce those convictions to misdemeanors if they completed time served equal to the new misdemeanor maximum. It directly affects people with past felony convictions for marijuana possession, use, or related offenses under Wyoming law. The bill creates a streamlined court process requiring no hearing for eligible petitions, and would restore civil rights lost due to those past felony convictions. It does not change current marijuana laws or penalties for future offenses, only addressing retroactive relief for pre-2019 convictions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 95 requires auto insurers to disclose when using non-original manufacturer parts in vehicle repairs and ensures those parts meet the same quality, fit, and performance as original parts. Insurers must clearly identify aftermarket parts on repair estimates and provide written notice in bold text to claimants about the use of non-original parts. Vehicle owners can request original manufacturer parts but must pay any additional cost if they choose them over equal-quality aftermarket options. The law, effective July 2019, enforces these requirements through Wyoming's Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Maddy summaryHB 42 amends Wyoming's hunting license laws to establish a preference point system for resident and nonresident hunters seeking big game licenses (like moose, bighorn sheep, or elk). It allows the Game and Fish Commission to award points based on years of unsuccessful applications and adds a new provision (subsection j) granting one point to resident youth or first-time residents who complete a state-approved hunter safety course. The bill also authorizes nonresidents to pay a nonrefundable fee (up to $75 per species) to accumulate preference points for future license drawings. These changes apply specifically to licenses issued through preference point systems, not random drawings, and affect all hunters applying for limited-quota species in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 140 requires physicians to wait 48 hours after informing a patient before performing most nonemergency abortions after fetal viability (when the fetus can survive outside the womb). This law directly affects patients seeking abortions and the physicians who perform them. The key provision mandates this waiting period unless a medical emergency poses a substantial threat to the patient's life or health, as determined by a physician. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 35-6-102 and took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 52 requires state agencies and political subdivisions in Wyoming to procure furniture and movable equipment for capital construction projects through competitive bidding. It prioritizes products available from Wyoming resident suppliers when possible, or uses performance-based specifications if local products aren't available. Agencies may seek waivers for highly specialized items, but these require written justification and approval by designated officials. The law applies to all such procurements starting July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 140 allows federally licensed distillers to operate one additional sales location ("satellite") separate from their main manufacturing site, subject to local approval. Distillers selling alcohol not obtained through the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverages must pay the state a monthly assessment based on the profit they would have generated if they bought from the Division. The bill clarifies that local authorities can issue these permits (with possible $100 fees) and requires compliance with existing licensing rules, operating hours, and building regulations. It does not change Wyoming's rule that the Division remains the exclusive wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages. This directly affects licensed distillers seeking to expand retail sales within the state.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 125 classifies digital assets (like cryptocurrencies and digital tokens) as property under state law, directly affecting residents, banks, and courts. It defines three categories: digital consumer assets (personal use), digital securities (investment-based), and virtual currency (used as money), each treated as property under specific sections of the Uniform Commercial Code. The bill establishes rules for banks to offer custodial services for digital assets and allows security interests (like loans using digital assets as collateral) through "control" mechanisms, such as private keys or smart contracts. This creates a legal framework for handling digital assets in transactions, disputes, and banking services within Wyoming.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 148 creates a legal framework allowing the state to temporarily seize and operate federal facilities like national parks or wildlife refuges if the federal government cannot do so effectively. During seizure, the governor must maintain public access, protect natural/cultural resources, and allow concessionaires to continue operating, while charging fees to cover costs. The state must return the facility to federal control once the federal government can manage it, and repay any fees collected or profits earned. The bill also establishes a $1 million contingency fund for planning and exempts certain operational plans from public records disclosure.