Rep. Kevin Campbell

Maddy summaryHB 90 requires Wyoming's state engineer to study how large-scale industrial water use permanently removes water from the natural water cycle (like data centers, carbon capture, and hydrogen production), excluding normal evaporation from irrigation. The study must analyze current impacts on all water users - including agriculture, municipalities, and recreation - and recommend ways to limit future impacts. It mandates a report to the legislature by November 2026, funded by a $500,000 appropriation specifically for this study. This bill does not change water rules but creates a formal process to assess emerging industrial water demands.

Maddy summaryHB 68 expands Wyoming's property tax exemption for veterans with permanent, total service-connected disabilities. It allows eligible veterans certified as having a 100% service-connected disability to claim a full exemption on the assessed value of their primary residence, including up to 10 acres of associated land - replacing the previous $6,000 annual limit. Surviving spouses who haven't remarried and keep the property as their primary residence also retain this full exemption. The change applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, and does not affect veterans who qualify only for the standard $6,000 exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 148, the Land, Water and Fiscal Integrity Act, sets new rules for leasing Wyoming state lands for large industrial projects. It defines "utility scale industrial projects" as those costing $15 million+ or covering 320+ acres (excluding mineral extraction), requiring county commissioners to request public hearings for such leases. The bill mandates that leases must include radar-activated lighting to reduce visual impact, require a written analysis of tourism, tax revenue, migration corridors, and property value effects, and require decommissioning bonds. These provisions directly affect state land commissioners, county governments, and developers seeking industrial leases on state lands. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

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 summaryHB 155 requires Wyoming businesses claiming over $250,000 in annual sales or use tax exemptions to submit detailed reports to the state tax department by February 1st each year. The reports must include sales tax collected, exemptions claimed, property taxes paid, and aggregated employee data (full-time/part-time counts, average wages/benefits in Wyoming) without personal identifiers. Businesses failing to report must pay back taxes plus interest/penalties and lose exemption eligibility for that year. The state tax department must annually report aggregated data to the legislature starting August 1, 2027. This bill directly affects large businesses using specific tax exemptions, aiming to improve transparency in tax revenue reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 182 creates a process for designating Wyoming state lands as "state heritage sites" if they have exceptional archaeological, historical, or cultural value that would be permanently damaged by industrial use. It allows citizens, tribes, or government entities to nominate lands (like the Glenrock buffalo jump, specifically named in the bill) for review by the Department of State Parks, which then recommends to the Board of Land Commissioners. Once designated, these sites prohibit industrial use that harms their value and restricts leasing to educational, sustainable tourism, or low-impact recreational activities that protect the site. The bill defines "greatest benefit" to include long-term protection of the land’s intrinsic value alongside financial returns for state land trust beneficiaries.

Maddy summarySF 91, the Wyoming Energy Project Accountability Act, requires legislative approval before construction begins for large energy projects or when state funds are used. It directly affects industrial-scale energy projects (over 150 megawatts or large footprints - 5,000 acres for wind, 500 for solar) and large industrial power loads (75+ megawatts). The bill mandates that any project using state funds over $200,000 must have a specific legislative bill or resolution detailing the project, funding source, and conditions to protect ratepayers. Exceptions apply for emergencies or routine maintenance on existing projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's tax exemption rules for housing projects owned by cities or counties. It requires that such housing property be 100% publicly owned (by a municipality, county, or fully controlled entity) to qualify for tax exemption, excludes profit-making portions from the exemption (while allowing adjustments for public utility costs), and permits cities to instead make payments to maintain low-rent housing. The changes apply to all Wyoming cities, towns, and counties starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 135 prohibits Wyoming public officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of information related to public funds, public obligations, land-use impacts, or information already required to be public under existing law. It applies to all elected and appointed officials, employees, and agents of Wyoming government entities (cities, counties, state agencies). The bill makes such agreements void and unenforceable, imposes misdemeanor penalties (up to $1,000 fine) for violations, and allows termination of employment or removal from office for violations. Residents can also seek court action to void noncompliant agreements. The bill never became law, as it failed committee consideration in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 59 modifies Wyoming's bond election rules to require local governments to clearly state key details in bond questions, including the purpose, maximum principal amount, repayment term, and interest rate. Voters can now sue a local government if the bond question fails to meet these requirements, delaying bond issuance until a court resolves the dispute. The bill directly affects cities and towns seeking voter approval for bond issues and ensures transparency in how bond proposals are presented. It does not change election timing rules but adds a legal remedy for misleading bond language.