Rep. Bob Nicholas

Maddy summaryHB 198 imposes a $12 court automation fee for each filing in criminal, civil, probate, or appeal cases starting with the seventh filing by the same person in that case. This fee, in addition to existing court fees, is collected by the court clerk and deposited into a state account dedicated to judicial automation. It applies only to filings beyond the sixth in the same case type and does not affect initial filings or fees for small claims. The bill aims to fund court technology improvements through recurring user fees.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 99 allows witnesses to sign wills remotely via audio-video technology during public health emergencies or other urgent situations. The bill requires witnesses to see/hear the testator in real time, securely sign electronically, and confirm the testator's competency and voluntary action. It directly affects individuals creating wills and their witnesses by updating how wills can be legally executed. The law amends existing statutes to include remote witnessing as a valid method, effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how court reporter fees are set in Wyoming. It requires district courts to establish fees for transcripts, records, and other papers through rules created by the district court judicial conference (instead of fixed statutory amounts). The bill repeals existing fee structures and takes effect July 1, 2023. It directly affects court reporters and individuals needing court documents in civil cases, as fees will now be determined locally by court rules rather than statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 190 creates a select committee to coordinate Wyoming's energy and industrial development projects, directly affecting state government (legislature and governor) and future project developers seeking state support. The bill establishes a committee with 6 members (3 from each chamber, including committee chairs) to review project proposals and task force recommendations, requiring a November 2023 report to relevant committees. Key provisions include authorizing task forces to study specific projects like natural gas export facilities, manufacturing plants, and market access strategies for Wyoming's energy resources. The committee may also draft new legislation to advance these projects, focusing on maximizing public benefits through coordinated state efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 286 consolidates Wyoming's Department of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and the Office of the State Chief Information Officer into a new division within the Department of Administration and Information. This transfer affects all state agencies that use technology services, as they will now report to this unified division for telecommunications, software, and equipment management. The bill mandates the transfer of all personnel, funds, equipment, and responsibilities, requires a budget submission process for fiscal year 2024, and establishes new definitions and rules for the consolidated division's operations. The key change is eliminating separate tech offices to streamline state technology administration under one department.

Maddy summaryWyoming's Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJ 7) is a symbolic resolution expressing legislative support for the relationship between Wyoming and Taiwan. It reaffirms Wyoming's commitment to strengthening economic ties, educational cooperation, and Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the WHO. The resolution directs Wyoming's Secretary of State to send copies to U.S. officials, Wyoming's congressional delegation, Taiwan's leadership, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter policy but formally states Wyoming's position.

Maddy summaryHJ 12 is a Wyoming legislative joint resolution requesting Congress to increase the state's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which determines federal Medicaid funding. The resolution asks Congress to raise Wyoming's current minimum 50% FMAP rate - below neighboring states - by considering factors like Wyoming's high poverty rates, healthcare costs, rural access challenges, and unique income statistics. It specifically directs Wyoming's congressional delegation to seek policy changes for more equitable reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. This procedural resolution does not change law but formally requests federal action to improve Medicaid funding for Wyoming's low-income residents and healthcare providers.

Maddy summaryHB 170 establishes a spending policy for Wyoming's Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account, limiting annual withdrawals to 5% of the trust's five-year average market value (phased in over 2024-2028). It also modifies how funds flow to the Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship endowment, requiring transfers back to the endowment when the scholarship expenditure account exceeds 9% of its five-year average market value. The bill directly affects state financial management of these two trust funds, ensuring spending aligns with long-term fund values. Key mechanisms include the phased calculation method for the wildlife trust's spending limit and the 9% threshold for scholarship fund transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 72 revises Wyoming's sales tax system by applying the tax to numerous previously exempt services, including personal services (like haircuts), business services (such as computer programming), and recreational activities (like gym memberships). It removes the exemption for food purchased for home consumption (groceries), meaning these items will now be taxed at the general rate, though counties can hold elections to exempt local food sales. The bill also reduces the statewide sales tax rate from 3% to 2.5% and repeals other specific tax exemptions. The changes take effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 269 modifies Wyoming's workers' compensation law to allow hearing examiners to reimburse appointed attorneys for reasonable expenses and costs (beyond just fees) in contested cases. It removes the previous restriction that limited attorney fees to "a reasonable number of hours not to exceed the benefits at issue" in the case. This change directly affects workers' attorneys who represent claimants in contested hearings, enabling them to recover full documented costs without the prior benefit-based cap. The bill requires a verified itemization of all services for reimbursement requests and maintains existing rules about denying fees for frivolous claims. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.