Rep. Steve Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates a new misdemeanor crime for distributing material deemed "harmful to minors" to individuals under 18. It directly affects anyone who shares such material - like books, films, or online content - via digital means, in-person, or at events targeting minors. The bill defines "harmful to minors" by three criteria: material appealing to prurient interests in minors, patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacking literary/scientific value for minors. It repeals an existing exemption that previously protected school, library, and museum staff from obscenity charges when handling materials in their work. The law imposes fines up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail for violations, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 134 prohibits state and federal funds from being used by public entities - including government agencies, schools, universities, and local governments - to sponsor or contribute to events deemed "sexually explicit." It defines such events as those depicting nudity or sexual conduct (excluding age-appropriate sex education) and establishes a process where specific entities (e.g., school boards or the governor) must determine if an event qualifies within 30 days. If funds were improperly used, recipients must repay the money within 20 business days, with appeals allowed through a formal hearing process. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 273, the "Wyoming Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression (CARE) Act," prohibits Wyoming state and local governments from enacting laws, rules, or policies that target pregnancy centers based on their opposition to abortion. It specifically bans requirements for centers to offer or refer for abortions, abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, or counseling favoring abortion. The bill defines "pregnancy center" as private nonprofits providing pregnancy support services (like counseling, ultrasounds, and adoption referrals) and establishes legal remedies for violations. It directly affects pregnancy centers across Wyoming by shielding them from government mandates conflicting with their mission. The bill is currently in the House Labor committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.

Maddy summaryHB 206 changes Wyoming's voter identification rules for in-person voting. It requires all acceptable ID to include a photograph of the voter, repealing Medicaid and Medicare insurance cards as valid forms of identification. The bill directly affects voters who need to present ID at polling places or absentee voting locations. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 171 amends the legal definition of "explicit sexual conduct" under the state's child exploitation statute (W.S. 6-4-303(a)(iii)). The bill specifically expands the definition to include acts like genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, bestiality, masturbation, and lascivious exhibitions of genitals or breasts. This change directly affects how prosecutors define and prosecute cases involving the sexual exploitation of children in Wyoming. The amendment will take effect on July 1, 2025, strengthening the legal framework for addressing such crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 173 modifies requirements for independent candidates running for partisan offices in Wyoming. It requires candidates to swear they are unaffiliated with major parties or not registered with one, increases the signature requirement from 2% to 5% of votes cast for the relevant office in the last general election, and extends the petition filing deadline from 70 to 81 days before the primary election. These changes directly affect independent candidates seeking statewide, county, or district offices. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 31 requires all Wyoming school districts to adopt formal safety and security policies, including threat assessment procedures, by their boards of trustees. These policies and drafts must remain confidential and not be public records, allowing school boards to discuss them in closed sessions. The bill also limits the state fire marshal's authority by prohibiting bans on door securement devices used under these policies, though the marshal may create rules for their proper use during threats or drills. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting school districts and the state fire marshal's regulatory role.