Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary paid family and medical leave insurance program for Wyoming employees, providing up to 60% wage replacement for 12 weeks per year for qualifying events like childbirth, adoption, caring for a seriously ill family member, or the employee's own serious health condition. The program would roll out in phases: state employees would be offered coverage by March 2025, private employers with two or more employees could choose to offer it by March 2026, and self-employed individuals or small businesses (with one or fewer employees) could purchase individual coverage by March 2027. Employers may opt to cover premiums for their employees but are not required to, and premiums would be pre-tax where permitted by law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 179 clarifies that state park superintendents, assistant superintendents, and full-time park rangers at Wyoming state parks, recreation areas, archaeological sites, and historic sites qualify as peace officers when acting within their assigned sites or assisting other peace officers. The bill amends existing definitions in Wyoming law to explicitly include these staff members under "peace officer" status, granting them the same legal authority as other peace officers within their jurisdiction. This change specifically affects park personnel who enforce laws and respond to incidents on state-managed lands. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2024, but failed committee review in February 2024.
Maddy summaryHB 119 would create a grant program to help Wyoming school districts hire additional mental health staff, including school counselors, nurses, and community mental health providers, for K-12 students during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The program, funded by a $37 million appropriation, would provide grants calculated at $206 per student based on each district’s previous year’s enrollment, with applications due by June 30 annually. School districts receiving grants must report on fund usage and student impact, and the state education department would submit annual effectiveness reports to the legislature by 2025.
Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 149 increases penalties for drivers who flee accidents involving serious injury or death. It classifies failing to stop after an accident causing death or "serious bodily injury" (as defined in state law) as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $50,000 fine, while lesser injuries remain misdemeanors (up to one year jail or $5,000 fine). The bill also adds a requirement that offenders must have knowingly been involved in the accident. This law applies to all motor vehicle accidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryHB 113 increases scholarship amounts for Wyoming's Hathaway program, directly affecting eligible students pursuing degrees or certificates at participating institutions. The bill raises semester awards for three scholarship tiers: Opportunity ($882, up from $840), Performance ($1,323, up from $1,260), and Honor ($1,764, up from $1,680) for full-time students meeting specific GPA and standardized test score criteria. Need-based scholarships also see updated calculations, with a minimum $110 per semester and increased caps for unmet financial need. The changes apply to students qualifying under existing Hathaway program standards, effective July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryHB 108 creates new criminal offenses for assault, threats of violence, and battery specifically against healthcare providers while they are performing work duties. It defines "health care provider" and sets stricter penalties: misdemeanor charges (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) for first offenses, and felony charges (up to 3 years jail or $1,000 fine) for repeat offenses. The bill applies to anyone who knowingly commits these acts against providers during employment, including threats involving bodily injury, death, or $1,000+ property damage. It does not create new protections for providers but increases legal consequences for perpetrators. The bill failed introduction in the Wyoming House on February 14, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "boutique hotel liquor license" for hotels meeting specific criteria. To qualify, a hotel must be valued at $10 million or more (including land), include a restaurant, have at least 35 short-term guest rooms, provide 12-hour daily dining, and offer meeting space for 50+ people. The license allows on-premises alcohol sales only (with exceptions for catering) and requires an annual fee of $500-$3,000. It is intended for upscale hotels and exempts them from population-based liquor license limits.
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 summarySF 83 modifies how Wyoming school districts and charter schools manage leased K-12 facilities. It requires lease agreements to separately track and report funds dedicated to major facility maintenance, ensuring these funds are used only for that purpose and not diverted elsewhere. Districts must get approval before spending maintenance funds, and they can be reimbursed if leased space isn't counted in square footage calculations for maintenance funding. The bill applies to all districts leasing facilities and takes effect July 1, 2023.
Maddy summarySF 79 requires healthcare providers in Wyoming to create "plans of safe care" for infants born with prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. These plans must address the infant's safety and health needs, connect families to substance use treatment and early intervention services, and be developed with parents or guardians. Hospitals must report the number of infants covered by these plans to the Department of Family Services and share the plans with child protective agencies if safety concerns arise. The bill applies directly to newborns affected by prenatal substance exposure and their families, with requirements effective January 1, 2024.