Sen. Ogden Driskill

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the December 31, 2022 expiration date for certifications allowing businesses to operate greater sage grouse game bird farms in Wyoming. It directly affects owners of these farms by making their certifications permanent, eliminating the need for renewal. The bill maintains existing rules requiring forfeiting birds if certification is revoked and prohibits reimbursement claims for birds held at expiration (which no longer occurs under this change). The policy change became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 95 prohibits public utilities from expanding service into another utility's certified territory, directly affecting electric, gas, and water companies operating in the state. The bill amends utility law to prevent new certificates of convenience and necessity for service in areas already served by another utility, including indirect service (like delivering power outside a utility's certified area but for consumption within it). If a utility violates this rule, the Public Service Commission can order it to stop providing service and pay just compensation to the affected utility. The law took effect July 1, 2022, clarifying territorial boundaries for utility operations.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 108 prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on social credit scores, environmental/social justice metrics, social media activity, political affiliation, union membership, or employer-related factors. The law defines a "social credit score" as a metric based on personal behavior, technology use, and lifestyle choices, and declares its use a deceptive trade practice. Financial institutions may still apply subjective criteria if they fully disclose and explain them in writing before contracts are signed. This law directly affects banks, credit unions, and lenders operating in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022. It aims to prevent consumer discrimination tied to non-financial personal data.

Maddy summarySF 114, the "Employer Vaccination Mandate Law," prohibits Wyoming employers with two or more employees from requiring COVID-19 vaccines without offering specific exemptions. Employers must grant exemptions for medical reasons (with a healthcare provider's statement), religious beliefs (with a signed statement), documented immunity (via lab tests), regular testing (using FDA-approved tests), or use of employer-provided personal protective equipment. Employees who falsely claim an exemption face misdemeanor penalties, and employers cannot ban employees from receiving vaccines. The law excludes religious organizations and entities covered by federal rules, and requires employers to allow vaccine receipt without penalty.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill allows property owners to mark private land boundaries using fluorescent orange or pink paint (50+ square inches) instead of traditional signs to indicate trespassing restrictions. It requires the Game and Fish Commission and State Parks to include trespassing rules in hunting/fishing permits and park materials, and to develop signs at public road entrances to private land clarifying visitors shouldn’t leave the road. The law directly affects landowners seeking to define property lines and recreational users like hunters or hikers who may encounter marked boundaries. It takes effect July 1, 2022, and does not change existing trespassing penalties.

Maddy summarySF 43 adjusts the timing for community college district board elections in Wyoming, requiring the first regular election to occur in May during the first fiscal year a special mill tax is levied, rather than following a previous schedule. It clarifies that the first election will have four members serving four-year terms and three serving two-year terms, with all subsequent elections held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The bill standardizes election dates and term start dates (beginning December 1) for all community college district boards, affecting how these boards are organized and elected across Wyoming. These changes apply directly to community college districts and their voters, streamlining the election process under state law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 15 allows local governments (like counties or cities) that own golf courses with liquor licenses to contract out golf course operations to private companies without transferring the liquor license. The bill amends state law to clarify that political subdivisions may subcontract food and beverage services at these courses while retaining their existing liquor licenses, maintaining the limit of two such licenses per local government. This change directly affects local governments operating golf courses with club liquor licenses, ensuring they can partner with private operators without losing their license rights. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 65 clarifies that property tax protest appeals mailed by Wyoming taxpayers are considered timely filed if postmarked by the deadline date (within 30 days of receiving the assessment notice), rather than requiring physical receipt by the county by that date. This directly affects property owners challenging their tax assessments who use mail to submit appeals. The key provision replaces the previous uncertainty about mailing deadlines with a clear, objective standard based on the postmark date. The law became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 97) changes Wyoming's rules for voters changing political party affiliation. It specifies that voters must submit a signed application to their county clerk to change party affiliation before primary elections (by the nomination filing deadline) or before general elections (at least 14 days prior, or at the polls). Requesting a partisan primary ballot automatically counts as declaring party affiliation. The bill directly affects Wyoming voters who wish to switch party affiliations for upcoming elections.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming's state budget process by requiring that recommended spending for each two-year budget cycle cannot exceed two-thirds of the state's actual revenue from the previous three fiscal years. This limits how much the state can spend based on verified past revenue, excluding certain funds like pension reserves and unencumbered balances. The bill directly affects state budget planners, the governor's office, and the legislature when developing annual budgets. It repeals older budget rules about fund transfers and stabilization accounts, effective July 1, 2023. The key change is a new revenue-based spending cap to prevent budgeting based on projected or hypothetical revenue increases.