Sen. Larry Hicks

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 summaryThis procedural bill (SF 90) increases the size of Wyoming's Capital Financing Select Committee from six to seven members appointed by each chamber (Senate and House). It adjusts the party distribution rules, requiring that at least one member appointed by each presiding officer must be from the minority party (previously limited to five minority members total). The bill directly affects how the Senate President and House Speaker appoint committee members, with changes taking effect immediately upon enactment.

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.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 81 clarifies that the state owns all underground water within its boundaries, as established by the state constitution. The bill preserves existing water use rights for well owners (for irrigation, municipal, or industrial purposes) but requires registration of wells with the state engineer by specific deadlines. It mandates permits for new well construction after July 1, 2022, while allowing existing "exempt" wells to register before December 31, 1972. The bill is declaratory - clarifying current law without altering existing water rights or creating new restrictions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 62, the Civics Transparency Act, requires all public K-12 school districts to publish an annual online list of instructional materials (including textbooks, videos, websites, and activities) on their district websites by July 1 each year. The bill also mandates specific civics instruction in fourth grade and beyond, covering Wyoming's suffrage history, constitutional principles, and anti-discrimination education. This affects every Wyoming public school district and impacts students, teachers, and parents by increasing visibility into classroom materials and curriculum content. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with lists required to remain online for at least one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming state and local governments from using private donations to fund voter registration, election preparation, or election administration. It specifically bans accepting or spending private funds for these election activities, with exceptions for the Secretary of State using private funds for election training/education and providing food to poll workers on election day. Federal funds for elections remain unaffected by this prohibition. The law takes effect July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 141 appropriates $1.2 million from Wyoming's general fund to the Governor's office for lawsuits challenging state or federal laws that block Wyoming coal exports or cause early closures of coal-fired power plants using Wyoming coal. The funds are specifically for litigation to defend Wyoming's coal industry against legal actions that impede coal exports or force plant shutdowns. The appropriation expires on June 30, 2030, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury. The Governor and Attorney General must submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing how the funds were used in these lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a redistricting commission that would draw Wyoming's legislative district boundaries after each U.S. census, replacing the current process where the legislature handles redistricting. The commission would consist of five members appointed without regard to political affiliation (two by the governor, one by the Senate president, one by the House speaker, and one by the chief justice) and must create 60 house districts and 30 senate districts (each senate district covering two house districts) with populations within 5% of the state average. The commission would have 90 days to adopt a final plan requiring approval from three of its five members, with judicial review available through the Wyoming Supreme Court if errors are alleged. This change would repeal the current requirement that each county have at least one representative and one senator.

Maddy summaryHB 145 allows hunters and anglers in Wyoming to voluntarily add a $2 or more donation when buying hunting or fishing licenses to support public schools. The bill amends license fee statutes to provide this option on application forms, with funds deposited into the state's common school account within the permanent land fund. It does not require any fee increase but gives license purchasers a choice to contribute directly to school funding. The provision applies to all license buyers (including nonresidents) purchasing licenses through the state's game and fish department. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2022, but was introduced in February 2022 without further action noted.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 prohibits Wyoming public entities from enforcing federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers with 100+ employees or healthcare providers in Medicare/Medicaid programs. It creates a new state law (W.S. 9-14-103) making it a misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail or $750 fine) for public entities to comply with such federal rules until federal court challenges are resolved. The bill authorizes Wyoming’s attorney general to sue federal agencies over these mandates and appropriates $1 million for legal action. It directly affects Wyoming state agencies, local governments, and employers subject to federal vaccine requirements.