Sen. Larry Hicks

Maddy summarySF 187 increases retirement contribution rates for Wyoming public employees and their employers. It raises employee contributions to 9.5% of salary (from 9.25%) and employer contributions to 9.62% (from 9.37%) for most state workers, with firefighters at 7% employee and 7.12% employer contributions. The bill allocates $1.74 million from the general fund and $3.41 million from school funds to cover the higher employer costs, with payments deducted from employee paychecks and transferred monthly. These changes apply to state government employees, judges, firefighters, and school district workers for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summarySF 121 creates special "Rodeo - The Official Sport of Wyoming" license plates for non-commercial vehicles. Owners can choose to donate $1 or more per plate, with funds distributed annually to support rodeo programs at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges. The plates require a $1+ fee beyond standard registration and will stop production if fewer than 500 are issued by December 2031. Production begins January 2026, with plates designed to include the official sport designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Wyoming's "budget reserve account" and changes how excess state funds are managed. Instead of holding surplus general fund money in this account, it requires transferring unobligated balances above a set amount directly to the "legislative stabilization reserve account" at the end of each biennium. The bill also removes outdated references to the repealed account from state statutes and adds reporting requirements. This is a procedural budget adjustment affecting state financial management, not specific programs or services.

Maddy summaryHB 172 repeals restrictions on concealed weapons in specific public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry guns in government meetings, school athletic events on public property, and school facilities (like classrooms and offices). It also strengthens Wyoming’s state law by preventing local governments from regulating firearms, declaring that only the state legislature can set rules for guns, ammunition, and weapons. The bill includes exceptions for health facilities, explosive materials, and private property rules, and adds penalties for blocking someone from entering permitted areas. School districts must establish training rules for employees carrying concealed weapons, requiring 16 hours of initial training and annual 12-hour recertification.

Maddy summaryHB 235 creates a new categorical grant program to fund career and technical education (CTE) supplies, materials, and equipment for Wyoming public school districts. It provides funding calculated as $14,184.68 per full-time equivalent CTE teacher (based on district reports from the prior year), paid by February 15 of each school year. Funds must be used exclusively for CTE program supplies/equipment and cannot replace existing education funding. School districts must apply annually, report expenditures, and comply with department of education rules.

Maddy summaryHB 250 defines "person" in Wyoming law to mean living human beings possessing at least one biological function (e.g., heart, brain, or respiratory activity). It prohibits health care decisions harming these functions except in medical emergencies to save a pregnant woman's life or when discontinuing life-sustaining treatment with documented no chance of recovery. The bill directly affects medical providers, patients, and families making health care decisions, requiring Wyoming Board of Medicine review for certain exceptions. It excludes the Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 110 requires nonresidents applying for a Wyoming trapping license to provide two specific documents: a notarized affidavit confirming their state of residence and proof that their home state issues similar trapping licenses to Wyoming residents. This bill directly affects nonresidents seeking to trap in Wyoming, ensuring reciprocity by verifying that their state permits Wyoming residents to trap the same species. The key change adds these verification steps to the application process, effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter trapping regulations but modifies licensing eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 159 regulates chemical abortions in Wyoming by requiring healthcare providers to: (1) physically examine patients, be present during drug administration, schedule follow-up visits within 7 days, and provide labeled catch kits and medical waste bags for disposal. The bill defines "chemical abortion" as using drugs to intentionally terminate pregnancy or kill an unborn baby, with exceptions for medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancy. It also holds drug manufacturers strictly liable for environmental cleanup if abortion drugs enter wastewater or water supplies, requiring proper disposal of medical waste. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and drug manufacturers in Wyoming, with penalties including up to 3 years in prison or $10,000 fines for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHB 296 requires Wyoming's Legislature to study and fix how legislative districts are drawn to comply with the state constitution and federal law. It mandates that a committee study apportionment during the 2025 interim, gather public input, and report by December 2025, ensuring districts follow county lines and include at least one senator and representative per county as required by Wyoming Constitution Article 3, Sections 3 and 48. The bill addresses long-standing violations where districts since 1992 ignored county boundaries and failed to guarantee minimum representation per county, which also conflicts with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This process will lead to proposed legislation for constitutional redistricting during the 2026 budget session.

Maddy summaryHB 204 increases fees for nonresident fishing licenses in Wyoming. It raises the annual license from $100 to $110, the daily license from $12 to $14, and the five-day license from $54 to $60. These changes directly affect out-of-state anglers who purchase fishing licenses in Wyoming. The fee increases will take effect on July 1, 2025.