Sen. John Kolb

Maddy summaryHB 91 sets minimum and maximum annual salary ranges for specific county officers in Wyoming, effective January 2, 2023. It directly affects county assessors, part-time county/prosecuting attorneys, county clerks, clerks of district court, sheriffs, and treasurers. The bill requires these officers to receive at least $10,000 per year but no more than the salary authorized for a district court judge (per W.S. 5-1-110). It also repeals outdated salary language in the existing statute.

Maddy summaryThe Second Amendment Protection Act prohibits Wyoming state and local officials from using state funds or personnel to enforce any federal gun regulations that conflict with the Second Amendment. It specifically bans state resources from being used to carry out federal laws, rules, or regulations that the state deems to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Public servants who violate this prohibition face penalties under existing state law. The bill took effect on July 1, 2022, and applies directly to Wyoming's government entities and officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new felony offense for intentionally or recklessly exposing an unborn child to a controlled substance without a valid prescription, if measurable drug levels are present in the umbilical cord, blood, or tissue at birth and cause bodily injury, disability, or disfigurement. It directly affects pregnant individuals using un-prescribed drugs and expands mandatory reporting requirements to include suspected prenatal drug exposure that could harm a newborn. The law requires anyone with knowledge or reasonable suspicion of such exposure to report it to child protective services or law enforcement, with penalties up to 10 years in prison for standard violations and up to 25 years for aggravated cases involving severe injury. It became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 83 clarifies that Wyoming's parental rights protections apply to all legal proceedings involving parentage, neglect, termination of parental rights, child custody, or visitation. The bill specifically requires these protections to be considered in cases under Wyoming Statutes Title 14 (family law) or Title 20 (child welfare). It adds a new section to define this scope, ensuring consistent application across court and administrative decisions. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

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 summaryHB 85 creates a new felony offense for pregnant individuals who knowingly use methamphetamine or certain narcotics (like heroin or fentanyl) without a prescription from a healthcare provider. It directly affects pregnant people using these substances without medical authorization, imposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically targets non-prescribed use of Schedule I/II controlled substances during pregnancy, framing it as endangering the unborn child, and takes effect July 1, 2022. The bill does not address medical treatment or addiction support, focusing solely on criminal penalties for non-prescribed substance use.

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 51 prohibits Wyoming law enforcement from releasing mugshots taken during arrest processing (when someone is booked into jail) unless specific conditions are met. It directly affects arrested individuals who have not yet been convicted, preventing public sharing of their arrest photos. The law allows release only if the person is convicted of the offense, a judge approves it for legitimate law enforcement needs, or a criminal justice agency requests it to apprehend a fugitive or address an immediate safety threat. The bill takes effect July 1, 2022, and applies to all county jails and the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 138 creates the Hope Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships to eligible Wyoming K-12 students. It directly affects Wyoming residents enrolled in public schools who qualify (e.g., attending public school for 45+ days annually), with funds usable at participating private schools. The program establishes a scholarship account funded through state education appropriations (2% of public school funding or per-student amounts), administered by a nine-member board including state education officials. Funds cover qualifying education expenses, with annual transfers from the state education budget to the scholarship program fund. The bill defines key terms like "eligible recipient" and "participating schools" but does not specify implementation timelines beyond the 2023 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 1001 prohibits most employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. It allows exceptions only for employers who document that vaccination is critical for workplace safety and provide medical/religious exemptions, along with reasonable alternatives like reassignment or testing. Employers violating the law face $100 daily penalties, and must offer severance pay if employees leave due to non-compliant mandates. The bill specifically addresses healthcare employers and creates a program for antibody testing, while citing staffing shortages as its legislative motivation.