Sen. John Kolb

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's tax exemption rules for housing projects owned by cities or counties. It requires that such housing property be 100% publicly owned (by a municipality, county, or fully controlled entity) to qualify for tax exemption, excludes profit-making portions from the exemption (while allowing adjustments for public utility costs), and permits cities to instead make payments to maintain low-rent housing. The changes apply to all Wyoming cities, towns, and counties starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 134 would require Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to redirect emails filtered out of a legislator's inbox to their main inbox upon request. If an email is automatically filtered (e.g., by spam or security systems), the sender can request redirection after the office verifies their email address. The office must comply within two business days unless a security threat exists. This applies only to system-wide filtering, not personal email settings, and affects anyone emailing legislators whose messages are automatically diverted.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 4) proposes three key changes: requiring Senate approval for Supreme Court justices before they take office, expanding the Judicial Nominating Commission from 7 to 9 members with specific representation rules, and giving the legislature authority to define what counts as "actual practice of law" for judicial qualifications. It directly affects the Governor (who appoints justices), the Judicial Nominating Commission, and candidates for the Supreme Court. If approved, justices would need Senate majority confirmation, and the legislature could set standards for legal experience requirements. The bill failed to advance in the Senate (16-15 vote) and remains a proposed constitutional change, not law.

Maddy summaryHB 81, the "Less is More Plate Act," would have removed the requirement for Wyoming vehicle owners to display a license plate on the front of their vehicles, while keeping the rear plate requirement. This bill directly affected all drivers who currently display front plates under Wyoming law (W.S. 31-2-205(a)(i)). The key provision repealed front plate mandates in multiple sections of the vehicle code, including those governing registration and display rules. The bill failed to pass in the Wyoming House (38-23) in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summarySF 107 prohibits most noncompete agreements in Wyoming, making them void for workers in skilled or unskilled labor roles. It directly affects employees and employers by banning restrictions on earning wages after job termination, with key exceptions for business sales, trade secret protection, and training costs for employees with less than two years of service. Physicians are specifically covered: noncompete clauses in their employment contracts are void upon termination, but they may share new practice details with patients having rare disorders who were previously treated. The law applies only to contracts signed on or after July 1, 2025, leaving existing agreements unaffected. This bill aims to expand worker mobility by eliminating common employment restrictions.

Maddy summarySF 167 requires chiropractic license applicants in Wyoming to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks during initial licensure. It also mandates current chiropractic licensees under investigation or disciplinary action to provide fingerprints upon written request from the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The bill updates licensing statutes to authorize the board to obtain criminal history records for both new applications and ongoing disciplinary cases. These provisions take effect July 1, 2025, with the board required to issue implementing rules by that date. The law directly affects chiropractic professionals seeking or holding licenses in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryThe Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act (HB 207) protects individuals and religious organizations from government actions that interfere with their religious practices, unless the government proves it has a compelling reason and uses the least restrictive approach possible. It defines government interference as denying benefits, imposing penalties, excluding from programs, or blocking access to facilities, and requires strict justification for such actions. People affected by these government actions can challenge them in court to seek remedies like injunctions, compensation, or other relief. The law applies to all state and local laws, rules, and policies, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 127 requires the Wyoming legislature to approve "major agency rules" before they take effect. This affects state agencies creating significant regulations (like environmental or business rules) and the legislature, which must vote to approve or reject these rules within the next regular or special session after receiving them. The bill establishes a timeline for review, specifies that rules not approved become void, and allows the governor to temporarily bypass this for emergency rules (limited to 120 days). Key provisions include requiring agencies to provide impact analyses and ensuring rules cannot take effect without legislative approval, except for short-term emergencies.

Maddy summarySF 132 prohibits operating drones over critical infrastructure (including power plants, water facilities, hospitals, prisons, and military sites) for intentional photography, loitering, or criminal activity. Exceptions allow federal-authorized drone use, government operations, infrastructure owners, model aircraft in parks, and emergency services like police or disaster response teams. Violations face misdemeanor penalties ($2,500 fine or 6 months jail) for first offenses, escalating to felony charges ($5,000 fine or 2 years jail) for repeat violations. Law enforcement may disable violating drones, and the Wyoming National Guard can assist with enforcement, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 289 removes restrictions on bed expansions for hospitals and nursing care facilities in Wyoming. It repeals existing limits that previously required state approval before adding beds, instead requiring health department reviews only for safety and health compliance. The bill mandates that the Department of Health report to lawmakers by September 2029 on how the changes affect facility construction and operations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.