Sen. John Kolb

Maddy summaryHJ 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment to change Wyoming's judicial selection process. It would replace the current system - where judges are appointed by the governor from a list by a judicial nominating commission and then face retention votes - with direct elections. Under this amendment, justices and judges would run for re-election at general elections (instead of retention votes) to serve new terms, and the judicial nominating commission would be abolished. This change would apply to all Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges, affecting how judicial offices are filled and maintained. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the Wyoming Constitution.

Maddy summarySF 99 prohibits physicians and health care providers in Wyoming from performing specific medical procedures related to gender transition for children under 18. This includes surgeries like sterilization (e.g., hysterectomy, orchiectomy), mastectomies, puberty-blocking drugs, and hormone therapies that induce infertility. Exceptions apply for medically verified conditions, such as disorders of sex development or central precocious puberty, with parental consent. Violations could lead to suspension or revocation of a provider’s license, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 86 creates a dedicated "firearms on school property account" to reimburse Wyoming school districts for specific safety-related costs. It authorizes $100,000 from the school foundation program to cover expenses like staff training (per W.S. 21-3-132) and implementing district security rules. School districts must apply within one year of incurring costs, submitting receipts and training documentation to receive reimbursement. Unspent funds roll over annually, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 92 clarifies that Wyoming courts and state agencies cannot infringe on parental rights without proving a compelling state interest using the least restrictive means. It specifically requires school districts to communicate and disclose information about students to parents to protect those rights, amending education statutes to mandate this communication. The bill directly affects parents, school boards, and educational agencies by establishing new disclosure obligations. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not alter existing parental rights protections but codifies requirements for school communication.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 123 removes the requirement for public notice when changing a minor child's name. The bill specifically affects natural or adoptive parents and legal guardians seeking to change a minor's name, provided all such parents or guardians sign the request. Under the change, courts will no longer need to publish the name change request in a newspaper or similar public forum for these cases. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 103 (Wyoming PRIME Act) allows producers to sell meat products directly to consumers in Wyoming from animals they raised, slaughtered, and processed on their own property or at a custom slaughter facility. The bill requires clear warning labels stating the meat is uninspected, prohibits resale or donation, and mandates producers to disclose their animal health and processing standards. Sales cannot begin until the governor certifies that federal law permits such sales - either through new federal legislation or a court ruling invalidating federal bans. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, pending this federal certification.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 77 requires county clerks to report property sales within five miles of designated critical infrastructure zones to the Office of Homeland Security and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Critical infrastructure zones - designated by the governor in consultation with the homeland security director - include areas vital to state or national security, such as energy facilities or communication systems. The law mandates that these agencies investigate transactions involving "designated countries or persons" (like foreign adversaries) or posing security threats, with all investigation details kept confidential. Annual reviews of zone designations ensure they remain the least restrictive necessary for security.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 132 allocates unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds to specific state programs. The bill directs $440 million in ARPD funds (unexpended federal relief funds) to agencies like health departments, workforce programs, outdoor recreation, transportation infrastructure, and emergency services. Key provisions specify that funds must support pandemic recovery efforts, such as healthcare worker retention, rural health innovations, and emergency response systems, while prohibiting general post-secondary education spending except for critical career training. The bill also requires reporting on fund usage and sets conditions for how agencies may spend the allocated amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 86 requires towing and recovery services to request a title search from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (DOT) within five business days if a vehicle remains in a recovery lot for more than five days. The DOT must then identify the vehicle owner and any lienholders (such as banks or finance companies holding a financial claim on the vehicle) within 5 business days for Wyoming-registered vehicles or 7 days for out-of-state vehicles. Towing services must notify these lienholders of the vehicle's location within one business day after receiving the DOT's information. This law directly affects towing companies, vehicle owners, and lienholders by creating a clearer process for resolving vehicle repossessions.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 61) allows charter schools to directly apply for and receive federal and state education grants by treating them as local education agencies (LEAs). It requires school districts to pay charter schools based on specific funding formulas and repeals previous rules designating school districts as the LEA for charter schools. Charter schools will now handle special education services for their students under federal law. The changes take effect July 1, 2024.