Sen. Fred Baldwin

Maddy summarySF 8 authorizes Wyoming's Department of Health to provide essential subsidy payments to behavioral health centers and other eligible service providers. These payments help cover operating costs for services to priority populations, but providers must demonstrate a need for operational cost assistance as determined by department rules. Payment amounts are based on the geographic area's population served and the number of service needs within a 35-mile radius, subject to available funding. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 176 allows two or more existing solid waste disposal districts to merge into a single district. It outlines specific procedures for consolidation, including initiation via county commissioner resolution (without elections for districts in the same county) or through existing statutory processes. The bill prevents changes to district boundaries, requires county commissioner approval for multi-county consolidations, and sets rules for appointing directors based on population. It also maintains existing tax limits for the consolidated district and applies standard special district consolidation rules. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 82 changes Wyoming's rules for mental health examinations of criminal defendants. It specifically requires that defendants charged only with misdemeanors cannot be examined on an inpatient basis at the Wyoming State Hospital; instead, their examinations must be outpatient at the state hospital, a local mental health center, or their detention facility. Courts must choose examination sites considering factors like location, examiner availability, and security needs. This directly affects misdemeanor defendants and the courts managing their cases, with the rule taking effect July 1, 2023. Felony cases remain unaffected by this amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 111 adds fentanyl to Wyoming's list of controlled substances that constitute child endangerment when exposed to children. It prohibits anyone with care of a child from knowingly allowing them to absorb, inhale, or ingest fentanyl or methamphetamine, remain in rooms where these drugs are manufactured/sold, or enter areas used for storing these drugs. The bill removes a previous exception allowing prescriptions to be used as a defense in child endangerment cases involving controlled substances. It directly affects parents, caregivers, and anyone responsible for children's safety in environments where fentanyl or methamphetamine is present. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 70 modifies Wyoming's legal definition of a "home-based educational program" under W.S. 21-4-101(a)(v). It specifies that such a program must be provided by a parent, legal guardian, or their designated person to a single child, and explicitly excludes programs serving more than one family unit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not create new requirements or funding but clarifies what qualifies as a home-based program for regulatory purposes. This directly affects parents or guardians providing home education to their own child, excluding multi-family educational arrangements from this definition.

Maddy summaryHB 102 amends Wyoming's election law to change how losing candidates request vote recounts. It requires candidates seeking a recount to submit an affidavit with specific facts proving "probable cause" of fraud or error, rather than a general claim. If the affidavit lacks sufficient detail, the request is denied, and candidates may appeal the denial to a court. The bill directly affects losing candidates in elections who wish to challenge results through a recount process. It takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summarySF 165 creates a mental health telehealth pilot program for Wyoming public school students in grades K-12. It authorizes the Department of Education to contract with a telehealth provider to offer free counseling services starting January 1, 2024, using $250,000 in state funding. The bill requires strict confidentiality for student participation and mandates a report to legislative committees by June 2025 on program implementation. The program will end when funds are exhausted or June 30, 2027, whichever comes first. This directly affects students by providing accessible mental health support within their schools.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 64) amends a state law defining "manufacturer" for malt beverages. It specifies that certain regulations governing relationships between malt beverage distributors and manufacturers will not apply to small manufacturers producing fewer than 50,000 barrels annually. The change directly affects small craft breweries and malt beverage producers below this production threshold, exempting them from specific distributor-related rules under Wyoming law. The bill was introduced in 2022 but died in committee and never took effect.

Maddy summaryHJ 12 is a Wyoming legislative joint resolution requesting Congress to increase the state's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which determines federal Medicaid funding. The resolution asks Congress to raise Wyoming's current minimum 50% FMAP rate - below neighboring states - by considering factors like Wyoming's high poverty rates, healthcare costs, rural access challenges, and unique income statistics. It specifically directs Wyoming's congressional delegation to seek policy changes for more equitable reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. This procedural resolution does not change law but formally requests federal action to improve Medicaid funding for Wyoming's low-income residents and healthcare providers.

Maddy summarySF 150 allows individuals with valid enhanced concealed carry permits to carry concealed firearms on public areas of Wyoming's state capitol grounds, including the connection to the Herschler building. It requires permit holders to notify the Wyoming State Highway Patrol at least 24 hours before entering the capitol with a firearm and restricts carrying to public areas only, excluding private or restricted spaces. The law would take effect on July 1, 2023, but only if Senate File 149 (a separate bill) is enacted. This bill does not change general concealed carry laws outside the capitol grounds.