Sen. Laura Pearson

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's election code to change deadlines for forming new political parties. It requires petitions to form a new party to be filed with the Secretary of State no later than June 1 before a general election year (previously May 1), and allows petition circulation to begin no earlier than April 1 of the preceding year (previously March 1). These changes directly affect groups seeking to establish new political parties in Wyoming that want to qualify for the general election ballot. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 125) defines "health care" in state law to clarify what legal actions qualify as health care. It specifies that medical procedures causing harm to body systems (like heart, brain, or organs) are *not* considered health care unless documented as medically necessary to save a pregnant woman’s life or for patients with no chance of meaningful recovery. The definition applies broadly to all Wyoming statutes and constitutional interpretations but excludes the Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, aiming to protect public health and welfare through clear legal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 32, titled "What is a Woman Act," defines "sex" as biological sex at birth for all state laws, rules, and regulations. It requires state agencies, schools, and public facilities to distinguish between males and females based on biological sex (e.g., XX chromosomes for females, XY for males) and mandates separate accommodations in settings like restrooms, prisons, shelters, and sports. The bill also requires collecting vital statistics identifying individuals as male or female at birth and states that sex-based distinctions are permitted when related to safety, privacy, or health objectives. It explicitly states that "woman" refers only to biological females and includes protections for intersex individuals under disability laws.

Maddy summaryHB 280 modifies Wyoming's sex offender registration requirements for specific offenders. It mandates that people convicted of certain crimes involving minors (e.g., offenses with victims under 13 years old) must verify their address in person every 3 months with local sheriffs, instead of every 6 months for other offenses. The bill also prohibits these individuals from petitioning to be removed from the sex offender registry. These changes apply only to convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution requests Wyoming's Governor to prioritize promoting the state's existing stable power sources - coal, natural gas, uranium, and hydroelectric - over taxpayer-funded wind and solar projects. It directs the Governor to oppose subsidies for commercial wind/solar generation and instead advocate for Wyoming's "stable dispatchable base load energy" exports to other states and globally. The resolution does not create new laws but urges a shift in energy policy focus. It directly affects state energy promotion efforts and the Governor's role in shaping Wyoming's energy strategy.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 154 clarifies that voting more than once in the same federal election - including voting in another state and then voting in Wyoming - is considered illegal "false voting." It directly affects voters who attempt to cast multiple ballots across states for the same election and election officials responsible for enforcement. The bill adds specific language to the false voting statute and authorizes the Secretary of State to request investigations into such cases, requiring county sheriffs to investigate when requested and refer cases to prosecutors if warranted. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic joint resolution (HJ 3), not a binding law. It formally recognizes Wyoming's constitutional obligation to provide equal access to free public education for all students, including those in rural areas, and acknowledges the importance of small rural schools serving 102 students across 12 districts. The resolution makes no new funding or policy changes; it simply states the legislature's position and directs the Secretary of State to share it with the Department of Education for distribution to school districts. It does not require any action from schools or the state government.

Maddy summaryHB 183 amends Wyoming's net metering rules by setting a 25-kilowatt maximum per meter for residential systems and 200 kilowatts per meter for nonresidential systems. It allows customer-generators to combine multiple meters on their property under specific conditions, such as being physically located on the same premises, using the same electricity rate, and served by the same power line. Electric utilities must report annually by July 1 on the total installed capacity and peak demand of net metering systems, with additional reporting to a legislative committee when systems reach 5% of an utility's peak demand. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 144 clarifies the membership requirements for Wyoming county canvassing boards that certify election results. It specifies that boards must include the county clerk plus two voters from different political parties, appointed by the county clerk if major party committees fail to select members. The bill updates election code sections to require this bipartisan composition, sets compensation equal to election judges, and mandates that canvassing for special district elections be completed within seven business days. This affects county clerks, election boards, and voters in all counties conducting elections.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 305 allows counties to impose an optional tax on solar electricity production. The tax, capped at $5 per megawatt-hour or 5% of annual gross earnings (whichever is higher), applies to solar electricity sold or traded, but exempts government-owned facilities and personal use. Counties collect the tax from producers and distribute all revenue to their general fund, with 50% shared if production occurs within city boundaries. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, though it died in committee in March 2025.