Sen. Laura Pearson

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 117 establishes a legal presumption that courts should grant "shared custody" in child custody cases unless specific exceptions apply. This means courts would default to ordering arrangements where children spend roughly equal time with both parents and parents share decision-making, unless parents agree otherwise in writing or circumstances like domestic violence, child abuse, or extreme distance between homes exist. The bill defines "shared custody" as combining both joint legal custody (shared decision-making on health/education) and joint physical custody (equal time with each parent). The law would take effect for new custody cases filed on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 223, the "Wyoming Anti-SLAPP Act," creates legal immunity for individuals and groups exercising constitutional rights (free speech, petition, expression) in public discussions about matters of community concern. It allows defendants to quickly dismiss lawsuits deemed "strategic" (SLAPPs) meant to silence criticism, requiring plaintiffs to prove their case has merit before trial. If a defendant successfully invokes immunity, they can recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees. This law applies to all public discourse on issues like government actions, community projects, or policy debates, protecting citizens and organizations from being forced into costly legal battles simply for speaking out.

Maddy summaryHB 134 prohibits state and federal funds from being used by public entities - including government agencies, schools, universities, and local governments - to sponsor or contribute to events deemed "sexually explicit." It defines such events as those depicting nudity or sexual conduct (excluding age-appropriate sex education) and establishes a process where specific entities (e.g., school boards or the governor) must determine if an event qualifies within 30 days. If funds were improperly used, recipients must repay the money within 20 business days, with appeals allowed through a formal hearing process. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 224 restricts land ownership by "foreign adversaries" (defined as entities or individuals linked to Russia, China, terrorism-designated countries, or specific international sanctions lists) in all Wyoming real property, except for personal residences under one acre. Owners must register with the Homeland Security office within 60 days of acquisition or July 1, 2025 (whichever is later), and update annually. Failure to register incurs a $5,000 daily civil penalty, and county clerks must report violations to Homeland Security. The law also requires tax assessment notices to inform property owners about the ownership restrictions and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 173 modifies requirements for independent candidates running for partisan offices in Wyoming. It requires candidates to swear they are unaffiliated with major parties or not registered with one, increases the signature requirement from 2% to 5% of votes cast for the relevant office in the last general election, and extends the petition filing deadline from 70 to 81 days before the primary election. These changes directly affect independent candidates seeking statewide, county, or district offices. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 238 prohibits individuals from delivering another voter's ballot to a county clerk, except for immediate family members or ballots mailed directly to the clerk. It directly affects voters who might collect others' ballots and election officials who process them, requiring ballots delivered in violation to be excluded from tabulation. The bill creates a felony penalty for knowingly violating this provision, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It amends Wyoming election law to clarify ballot delivery rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts natural hair braiding from Wyoming's cosmetology licensing requirements. It defines "practice of natural hair braiding" to include hand-twisting, weaving, and extending hair with tools or accessories (but excludes dyeing, chemical treatments, or altering hair structure). Salon owners may still require private certification for braiders working at their locations. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to braiders not otherwise regulated under cosmetology law.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires voters in Wyoming to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. It defines "proof of U.S. citizenship" to include documents like a Wyoming driver's license (without citizenship indicators), tribal ID cards, U.S. passports, birth certificates, or naturalization certificates. This applies to all voter registration processes, both in-person and by mail, and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects any Wyoming resident seeking to register to vote for the first time or update their registration.

Maddy summaryHB 232 requires manual hand counting for certain election recounts in Wyoming, directly affecting county clerks, candidates, and election officials. The bill mandates that recounts requested by candidates must be conducted by hand (not electronic systems), revises primary and canvass deadlines to allow time for this process, and specifies that candidates can request recounts based on defined criteria. It clarifies that county clerks must appoint counting boards for recounts and authorizes the secretary of state to establish rules for handling ballots during manual counts. The bill does not change who can request recounts but replaces electronic recount options with mandatory hand counting in specified cases.