Sen. Dan Dockstader

Maddy summaryWyoming's SJ 9 is a joint resolution urging Congress to protect the state's access to federal public lands while ensuring local communities have a say in land management decisions. It opposes broad or indiscriminate sales of public lands and demands federal agencies respect Wyoming's existing land-use plans, county-level input, and multiple-use frameworks that support recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, and resource development. The resolution also calls for funding to streamline efficient land exchanges under current laws when they benefit local communities and public access, without advocating for specific policy changes.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 126, the "Human heartbeat act," prohibits most abortion procedures after a detectable fetal heartbeat is identified (typically around 6 weeks gestation), directly affecting pregnant individuals seeking abortions and healthcare providers performing them. The bill requires healthcare providers to confirm a detectable heartbeat via standard medical equipment before proceeding with an abortion, except in cases of medical emergencies that threaten the patient's life or major bodily function. Violations are classified as felonies punishable by up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines, and healthcare professionals face mandatory license revocation for noncompliance. The law creates new definitions, exceptions for medical emergencies, and penalties for violations, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's Pharmacy Act to raise the minimum age for pharmacists to administer vaccines from 3 to 7 years old, directly affecting children under 7 who previously could receive immunizations from pharmacists. It also adds protections preventing employers from discriminating against pharmacists who decline to provide collaborative pharmacy care or administer vaccines to children under 13. The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to create rules for collaborative care and vaccine administration, with most provisions taking effect July 1, 2026. These changes clarify pharmacist authority, patient eligibility, and workplace protections under the state's pharmacy regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal right for electric utilities to maintain existing power lines installed before 2006 across private land, without requiring written agreements. It directly affects landowners with pre-2006 lines and utilities that historically relied on informal neighborly cooperation for rural electrification. Key provisions require lines to be visibly installed, continuously used, and limit easements to 30 feet wide, while preventing utilities from expanding rights beyond original historic use. The law protects landowners from unreasonable utility burdens and ensures existing informal arrangements receive legal recognition.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 57, the Hospital Price Transparency Act, requires licensed hospitals to publicly list standard prices for at least 300 "shoppable" medical services (like procedures or supplies patients can schedule in advance) on their websites. Hospitals must display specific charges - including gross charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates - with clear descriptions, in a machine-readable format, and without requiring user accounts or personal information. The Department of Health will monitor compliance and enforce penalties for non-compliance, with hospitals required to update the price lists annually. This directly affects all Wyoming hospitals providing inpatient or outpatient services, aiming to make healthcare pricing more accessible to patients.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 61 would exempt sales or transfers of motor vehicles between immediate family members (parents, children, spouses, or siblings) from state sales and use tax. This applies only when the original seller/donor paid tax on the vehicle when they first purchased it. The bill requires the transfer to occur directly between qualifying family members and designates the vehicle as tax-exempt under state law. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 102 requires the Wyoming Energy Authority to complete a two-phase study of the state's electricity transmission system. Phase one (due November 2027) analyzes how three load growth scenarios (low, moderate, high) would impact current infrastructure through 2046, identifying potential bottlenecks and solutions. Phase two (due September 2028) examines integrating Wyoming's grid into regional markets and evaluates economic benefits for each scenario. The study will inform future legislative recommendations on transmission needs and upgrades.

Maddy summarySF 105 redefines "customer" in Wyoming real estate law as a person who has not established an agency relationship with a broker, such as someone viewing properties without formal representation. It requires real estate licensees to provide written disclosures about agency relationships before discussing transactions, clarifying that customers do not need to sign agency agreements to tour properties and are not entitled to confidentiality. The bill specifies that these disclosures must include key details about the customer relationship and include a signature line for acknowledgment, though the acknowledgment alone does not create a binding contract. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to all new transactions after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Wyoming school districts to create and adopt written policies governing student use of cell phones and smart watches during school hours. It defines "smart watch" as a wearable device that functions like a phone (excluding basic timepieces or health trackers) and mandates that districts submit their policies to the state superintendent by July 1, 2026. The law applies directly to every public school district in Wyoming, setting a clear deadline for policy implementation. It does not specify exact restrictions but establishes a framework for districts to develop their own rules.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 110 establishes a lower property tax assessment rate for primary residences owned by residents who live there year-round. It sets an 8.3% assessment rate for owner-occupied primary homes (down from 9.5%) while maintaining a 9.5% rate for other residential properties. To qualify for the lower rate, homeowners must submit an annual claim to their county assessor by May 4th, demonstrating they occupy the property as their primary residence for at least six months. The bill repeals an existing exemption for primary residences and takes effect for the 2027 tax year.