Sen. Henry H.R. "Hank" Coe

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 134) provides temporary severance tax exemptions for oil and gas producers under specific conditions. It exempts new wells (after July 2019), wells undergoing workovers/recompletions, and tertiary recovery projects from severance taxes for 24 months. Exemptions are reduced or eliminated if oil prices exceed $80/WTI for sweet crude, $60/WCS for sour crude, or $6.00/MCF for natural gas at the time of production. The exemptions directly affect Wyoming oil and gas producers meeting these criteria, with partial exemptions applying during price ranges between $60-$80/WTI for sweet crude, $40-$60/WCS for sour crude, and $5-$6.00/MCF for natural gas.

Maddy summaryHB 204 establishes a standardized course numbering and transcript system for Wyoming's community colleges and the University of Wyoming. It requires common course numbers, electronic course catalogs, and shared transfer software to simplify credit transfers between institutions and support student program planning. The system mandates that all community colleges and UW use consistent course numbering to automatically transfer credits for students moving between schools, particularly for those with articulation agreements. This directly affects students transferring between institutions, faculty developing curricula, and administrators managing course equivalencies and data systems.

Maddy summaryHB 223, introduced in Wyoming's 2019 legislative session, proposed changing qualifications for county assessors by requiring them to own real property within their county. Currently, assessors only needed to be qualified electors; this bill would have added the property ownership requirement. If enacted, it would directly affect all future county assessor candidates in Wyoming. The bill died in committee and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming state agencies to use a single, standardized payment processor for collecting fees, taxes, and other payments instead of each agency managing its own system. It directly affects all executive branch agencies (including departments like Transportation and Game and Fish), the judiciary, legislature, and institutions like the University of Wyoming. The Department of Enterprise Technology Services must establish and administer this statewide contract, with limited waivers only if an agency proves it cannot feasibly use the centralized system. This standardizes payment processing methods (like credit cards or checks) for state collections without changing the types of fees or taxes collected.

Maddy summaryHB 196 amends Wyoming law to limit county commissioners' authority over land divisions in unincorporated areas. It clarifies that counties cannot prevent residential or agricultural uses on land divisions already exempt from standard subdivision rules under state law. The bill specifically prohibits counties from imposing restrictions that conflict with these exemptions, ensuring developers and property owners can use exempt land for those purposes. The changes took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly contribution required from volunteer firefighters and EMTs from $15 to $16 to join the pension account. It also directs an additional 5% of Wyoming's fire insurance premium tax to the pension fund, specifically to provide an extra annual payment to members. The new payment amount is capped at one month's regular benefit and must be funded solely by this dedicated tax revenue. The changes affect all participating volunteer firefighters and EMTs who pay the required monthly contribution to qualify for pension benefits. The bill took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming law to make foreign language instruction for kindergarten through second grade optional for school districts, rather than mandatory. School districts may choose to offer such programs, but if they do, they must follow state board standards for instruction. This bill directly affects all Wyoming public school districts serving K-2 students. It became effective July 1, 2019, after passing the Education Committee unanimously.

Maddy summaryHB 246 expands Wyoming's existing volunteer firefighter and EMT pension account to include volunteer search and rescue personnel. It adds specific definitions for "county search and rescue organization" (requiring bylaws, 50% meeting/operation attendance) and "volunteer search and rescue person" (individuals engaged in county-led operations). The bill modifies contribution rules, directing 70% of fire insurance premium taxes to fund this expanded pension account. This change directly affects volunteer search and rescue members in counties meeting the new organizational requirements, providing them access to retirement benefits previously available only to volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

Maddy summaryHB 220 creates a new income tax on businesses operating in Wyoming, requiring them to pay tax based on their income earned within the state. It uses a three-factor formula (property, payroll, and sales) to calculate how much tax a business owes, especially for companies operating across multiple states. The Wyoming Department of Revenue will administer the tax, with strict confidentiality rules protecting business tax returns. This bill directly affects businesses with operations in Wyoming, including out-of-state companies conducting business there.

Maddy summaryHB 52 requires state agencies and political subdivisions in Wyoming to procure furniture and movable equipment for capital construction projects through competitive bidding. It prioritizes products available from Wyoming resident suppliers when possible, or uses performance-based specifications if local products aren't available. Agencies may seek waivers for highly specialized items, but these require written justification and approval by designated officials. The law applies to all such procurements starting July 1, 2019.