Sen. Tim French

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 63 allows property owners adjacent to state lands (without a lease) to build legal partition fences along those boundaries. The state lands office will cover half the construction cost, and both parties share maintenance costs based on their interest in the fence. The bill requires the state lands office to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2025, except for rulemaking and effective date provisions that take effect immediately upon enactment. This directly affects landowners bordering state lands and the state lands office.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 96 (the "Wyoming Gold Act") requires the state treasurer to hold at least $10 million in physical gold and silver (specie) across all state accounts by January 2026, aiming to diversify investments and protect against economic risks. The bill also authorizes the treasurer to hire precious metals experts, adopt implementing rules by 2026, and conduct a study on using precious metals to boost economic security - including exploring if the state could accept gold/silver as payment. This directly affects the Wyoming State Treasurer’s office and its investment management. The bill does not make gold/silver legal tender but mandates specific holdings and a study, with key provisions effective January 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 257 establishes a formal apprenticeship program for aspiring barbers in Wyoming, directly affecting apprentices, licensed barbers who supervise them, and the Barber Examiners Board. The bill requires apprentices to complete 1,600 hours of training (1-2 years), including 36 hours of safety and sanitation training, hold a high school diploma, pay a registration fee, and pass an exam to qualify for a barber license. Licensed barbers may supervise no more than two apprentices at a time in a licensed barbershop. The program takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires the Board to create implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 128) removes the sales tax on electricity sold by public utilities for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects all electricity consumers, including households and businesses, by eliminating a tax they currently pay on their electricity bills. The key mechanism is amending Wyoming’s tax code (W.S. 39-15-103 and 39-15-105) to create a specific exemption for electricity sales. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Residential Property Tax Reduction Account" to fund property tax refunds for Wyoming homeowners. It directly affects primary residence owners who paid property taxes in the prior year, capping refunds at $13,300 per household. Key mechanisms include funding the account from unappropriated general fund balances (exceeding 5% of projected receipts) and mineral trust earnings, with refunds paid proportionally if funds are insufficient. Refunds will begin for 2025 taxes in 2026, with even years capped at half the account balance and odd years using the full balance. The program defines "primary residence" as where a homeowner lived at least six months of the tax year.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 2) demands that the U.S. Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming's boundaries - currently covering over 46% of the state's surface and 69% of its subsurface resources - to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional right to "equal footing" as a state admitted to the Union. It cites the state's 1890 admission act and the U.S. Constitution's Admissions and Property Clauses, arguing that continued federal control violates Wyoming's sovereignty. The resolution specifically asks Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 2025, proposes that transferred lands become state public lands, and offers to negotiate cession of lands deemed nationally significant. As a non-binding resolution, it serves as a formal request to Congress, not a legislative action with immediate effect.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 150 creates a property tax exemption for real estate and equipment (like buildings and training tools) used exclusively by for-profit trade schools for educational purposes in the state. To qualify, schools must be registered in Wyoming, located within the state, offer career-focused training aligned with workforce needs, and maintain national accreditation. The exemption applies only to property used for teaching - commercial uses like retail space don't qualify - and requires annual reporting to the state. Schools must apply for the exemption, which lasts five years and requires renewal before expiration. This policy aims to support workforce development by reducing operating costs for qualifying institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 186 requires Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission to issue "bear coupons" with certain resident elk hunting licenses, allowing the holder to harvest one brown or black bear (not grizzly) in areas where elk hunting is permitted. The bill mandates the Commission to provide evidence of grizzly bear population recovery to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by July 1, 2025, to support delisting grizzlies from the endangered species list. It prohibits taking grizzly bears within the Yellowstone recovery zone and specifies that bear coupons do not require additional fees or count toward hunting license limits. The law takes effect upon delisting confirmation or January 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 85 requires the state Attorney General to investigate local government actions (counties, cities, towns) that allegedly violate state law or the Wyoming Constitution, following a legislator's written request. If violations are confirmed, the Attorney General must give local governments 30 days to fix the issue before the state treasurer withholds their share of state funds distributed under existing revenue laws. The bill creates a specific process: legislators notify local officials first, the Attorney General investigates within 30 days, and funds are withheld until violations are resolved. This directly affects local governments that fail to comply with state law, using withheld state revenue as an enforcement tool.

Maddy summaryHB 283 amends Wyoming's Second Amendment Protection Act to prohibit state and local governments from using state funds or personnel to enforce federal firearm regulations that infringe on Second Amendment rights. It creates a $50,000 civil penalty per violation for agencies that enforce or assist in enforcing such federal laws, including for employees who knowingly participate in federal firearm enforcement after July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects Wyoming government agencies, law enforcement, and public officers who might enforce federal firearm rules. Key provisions define "this act," establish liability for violations, and allow civil lawsuits by affected citizens with no sovereign immunity defense.