Sen. Tim French

Maddy summarySF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

Maddy summarySF 119 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real estate in Wyoming. It exempts value above last year's taxable amount plus the county's median household income growth (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who purchased their property in the prior calendar year are excluded from the exemption. Tax assessment notices must now clearly show if this exemption applies to a property. The exemption begins for 2024 property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes federal oversight from Wyoming's State Guard, granting the governor full authority to organize and maintain it without federal approval. It specifies that state funds - not federal resources - will cover guard members' pay and equipment, aligning with existing state budget processes. The changes directly affect Wyoming State Guard members and the governor's operational control over the force. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 115 requires blood donation centers to ask donors if they've received a COVID-19 or mRNA vaccine during their lifetime. Blood from vaccinated donors must be clearly labeled, and in non-emergency situations, transfusion recipients can request blood based on the donor's vaccination status if available. The bill applies to blood collectors, donation centers, and patients receiving transfusions. It takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 183 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, or individuals (defined as citizens of Russia, China, state sponsors of terrorism, or countries under specific arms regulations) from owning most land in Wyoming, allowing only personal residences under one acre. It requires existing foreign owners to sell their land by July 2026 (unless for a qualifying personal residence) and mandates annual registration with the Secretary of State for all foreign land ownership, including personal residences. Owners who fail to register face daily civil penalties of $5,000, and county clerks must report violations to the Attorney General for enforcement, which may include court-ordered forfeiture and sale of the land. The bill also requires tax assessment notices to inform owners about the foreign ownership restrictions and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 182 prohibits payment processors from assigning special merchant category codes to firearm or ammunition retailers, requiring them to be classified as general merchandise or sporting goods retailers instead. This directly affects payment entities (like banks and credit card networks) and firearm retailers who must use standard retail codes. Violations carry a $1,000 fine per violation. The bill does not change gun laws or purchase requirements but modifies payment processing rules, effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 156 establishes a legal presumption in Wyoming court decisions about children's best interests: it is conclusively not in a child's best interest to undergo gender transition or reassignment procedures. The bill defines prohibited procedures to include certain surgeries (like hysterectomy or orchiectomy), mastectomies, and specific hormone treatments (such as puberty blockers or supraphysiologic hormone doses), while excluding care for children with medically verified conditions like disorders of sex development or central precocious puberty. This presumption applies to family court cases involving custody, adoption, visitation, and protection orders. The bill amends multiple Wyoming statutes to incorporate this standard, affecting court rulings on minors' care.

Maddy summaryHB 140 changes how the University of Wyoming's board of trustees is structured and selected. It increases the board from 12 to 19 members (14 voting trustees and 5 non-voting ex-officio members), requiring seven voting trustees to be elected by Wyoming voters instead of appointed by the governor. The bill establishes election rules for these seven elected trustees, including four-year terms, voting districts, and non-partisan ballot placement. This directly affects Wyoming voters who will elect trustees and the university's governance structure, replacing the current system where most trustees are appointed by the governor. The changes take effect after the 2024 general election.

Maddy summaryWyoming HB 128, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualified educational expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are public school-eligible but haven’t graduated high school, allowing parents to use ESA funds for tuition at qualified schools (including private or online programs), textbooks, tutoring, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the accounts, which are funded by state appropriations - not local tax revenues - and require parental agreements specifying eligible uses. The bill explicitly states qualified schools are not considered state or federal agents and establishes oversight mechanisms for the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would repeal Wyoming's existing low-carbon energy standards for public utilities. It requires utilities to refund customers for rates collected under those repealed standards (with an exception for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date). The Public Service Commission would establish rules to implement these changes. The bill directly affects all public utilities operating in Wyoming and their customers who paid the now-repealed rates.