Sen. Tim French

Maddy summaryThis bill requires subdividers in Wyoming to build and pay for perimeter fences around new subdivisions adjacent to areas where livestock can run freely. It specifies exact fence types (like steel posts with barbed wire or post-and-board designs) that must meet structural standards to prevent livestock escape. Subdividers must include fence plans in permit applications, and future landowners are responsible for maintenance costs. The law directly affects developers creating subdivisions near grazing lands and aims to reduce livestock-related property damage disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 167) allows individuals seeking domestic violence protection orders in Wyoming to request remote participation in court hearings via video or audio technology. It directly affects petitioners and respondents in domestic violence cases who may face barriers to in-person attendance. Courts may approve remote hearings if they have the necessary technology, but retain full discretion to deny requests. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySF 72 prohibits Wyoming employers from requiring or pressuring employees to get microchips implanted in their bodies, including during hiring, and bans punishing employees who refuse. It also bans employers from creating hostile work environments or denying promotions, raises, or job security based on refusal to consent to voluntary implants. For voluntary microchips, employers must obtain written consent, cover all costs (including removal), disclose data usage, and remove chips within 30 days of termination. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all employers and employees in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming's state treasurer to accept gold or silver coins (called "specie") as legal payment for state and local taxes, subject to authentication. It mandates the treasurer to set and publish real-time exchange rates between precious metal coins and regular currency, and to exchange these coins for other legal tender. The treasurer must also hold and potentially invest in precious metals, with rulemaking authority to implement these changes. This directly affects taxpayers who pay with coins and the treasurer's office, which gains new duties under the Wyoming Legal Tender Act.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 144 prohibits physicians and health care providers from performing or prescribing certain medical procedures related to gender transition for children under 18. The bill bans surgeries like hysterectomy or orchiectomy, mastectomies, and specific drugs that suppress puberty or alter hormone levels, with an exception for children with certain genetic disorders of sex development. It also prohibits health insurance from covering these procedures for minors and states that violating this law can lead to license suspension or revocation for medical professionals. The law applies to insurance policies issued after July 1, 2023, and takes effect on that date for medical procedures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 172 requires state investment managers and trustees to consider **only financial factors** when managing state funds, such as retirement systems and government accounts. It prohibits considering social, political, or environmental goals (like climate action, diversity initiatives, or gun industry divestment) as part of investment decisions. The bill mandates that investment entities and their fiduciaries provide written commitments to follow this rule, restricts proxy voting to outside advisors who comply, and requires annual public reporting of voting records. This directly affects the Wyoming Retirement System, state treasurer, and all investment managers handling state funds.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 134 requires sellers of vacant or subdivided land (under 140 acres) to provide written disclosure to prospective buyers about farm and ranch operations within one mile of the property. The disclosure notice explains that normal agricultural activities - like noise, odors, machinery use, and pesticide application - may occur at any time and are protected under Wyoming's Right to Farm law (11-44-101-104). It clarifies buyers cannot seek legal remedies for these standard practices if conducted properly. The bill directly affects rural homebuyers and sellers in areas near active farms, with the requirement taking effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJ 7) is a symbolic resolution expressing legislative support for the relationship between Wyoming and Taiwan. It reaffirms Wyoming's commitment to strengthening economic ties, educational cooperation, and Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the WHO. The resolution directs Wyoming's Secretary of State to send copies to U.S. officials, Wyoming's congressional delegation, Taiwan's leadership, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter policy but formally states Wyoming's position.

Maddy summaryHB 275 creates a new tax on electricity used to power electric vehicles (EVs) in Wyoming, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and increases annual registration fees for all-electric vehicles while adding a new fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The bill directly affects EV owners and commercial charging facilities, requiring the Department of Transportation to collect these taxes and fees to fund highway maintenance. Key provisions include defining terms like "all-electric vehicle" and "electric vehicle energy," establishing reporting requirements for electricity providers, and allowing cooperative agreements with other states for tax administration. The bill does not change road usage taxes for conventional vehicles but aims to adjust funding mechanisms to account for EVs' reduced fuel tax contributions.

Maddy summarySF 124, a proposed Wyoming bill, restricts foreign governments and businesses from purchasing or owning agricultural land in the state. It prohibits new foreign ownership after July 1, 2023, requires existing foreign-owned land to be registered with the secretary of state, and mandates selling or converting the land within two years if ownership becomes foreign. Violations could trigger daily civil penalties up to $5,000. The bill directly affects foreign-owned companies, governments, or their agents seeking to hold Wyoming farmland, with exceptions for land owned as of July 1, 2023.