Sen. Brian Boner

Maddy summarySF 156, a proposed Wyoming bill, would have required oil and gas operators to negotiate in good faith with mineral owners who are not already under lease or contract before applying for drilling units. This amendment to Wyoming law (W.S. 30-5-109) aimed to directly affect operators and uncontracted mineral owners by establishing a formal negotiation step. The bill did not become law, as it died in committee in February 2023 without further legislative action. It focused on procedural requirements for drilling applications, not on altering mineral rights or financial terms.

Maddy summaryHB 131 creates a legislative task force to study Wyoming's state lands and investment systems. The task force, composed of 7 legislative members and 3 governor-appointed members, will examine the structure and duties of the state loan and investment board and the office of state lands and investments, including grant programs, land leases, and fund management. It must identify governance issues and recommend potential changes to the legislature by 2025. The bill appropriates $50,000 for legislative members' travel and $25,000 for governor-appointed members' expenses, with the task force terminating January 1, 2025. This is a procedural study bill with no direct policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create an annual tax holiday during the first weekend in August, exempting sales tax on school-related items like clothing (under $100 per item), school supplies (under $50 per item), computers, computer hardware, software, and sports equipment. It excludes expensive items (e.g., computers over $1,500), accessories like jewelry, resale purchases, and rentals. The holiday would run from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday each August, applying to both in-store and layaway purchases made during that window. The bill was introduced in 2023 but died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 64) amends a state law defining "manufacturer" for malt beverages. It specifies that certain regulations governing relationships between malt beverage distributors and manufacturers will not apply to small manufacturers producing fewer than 50,000 barrels annually. The change directly affects small craft breweries and malt beverage producers below this production threshold, exempting them from specific distributor-related rules under Wyoming law. The bill was introduced in 2022 but died in committee and never took effect.

Maddy summarySF 150 allows individuals with valid enhanced concealed carry permits to carry concealed firearms on public areas of Wyoming's state capitol grounds, including the connection to the Herschler building. It requires permit holders to notify the Wyoming State Highway Patrol at least 24 hours before entering the capitol with a firearm and restricts carrying to public areas only, excluding private or restricted spaces. The law would take effect on July 1, 2023, but only if Senate File 149 (a separate bill) is enacted. This bill does not change general concealed carry laws outside the capitol grounds.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 214 creates a "regulatory sandbox" program allowing businesses to temporarily test new products or services without complying with certain state laws or regulations. It directly affects innovators (like tech startups or new service providers) with a physical presence in Wyoming, requiring them to apply to the state council for approval. Key provisions include mandatory applications detailing consumer benefits, risks, and specific regulations sought to be waived, along with strict safeguards to protect consumer safety and ensure no federal law conflicts. The council coordinates with state agencies to approve waivers only for demonstrably safe, consumer-benefiting innovations during a limited testing period.

Maddy summaryHB 271 creates a dedicated endowment fund for the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture (specifically its life sciences and natural resources programs). The bill requires all annual investment earnings from this fund to be fully distributed to the college for direct use on approved agricultural programs, including academic courses supporting Wyoming's farming/ranching industry, extension services, the state veterinary lab, agricultural research, equipment, and faculty recruitment. It mandates detailed annual reporting to state committees on exactly how funds are spent, broken down by program type and faculty positions funded. This endowment directly affects the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and its ability to support Wyoming's agricultural sector through targeted funding.

Maddy summaryHB 194, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible Wyoming students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover approved educational expenses. It directly affects K-12 students who are Wyoming residents and not yet graduated, allowing parents to use funds for tuition at qualified schools, online programs, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational services. The state treasurer administers the program, prohibits using local tax revenues for funding, and requires parents to sign agreements outlining permitted uses. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 125 authorizes Wyoming to plan for a second veterans' skilled nursing facility, located at least 75 miles from the existing Buffalo facility, following the "green house" care model. The bill appropriates $300,000 for initial planning and feasibility studies and $50,000 for a separate study on staffing, bed availability, and veteran needs across the state. It requires state agencies (construction department, veterans' commission, and health department) to complete these studies and submit reports to legislative committees by October 15, 2023. This bill directly affects veterans who may use the facility and the state agencies responsible for planning and health services.

Maddy summaryHB 211 limits who can return absentee ballots for others in Wyoming elections. It restricts designated returners to handling no more than two ballots per election, unless the ballots belong to immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, siblings, children, or blood relatives living in the same household). The bill requires designated returners to notify the county clerk using a state-prescribed form. This directly affects voters who ask others to submit their absentee ballots, particularly those who might have used ballot harvesting services. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.