Sen. Ed Cooper

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 244 proposes to expand Wyoming's property tax refund program to include renters who occupy rental properties as their principal residence, regardless of ownership. The bill would allow applicants meeting income limits (capped at 125% of median household income or 3/4 of the median, whichever is higher) and asset limits ($100,000 per adult adjusted for cost of living) to receive refunds. Refunds would be limited to 50% of the applicant's prior year property tax paid or $250 (for renters), with multi-family properties calculated by square footage. The bill, which died in committee in February 2023, has not become law and remains a proposed change to the existing refund program.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 131 amends laws governing nuclear power facilities, primarily affecting operators of advanced nuclear reactors and waste storage sites. It requires operators to submit detailed pre-construction reports to the state department, including projected job creation, local/state tax revenue, and community impacts from construction, operation, and decommissioning. The bill updates definitions to include "advanced nuclear reactors" (replacing "small modular" terminology), mandates compliance with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules for waste storage, and exempts these reactors from certain utility purchase requirements. These provisions aim to align state regulations with federal oversight while requiring transparency about economic and community effects.

Maddy summaryThe Second Amendment Protection Act prohibits Wyoming state and local officials from using state funds or personnel to enforce any federal gun regulations that conflict with the Second Amendment. It specifically bans state resources from being used to carry out federal laws, rules, or regulations that the state deems to infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Public servants who violate this prohibition face penalties under existing state law. The bill took effect on July 1, 2022, and applies directly to Wyoming's government entities and officials.

Maddy summaryHB 65 clarifies that property tax protest appeals mailed by Wyoming taxpayers are considered timely filed if postmarked by the deadline date (within 30 days of receiving the assessment notice), rather than requiring physical receipt by the county by that date. This directly affects property owners challenging their tax assessments who use mail to submit appeals. The key provision replaces the previous uncertainty about mailing deadlines with a clear, objective standard based on the postmark date. The law became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 62, the Civics Transparency Act, requires all public K-12 school districts to publish an annual online list of instructional materials (including textbooks, videos, websites, and activities) on their district websites by July 1 each year. The bill also mandates specific civics instruction in fourth grade and beyond, covering Wyoming's suffrage history, constitutional principles, and anti-discrimination education. This affects every Wyoming public school district and impacts students, teachers, and parents by increasing visibility into classroom materials and curriculum content. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with lists required to remain online for at least one year.

Maddy summarySF 99 allows Wyoming state agencies and local governments to deposit public funds into credit unions that meet state approval requirements, expanding options beyond traditional banks. The bill amends state law to explicitly include credit unions as "approved depositories" under the same rules as banks, requiring all deposits to be fully insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUA) or FDIC. It maintains existing requirements for security, withdrawal terms (including 30-day notice for some accounts), and approval by the state board of deposits. This change directly affects state treasurers, county governments, and other political subdivisions managing public funds, giving them access to credit unions as a deposit option. The law took effect July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HJ 2 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically asks for a convention limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and set term limits for federal officials and Congress members. The resolution includes strict conditions, such as prohibiting any consideration of changes to the Bill of Rights and requiring Congress to call the convention only if two-thirds of states request it for the same purpose. The bill failed to advance in the Wyoming legislature (21-37 vote) and remains a procedural request to Congress, not a binding law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 1001 prohibits most employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. It allows exceptions only for employers who document that vaccination is critical for workplace safety and provide medical/religious exemptions, along with reasonable alternatives like reassignment or testing. Employers violating the law face $100 daily penalties, and must offer severance pay if employees leave due to non-compliant mandates. The bill specifically addresses healthcare employers and creates a program for antibody testing, while citing staffing shortages as its legislative motivation.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 prohibits discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccination status in health insurance and public services. It directly affects health insurers, businesses, and individuals by banning insurers from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or limiting benefits based on vaccination status (Section 26-20-901), and preventing businesses from denying services, employment, education, or health care access due to vaccination status or "immunity passports" (Section 35-4-140). Key mechanisms include criminal penalties (up to 6 months jail or $750 fine for violations) and civil remedies for affected individuals. The bill defines "COVID-19 vaccination status" and "immunity passport" to clarify prohibited actions. It was introduced in Wyoming in 2021 but did not advance beyond committee consideration.