Maddy summaryThis bill creates a process for designating Wyoming state lands with "significant community value" based on historical, archaeological, wildlife, geological, or botanical features. County commissioners can apply to the Environmental Quality Council, which reviews applications with public hearings and approves designations if the land meets specific community value criteria. Once approved, the Board of Land Commissioners must consider this designation when evaluating any change in land use - including new leases, renewals, or dispositions - requiring individual review instead of routine approval. The bill amends state statutes to implement this requirement, ensuring community input is formally integrated into land management decisions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySF 171 amends Wyoming law to update requirements for cities and towns conducting boundary surveys when their boundaries are unclear or after annexation. It requires surveyors to mark boundaries with substantial monuments, describe them using physical landmarks and measurements (metes and bounds), and reference U.S. survey lines where possible. The survey report and field notes must be filed with both the city/town clerk and the county clerk. This procedural change affects all Wyoming municipalities needing boundary clarification and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming's legislature to comply with constitutional requirements for drawing legislative districts. It mandates that future districts follow county lines and ensure each county has at least one senator and one representative, aligning with Wyoming Constitution Article 3, Sections 3 and 48. A legislative committee will study apportionment options during the 2025 interim, gather public input, and report findings by December 2025 to inform potential legislation for the 2026 budget session. The bill does not change current districts but sets a process to create a constitutionally compliant plan for the next reapportionment cycle after the 2020 census.
Maddy summarySF 108 updates Wyoming's Recreation Safety Act to include "agritourism" as a covered recreational activity. It defines agritourism as farm or ranch-based tours, hands-on experiences, and hospitality services related to agricultural production, harvesting, or cultural resources. This change requires agritourism operators to comply with the same safety standards as other recreational providers under the law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySF 152 creates a Wildfire Management Task Force to study wildfire impacts on state lands, local fire agencies, and communities. The task force, including legislative members, state officials, and industry representatives, must report by October 2025 with recommendations for future legislation. The bill also updates the state forester’s duties to include managing fire control programs on state lands, pre-positioning resources during high-risk periods, and setting standards for privately contracted fire services. It appropriates $50,000 total ($25,000 each for legislative and non-legislative members) to fund the task force, which will operate until December 31, 2026.
Maddy summarySF 132 prohibits operating drones over critical infrastructure (including power plants, water facilities, hospitals, prisons, and military sites) for intentional photography, loitering, or criminal activity. Exceptions allow federal-authorized drone use, government operations, infrastructure owners, model aircraft in parks, and emergency services like police or disaster response teams. Violations face misdemeanor penalties ($2,500 fine or 6 months jail) for first offenses, escalating to felony charges ($5,000 fine or 2 years jail) for repeat violations. Law enforcement may disable violating drones, and the Wyoming National Guard can assist with enforcement, effective July 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySF 158 regulates dental insurance networks in Wyoming by requiring dental carriers (insurance companies offering dental plans) to allow third-party processors access to network contracts under specific conditions. It mandates that dental carriers must provide written notice to providers 30 days before adding new third parties, maintain updated website lists of all third parties, and require third parties to identify discount sources in payment remittances. The bill also defines "virtual credit card payments" as single-use electronic payments for dental services, replacing physical cards. These changes directly affect dental providers, insurance carriers, and third-party payment processors by standardizing access to network pricing and payment methods.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 145) allows Wyoming local governments - such as cities, counties, and special districts - to invest public funds in stocks (equities) for the first time. It creates a new investment category under existing law, requiring these investments to follow state investment policies set by the State Loan and Investment Board. Local governments may also form advisory boards for investment guidance, but these stock investments are exempt from certain prior restrictions. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, after the state board adopts necessary policies.
Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 159 regulates dental insurance billing practices to protect dentists and patients. The bill prohibits insurers from forcing dentists to accept predetermined fees for non-covered services, banning "downcoding" (reducing billing codes without justification) and "bundling" (combining procedures to make them non-billable). Insurers must clearly explain billing adjustments in patient explanations of benefits and disclose their downcoding policies. Dentists can still collect fees per their published schedule for downcoded services if patients provide written consent. The law applies to new insurance contracts starting July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal process for electric utilities to gain a prescriptive easement (a legal right to use land) for power lines after five years of continuous, uninterrupted use without landowner permission. It directly affects landowners whose property is used for power lines and electric utilities that maintain delivery systems. Key provisions require utilities to provide 30 days' written notice to landowners before recording the easement, maintain the system while minimizing disruption (including 72-hour notice for temporary infrastructure removal), and compensate landowners for direct damages. The easement width must match industry standards for safe operation, and the law explicitly states it doesn’t override existing easements or property rights.