Sen. Wyatt Agar

Maddy summarySF 1005 grants immunity from civil lawsuits to businesses and property owners in Wyoming for alleged coronavirus exposure or illness on their premises, provided the exposure was unintentional. It defines "business entity" broadly to include corporations, nonprofits, and employees acting within their job scope, while excluding immunity for intentional acts like deliberately exposing someone to coronavirus. The law applies to all claims arising from coronavirus exposure occurring on or after its effective date, which was immediate upon enactment. This policy change directly affects businesses, landlords, and property managers by limiting their legal liability during the pandemic for unintentional coronavirus-related claims.

2020/Summaries/SF0105.pdf

2020/Summaries/HB0155.pdf

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summarySF 161 amends Wyoming's legislative management council membership rules. It specifies that two senators and two representatives are selected at large by each chamber's party caucuses, with strict limits on party representation (no more than one from the same party as the chamber's presiding officer). The bill also establishes a two-year rotation of the council chairmanship between the House and Senate and clarifies that the council directs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This procedural bill affects only the internal organization of the Wyoming Legislature, not public policy.