Sen. Bo Biteman

Maddy summaryThis bill limits annual increases in the taxable value used to calculate property taxes for most non-exempt properties in Wyoming. It caps the yearly increase at 5% from the previous year's taxable value, excluding changes from property improvements or renovations. This directly affects residential and commercial property owners who pay taxes on "all other property" (not agricultural or specific exempt categories). The rule applies to all such properties statewide starting January 1, 2024, preventing rapid tax bill jumps due to rising market values alone.

Maddy summaryHB 105 repeals restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in certain public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry in government meetings, legislative sessions, and most public schools (excluding specific areas under existing school district rules). It clarifies that only the Wyoming state legislature can regulate firearms, precluding local governments from enacting their own gun laws. The bill also establishes penalties for barring entry to someone lawfully carrying a concealed weapon in permitted locations. This changes prior "gun-free zone" policies by expanding where concealed carry is allowed while maintaining state-level control over firearm regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals restrictions that previously prohibited concealed weapons in government meetings and legislative sessions. It allows Wyoming residents with valid concealed carry permits to carry concealed weapons in those locations, specifically in "any meeting of a governmental entity" and "any meeting of the legislature or a committee thereof." The State Building Commission must create implementing rules within 30 days of the bill's effective date. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, removing existing prohibitions without additional conditions for permit holders.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 116 restricts land ownership by specific foreign entities, including governments of Russia, China, or countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, as well as foreign businesses and individuals from those countries. It prohibits ownership of land (except for personal residences under one acre) and requires existing foreign owners to sell their property within two years of the law's effective date. Owners must register their land with the Secretary of State annually, face a $5,000 daily penalty for non-compliance, and county tax notices must now include warnings about the ownership restrictions. The bill also mandates that tax assessment schedules inform property owners about the registration requirement.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 110 creates a property tax exemption for small business owners who own tangible personal property valued at $2,400 or less in a single county. This directly affects small business owners with minimal business assets, excluding property used for personal or family purposes. The bill modifies existing tax law to exempt qualifying business property from taxation, effective January 1, 2024, and repeals related reporting requirements. It does not change tax rates or apply to property assessed before 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 272 amends state law to expand the definitions of prostitution and soliciting prostitution to explicitly include "sexual contact" and "sexual intrusion" as defined in other statutes. This change directly affects individuals engaging in or offering money for sexual acts, as these activities would now fall under the existing misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months in jail or a $750 fine). The bill does not alter penalties or create new enforcement mechanisms - it simply updates the legal language to cover additional sexual acts. The amendment is set to take effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 251 requires absentee ballots in Wyoming to include an official envelope inside the inner ballot envelope, where voters must provide identification information. Voters must submit either their Wyoming driver's license number, Wyoming ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number in this envelope. This bill directly affects all Wyoming voters who cast absentee ballots by mail, as it standardizes the identification requirements for returning ballots. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all absentee ballots processed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 205 prohibits K-12 public school educators and state employees from using public funds to teach or require training on specific concepts related to race, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans instruction claiming any group is inherently superior/inferior, that individuals should be discriminated against based on identity, or that people are inherently racist due to their background. Exceptions allow teaching historical oppression or using primary sources in approved curricula. Violations may trigger civil penalties up to $5,000 per incident, private lawsuits for damages, or disciplinary action against educators. The bill is pending in Wyoming's legislature (introduced January 2023, not yet considered for debate).

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 224 prohibits state government and election officials from accepting private money for conducting elections. The bill requires all election costs to be paid with public funds, with exceptions only for food provided during election training/education or for poll workers on election day. Officials violating this prohibition face felony charges punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Federal funds for elections remain permitted under the bill. It becomes effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 107 would change Wyoming's attorney general from an appointed position to an elected statewide office, starting with the 2026 general election. Currently appointed by the governor, the attorney general would then be elected for a four-year term with requirements including at least four years of legal practice experience and state residency. The bill updates election procedures to include the attorney general on ballots alongside other statewide elected officials like governor and secretary of state, and subjects the office to the same ethics and disclosure laws as other elected state positions.