Sen. Eric Barlow

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 53 adds one additional district judge position to the sixth judicial district, increasing its total to four judges. The bill appropriates $1,240,728 for the 2024-2026 biennium to fund the new judge's salary, benefits, office equipment, and facilities. It requires the district to provide suitable facilities, including a courtroom for 12-person juries, and authorizes four full-time equivalent positions to support the new judge. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, directly affecting court operations in the sixth judicial district.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 80 amends definitions in solid waste management law to clarify what constitutes solid waste and recycling facilities. It excludes certain materials (like post-use polymers processed through advanced recycling) from "solid waste" definitions and creates new terms for "advanced recycling" (using processes like pyrolysis) and "advanced recycling facilities." This change specifically affects recycling operations that convert plastic waste into raw materials, removing them from standard solid waste management regulations. The bill requires the Environmental Quality Council to create implementing rules, with most provisions effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 77 requires county clerks to report property sales within five miles of designated critical infrastructure zones to the Office of Homeland Security and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Critical infrastructure zones - designated by the governor in consultation with the homeland security director - include areas vital to state or national security, such as energy facilities or communication systems. The law mandates that these agencies investigate transactions involving "designated countries or persons" (like foreign adversaries) or posing security threats, with all investigation details kept confidential. Annual reviews of zone designations ensure they remain the least restrictive necessary for security.

Maddy summaryHB 86 requires towing and recovery services to request a title search from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (DOT) within five business days if a vehicle remains in a recovery lot for more than five days. The DOT must then identify the vehicle owner and any lienholders (such as banks or finance companies holding a financial claim on the vehicle) within 5 business days for Wyoming-registered vehicles or 7 days for out-of-state vehicles. Towing services must notify these lienholders of the vehicle's location within one business day after receiving the DOT's information. This law directly affects towing companies, vehicle owners, and lienholders by creating a clearer process for resolving vehicle repossessions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal right for vulnerable adults in Wyoming to sue anyone who exploits them. It allows vulnerable adults (or specific representatives like guardians, family members, caregivers, or nursing facilities) to seek compensation for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law applies to exploitation cases and permits lawsuits in any appropriate court. It takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 79) allows small malt beverage manufacturers (producing 25,000 barrels or less annually) to terminate distribution agreements with distributors without needing a specific reason. It requires manufacturers to pay distributors compensation equal to the franchise’s fair market value plus the cost of inventory held in warehouses or transit. Disputes over compensation are resolved through binding arbitration under specific rules, with costs shared equally unless a good-faith estimate was made. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, applying to new agreements and renewals of existing ones after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 116 requires the Wyoming Sage Grouse Implementation Team to provide written notice to affected surface landowners at least 45 days before making recommendations to the governor that could impact their property rights. It also mandates a public comment opportunity in the impacted community at least 30 days prior to such recommendations. The bill directly affects landowners whose surface interests may be affected by sage grouse management decisions. These notice and comment requirements apply to all recommendations under the team's duties, ensuring landowners and the public have time to review and respond before decisions are submitted to the governor.

Maddy summarySF 81 clarifies that certain healthcare entities, specifically those formed by county memorial hospitals or healthcare districts wholly owned by government entities, are protected under Wyoming's Governmental Claims Act. This bill amends the definition of "local government" to explicitly include these entities, ensuring they qualify for immunity from certain lawsuits. It directly affects county hospitals and healthcare districts operating under government ownership. The change takes effect July 1, 2024, and is a procedural clarification rather than a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 66 requires Wyoming's workers' compensation program to provide annual cancer screenings for firefighters who have worked at least 10 years, including paid, volunteer, and municipal firefighters. It mandates specific screenings: annual mammograms for female firefighters, colon cancer screenings (including stool tests or colonoscopies), and prostate screenings for male firefighters, plus other screenings for cancers more common among firefighters. These screenings are considered work-related injuries under workers' compensation, covering up to 10 years after retirement. The bill creates a new "Aaron Booker Firefighter Cancer Screening Act" and amends existing statutes to implement these benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 168 prohibits nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and foreign governments from purchasing or acquiring agricultural land in Wyoming, with limited exceptions. It directly affects foreign entities seeking to own farmland, requiring existing owners (as of July 1, 2024) to retain but not expand their holdings. Key provisions include mandatory registration of agricultural lands, annual reporting, and penalties for violations - including state takeover (escheat) of noncompliant land. Exceptions allow inheritance, security interests, debt collection, and research use (with strict limits on commercial sales).