Sen. Eric Barlow

Maddy summaryHB 177 modifies Wyoming's school expulsion policy for students possessing deadly weapons, requiring a mandatory one-year expulsion from public schools for such violations. The bill allows school boards to extend expulsion beyond one year if the district provides alternative educational services during the additional period. It directly affects public school students in Wyoming who are found with deadly weapons, as defined under existing law. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter the grounds for expulsion but specifies the minimum expulsion duration.

Maddy summaryHB 176 limits the number of K-12 content standards Wyoming schools must teach, capping at four per subject for grades K-6 and eight per subject for grades 7-12. It allows school districts to use course completion (like passing a class) instead of standardized tests to measure student performance in some cases. The bill requires districts to report on their assessment systems and directs the state to propose reducing testing by August 2023, potentially using college entrance exams to meet federal requirements. This directly affects Wyoming public schools, teachers, and students by changing curriculum expectations and assessment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 186 prohibits courts in Wyoming from charging fees or costs to minors or their custodial parents/guardians for court-appointed legal services in cases involving minors. The bill amends Wyoming Statutes 7-6-106(j) and repeals 14-6-235(c), ensuring that when a minor needs a court-appointed attorney, the minor or their responsible family members cannot be required to pay for these services. This directly affects minors in legal proceedings (such as child welfare or juvenile cases) and their parents or guardians who might otherwise face financial responsibility for legal representation. The law applies to all cases beginning after its effective date, removing previous mechanisms that allowed courts to seek reimbursement from families.

Maddy summaryHB 125 authorizes Wyoming to plan for a second veterans' skilled nursing facility, located at least 75 miles from the existing Buffalo facility, following the "green house" care model. The bill appropriates $300,000 for initial planning and feasibility studies and $50,000 for a separate study on staffing, bed availability, and veteran needs across the state. It requires state agencies (construction department, veterans' commission, and health department) to complete these studies and submit reports to legislative committees by October 15, 2023. This bill directly affects veterans who may use the facility and the state agencies responsible for planning and health services.

Maddy summaryHB 245 removes the mandatory requirement for courts to order child support payments from parents when a child is placed in court-ordered custody (e.g., foster care or juvenile justice facilities). It directly affects parents of children in these placements and the child welfare department, which previously handled support enforcement. The bill eliminates two specific provisions: (1) the automatic court order for support, and (2) the requirement for non-employed parents to seek full-time work or complete community service instead of paying support. Courts now have discretion to decide whether to order support, and the department must establish support through a separate civil action if ordered.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 263 automatically restores voting rights for nonviolent felons once they complete their full sentence, including probation, parole, and fines. It applies to Wyoming convictions completed after January 1, 2010, without requiring a separate application, and streamlines the process for out-of-state or federal nonviolent felony convictions. The bill repeals previous application requirements and takes effect July 1, 2023. This change specifically affects voting eligibility only - nonviolent felons remain ineligible for jury duty or public office under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 223 establishes a grant program using Wyoming Education Trust Fund revenues to provide financial assistance to preschool providers serving economically disadvantaged and at-risk students. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 annually for specific expenses like teacher salaries, facility leases, insurance, and parent training materials, with applications due by May 15 and funds distributed by October 1. Eligible providers include school districts, private non-profits, and for-profit organizations that meet federal TANF program criteria. The initiative is funded by a $50 million transfer from the public school foundation program to the trust fund, replacing an existing grant program.

Maddy summaryHB 211 limits who can return absentee ballots for others in Wyoming elections. It restricts designated returners to handling no more than two ballots per election, unless the ballots belong to immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, siblings, children, or blood relatives living in the same household). The bill requires designated returners to notify the county clerk using a state-prescribed form. This directly affects voters who ask others to submit their absentee ballots, particularly those who might have used ballot harvesting services. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 9) proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Wyoming's Constitution that would establish a fundamental right to privacy for all residents. It would create a new Section 40 in Article 1 stating: "The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed." The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to become part of the state Constitution. As a proposed constitutional change, it does not take effect immediately but would directly affect all Wyoming citizens if approved by voters.