Sen. Eric Barlow

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a uniform 9.5% property tax rate for all residential real property in Wyoming, including owner-occupied primary residences, single-family homes, condos, mobile homes, and related land (up to 35 acres). It defines "owner occupied primary residence" as property where the owner lives at least six months annually and clarifies "residential real property" to include dwellings for up to four families. The change applies to all residential property classes, replacing prior differentiated rates, and takes effect for tax year 2025. It directly affects Wyoming homeowners and property assessors by standardizing the tax calculation method.

Maddy summaryHB 192 requires Wyoming electric utilities (excluding city or town-owned systems) to create and submit detailed wildfire mitigation plans to the Public Service Commission. These plans must cover risk areas, infrastructure inspections, vegetation management, facility upgrades, de-energization procedures, community outreach, and cost estimates for regulated utilities. The Commission must review and approve plans within 120 days, and utilities must update plans every five years with annual compliance reports. The bill also allows regulated utilities to seek cost recovery for approved mitigation measures, though plan approval does not automatically grant this right.

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 increases the cost threshold requiring competitive bidding for purchases and projects by Wyoming water, sewer, and water/sewer districts. It raises the mandatory bidding requirement from $30,000 to $75,000 for contracts involving labor, materials, or supplies. Districts can now make purchases under $75,000 without competitive bidding, but must still follow bidding rules for $75,000+ projects and accept the lowest responsible bid. The law applies to projects initiated on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 275 amends Wyoming's felony animal cruelty law to specifically address wildlife. It makes it a felony to intentionally torture, torment, or mutilate wildlife *after* it has been captured ("reduced to possession"), while allowing immediate killing of captured wildlife without violation. The bill adds penalties including license revocation for hunters or trappers convicted under this provision and clarifies that trap owners aren't required to check traps before the time mandated by wildlife regulations. It also removes a reporting requirement for wildlife taken by animal damage control agents.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 147) expands Wyoming's protections for service and assistance animals by explicitly including animals currently in training under the legal definitions of these animals. It increases criminal penalties for injuring or killing such animals, making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $5,000 fine. The law applies directly to individuals who harm or kill service animals (including those in training) or assistance animals, and affects all Wyoming residents and businesses serving people with disabilities. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

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 amends Wyoming's confidentiality laws to allow the Department of Family Services (DFS) to share certain data for specific purposes. It creates a new exception permitting DFS to share information across agencies (like health, education, and workforce services) for referrals, service provision, and bona fide research, while still complying with federal law. The bill requires DFS to develop rules for data sharing and report to the legislature by October 2025 on shared data types and privacy safeguards. It directly affects DFS and the agencies receiving shared data, without creating new programs or altering eligibility for services. The main provisions take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 77 requires ride-share drivers in Wyoming to provide proof of Wyoming motor vehicle registration before they can operate through transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft). Specifically, ride-share companies must verify that drivers submit a copy of their Wyoming vehicle registration for the vehicle they use to provide rides. This requirement applies to all drivers using Wyoming-registered vehicles for ride-sharing services and takes effect on July 1, 2025. The bill does not create new fees or alter driver licensing rules, only mandating registration verification as a precondition for drivers to work.

Maddy summaryHB 180 creates a state-administered mental health program for K-12 public schools in Wyoming, requiring all public school districts to implement it for at least two school years starting in 2025-2026. The program mandates schools to screen students for mental health needs, stabilize those identified, and refer them to appropriate services, with districts reporting on student outcomes and funding use. It allocates $5 million (reappropriated from existing funds) plus $805,000 specifically for the program, funding new roles like community project managers and coordinators at each participating district. School districts must notify parents if their child is identified for services under the program and submit annual reports to the state education department, with a final evaluation due by August 1, 2026.