Sen. Eric Barlow

Maddy summaryHB 184 requires electricity sellers to obtain a written agreement (a "customer allocation agreement") with both the customer and the utility that serves the customer's specific service area (certificated territory) before selling power for use within that utility's territory. This applies when electricity is delivered to a point outside the seller's service area but consumed inside another utility's territory. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for lost income, attorney fees, and other costs if this requirement is violated. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 195 prohibits medical facilities (like hospitals and clinics) and collection entities from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus starting July 1, 2025. This directly affects healthcare providers and debt collectors who handle unpaid medical bills, excluding debt from healthcare-specific credit cards. Violators face civil penalties equal to the amount of debt reported. The bill defines "medical debt" broadly but excludes credit card charges tied to healthcare services.

Maddy summaryHB 284 requires hospitals licensed by Wyoming's Department of Health that receive public funding to offer minimum services, including emergency care, radiology, lab services, and nursing. It specifically mandates obstetrics, labor, and delivery services unless a hospital applies for a waiver. Hospitals seeking a waiver must prove financial hardship, insufficient patient volume to maintain staff competency, or lack of necessary personnel/equipment, and provide approval from local county commissioners or hospital boards. This bill directly affects public-funded hospitals providing inpatient acute care in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 161 would impose a severance tax on hydrogen production in Wyoming, specifically targeting hydrogen separated from ground water. It sets two tax rates: 3% for hydrogen from "by-product water" (as defined in existing law) and 6% for all other hydrogen production. The tax would be calculated based on the fair market value of the hydrogen, similar to how natural gas is taxed, and collected by the state department. The bill, which died in committee in March 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but is not currently law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 requires sellers of real property to disclose whether ownership of the space beneath the land (pore space) has been severed from surface ownership in property sales. This affects all property sellers and buyers in Wyoming, particularly in areas where pore space rights may have been separated from surface rights. The bill clarifies that surface property conveyances automatically include pore space ownership unless explicitly severed or excluded, and mandates this disclosure in all property transactions starting July 1, 2025. It does not create new rights but standardizes existing practices into a clear disclosure requirement for buyers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $79 million from Wyoming's general fund to remodel the state veterans' home in Buffalo, Wyoming. It specifies that construction costs must not exceed $103.85 million total, including state funds, federal funds received for the facility, and other authorized spending. The bill requires federal funds received for the veterans' home to offset the state appropriation dollar-for-dollar, reducing the state's required contribution. Any unspent state funds remaining after project completion must revert to the general fund, per state law.

Maddy summaryHB 162 would authorize and regulate online casino-style games (like poker or blackjack) in Wyoming, allowing licensed operators to offer these games via mobile apps or websites. It requires operators to verify players are physically in Wyoming (or a permitted state) using geolocation technology and sets rules for revenue collection, distribution, and security. The bill explicitly excludes tribal gaming on reservations, fantasy sports, and lotteries from its regulations. The Wyoming Gaming Commission would enforce these rules and impose criminal penalties for violations. (Note: This bill died in committee in March 2025 and is not law.)

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's state guard laws to remove the requirement that the National Guard must be activated for U.S. service before the Wyoming State Guard can be organized. It eliminates federal oversight by removing the secretary of defense's role in governing the state guard and grants the governor sole authority to establish, maintain, and equip the force. The governor will now fund the state guard through a $25,000 state appropriation (expiring June 2026) instead of federal sources, with members receiving up to 75% of National Guard pay rates. This directly affects the governor, state guard members, and Wyoming's defense structure by shifting control and funding entirely to the state.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJ 11) requests Wyoming’s state officials to use legal tools to challenge financial institutions that allegedly prioritize non-financial, ideological factors (like "stakeholder capitalism") over financial returns in investment decisions. It specifically directs the attorney general to investigate and litigate against such practices, including joining ongoing antitrust lawsuits (like the coal industry case with Texas), and asks the state treasurer to select asset managers focused solely on maximizing returns. The resolution directly affects Wyoming’s sovereign wealth funds and investment policies by requiring decisions to align with the state’s financial interests under its "prudent investor rule." It does not create new laws but urges state agencies to leverage existing enforcement powers to counter what the resolution describes as collusive investment practices harming Wyoming’s industries.

Maddy summaryHB 227 sets a 30-day expiration limit for Wyoming governors' executive orders after the issuing governor leaves office, or at the end of their term - whichever comes first. It directly affects governors and state agencies implementing executive orders, requiring them to renew or replace orders before the 30-day window ends. The bill specifies that no executive order can remain effective beyond 30 days after a governor's departure from office. This applies to all executive orders issued on or after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date. The legislation aims to prevent long-term executive actions without legislative oversight.