Sen. Jeff Wasserburger

Maddy summaryHB 120 exempts from Wyoming property taxes energy production equipment temporarily stored in the state before installation. It directly affects businesses storing specialized energy equipment (like wind turbines or solar panels) for future use in energy production facilities. The law defines "energy production equipment" to include items for natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear energy, but excludes standard building materials or construction tools. This exemption applies only during temporary storage prior to installation and takes effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 308 modernizes Wyoming's public school funding system by adjusting how mineral royalties, severance taxes, and other revenue streams are allocated. It requires up to $8 million annually from mineral royalties (for fiscal years 2019-2020) to fund school capital construction projects, while gradually reducing the annual spending rate from the common school account from 5% to 4.5% of its five-year average value over time. The bill also allows the state treasurer to use the common school account to make interfund loans to the school foundation program when dedicated revenues are delayed, ensuring timely payments to school districts. These changes directly affect all Wyoming public school districts by altering the flow of state funds for operations, capital projects, and transportation services.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows private buyers to purchase retiring Wyoming coal-fired power plants without becoming regulated public utilities, while requiring utilities to make good-faith efforts to sell such plants before retirement. It prevents utilities from recovering costs for replacement facilities unless the commission determines they attempted to sell the retiring plant and received no reasonable offers. The Public Service Commission must approve all sale agreements and evaluate offers based on cost savings, risk reduction, and public interest - not potential lost utility revenues. It directly affects Wyoming utilities owning retiring coal plants, potential private buyers, and the commission overseeing approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill continues Wyoming's Educational Attainment Executive Council, established by executive order in 2018, through December 31, 2022. The 15-member council - including university leaders, community college representatives, state education officials, and tribal advisors - must develop 5- and 10-year strategic plans to achieve specific education goals: 67% of working adults (25-64) with postsecondary credentials by 2025 and 82% by 2040. The council reports quarterly to the governor and annually to legislative committees, with recommendations for related legislation. It is funded with $115,000 total (from the general fund) for staff and member expenses during its temporary existence.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 107) redirects 1% of fees from historic pari-mutuel wagering events in Converse County to the state fair account instead of splitting them between the county and local municipality. It amends Wyoming law to require the commission to transfer these fees directly to the state fair fund when events are approved in Converse County under specific provisions. The change applies to all reported pari-mutuel events in Converse County, ensuring the revenue supports the state fair. The bill took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 204 establishes a standardized course numbering and transcript system for Wyoming's community colleges and the University of Wyoming. It requires common course numbers, electronic course catalogs, and shared transfer software to simplify credit transfers between institutions and support student program planning. The system mandates that all community colleges and UW use consistent course numbering to automatically transfer credits for students moving between schools, particularly for those with articulation agreements. This directly affects students transferring between institutions, faculty developing curricula, and administrators managing course equivalencies and data systems.

Maddy summaryHB 223, introduced in Wyoming's 2019 legislative session, proposed changing qualifications for county assessors by requiring them to own real property within their county. Currently, assessors only needed to be qualified electors; this bill would have added the property ownership requirement. If enacted, it would directly affect all future county assessor candidates in Wyoming. The bill died in committee and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 208 allows surface owners (landowners) to object if oil and gas operators fail to negotiate in good faith for access to their land. If a surface owner objects in writing within 30 days, the state commission must hold a hearing to determine if negotiations were proper, and may require the operator to restart talks. Until the dispute is resolved - through the commission's decision or court appeal - the operator cannot access the land or conduct surface-disturbing activities. The bill directly affects landowners and oil/gas operators in Wyoming, creating a formal process to address negotiation disputes before operations begin.