Sen. Michael Von Flatern

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Wyoming's Children's Trust Fund can spend money. Until the fund's total assets reach $5 million, the board may spend up to 90% of annual contributions plus prior year's interest. Once the fund exceeds $5 million, only interest income and specific other funds (like those from certain state fees) can be used. The rules took effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 144 would allow Wyoming peace officers to issue a citation (instead of making an arrest) for certain misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment if the person poses a danger to themselves or others, might damage property, might skip court, or refuses to accept the citation. For misdemeanors without imprisonment as a possible penalty, the bill would require officers to issue a citation rather than make an arrest unless the same four conditions are met. This change would directly affect how police handle minor criminal charges in Wyoming, reducing unnecessary arrests for low-level offenses. The key mechanism is expanding the circumstances under which a citation can replace an arrest, focusing on public safety and court appearance.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 111 amends voting procedures for the Environmental Quality Council. It specifies that members who recuse themselves, are absent, unable to attend due to illness, or vacant council positions are not counted as participating in votes. This clarifies that a quorum requires four members physically present, and decisions require majority vote among those participating. The bill took effect July 1, 2019, and directly affects council members voting on environmental matters.

Maddy summaryHB 234 would allow individuals convicted of marijuana-related felonies before July 1, 2019, to petition courts to reduce those convictions to misdemeanors if they completed time served equal to the new misdemeanor maximum. It directly affects people with past felony convictions for marijuana possession, use, or related offenses under Wyoming law. The bill creates a streamlined court process requiring no hearing for eligible petitions, and would restore civil rights lost due to those past felony convictions. It does not change current marijuana laws or penalties for future offenses, only addressing retroactive relief for pre-2019 convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 104 requires all freight trains operated in Wyoming to have a minimum crew of two people, applying to trains moving freight but excluding hostler service or railroad utility employees. Violations result in fines starting at $250 for a first offense, increasing to $5,000-$10,000 for repeat offenses within three years. The law, effective July 1, 2019, directly affects railroad companies operating freight trains within Wyoming. It establishes specific penalties to enforce the crew size requirement without altering broader railroad operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Wyoming's enforcement procedures for antifreeze and petroleum products. It requires the state director to periodically collect samples from storage tanks and dispensing devices at retail facilities, mandating at least one annual sample per tank. The director must also ensure samples are taken after allowing at least one gallon to flow from dispensers. These changes apply to facilities handling these products and take effect July 1, 2019. The bill updates sampling protocols without altering product standards or creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 90 allows current Wyoming community college police officers to choose between two retirement plans. It amends the law to include them under the "law enforcement officer" definition, enabling them to switch to the law enforcement retirement plan starting July 1, 2019. Officers had until April 30, 2019, to elect this change in writing to the Wyoming Retirement Board, with no option to reverse the decision. Service credit from prior retirement plans would not count toward the new law enforcement plan.

Maddy summaryHB 220 creates a new income tax on businesses operating in Wyoming, requiring them to pay tax based on their income earned within the state. It uses a three-factor formula (property, payroll, and sales) to calculate how much tax a business owes, especially for companies operating across multiple states. The Wyoming Department of Revenue will administer the tax, with strict confidentiality rules protecting business tax returns. This bill directly affects businesses with operations in Wyoming, including out-of-state companies conducting business there.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 36) amends Wyoming law to adjust how oil and gas drilling operators recover costs from nonconsenting owners in drilling units. It increases the recovery limit for drilling costs from 200% to 300% of the nonconsenting owner's share and raises the equipment cost recovery from 110% to 125%. The change applies to all pooling orders entered on or after July 1, 2019, directly affecting oil and gas owners who choose not to participate in a drilling unit. The amendment clarifies that operators can recover these higher percentages of costs before distributing production revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million from Wyoming's commercial air service improvement account to fund contracts supporting commercial air service within the state. The aeronautics commission must secure governor approval for contracts that include specific performance measures for air service delivery, with no more than $6 million spent annually per contract. Funds not used for contracts by June 30, 2020, revert to the improvement account, and unused funds from a 2019 deadline reappropriated to maintain existing service through 2020. The bill directly affects Wyoming's commercial air service providers and passengers by funding contract-based service enhancements.