Sen. Troy McKeown

Maddy summaryHB 99 prohibits Wyoming state agencies and recipients of state funds from using public money to purchase products or services made with child labor or slave labor. The bill defines "child labor" as work by anyone under 18 violating U.S. or state labor laws (including foreign labor that would violate U.S. law) and "slave labor" as forced work under threat of penalty. Exceptions include juvenile justice programs, correctional industry programs, and specific statutes. The state budget department must create implementing rules, with the law taking effect July 1, 2024, for most provisions.

Maddy summaryWyoming HB 110 exempts certain routine agricultural activities from the state's underground facilities notification requirements. It directly affects farmers and ranchers performing specific on-farm tasks without needing to notify utility companies first. The bill lists four key exemptions: routine farm operations, land clearing without deep root removal, irrigation maintenance done within the past 24 months, and routine fence line upkeep. This change takes effect on July 1, 2024, streamlining operations for agricultural landowners.

Maddy summaryHB 183 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, or individuals (defined as citizens of Russia, China, state sponsors of terrorism, or countries under specific arms regulations) from owning most land in Wyoming, allowing only personal residences under one acre. It requires existing foreign owners to sell their land by July 2026 (unless for a qualifying personal residence) and mandates annual registration with the Secretary of State for all foreign land ownership, including personal residences. Owners who fail to register face daily civil penalties of $5,000, and county clerks must report violations to the Attorney General for enforcement, which may include court-ordered forfeiture and sale of the land. The bill also requires tax assessment notices to inform owners about the foreign ownership restrictions and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 182 prohibits payment processors from assigning special merchant category codes to firearm or ammunition retailers, requiring them to be classified as general merchandise or sporting goods retailers instead. This directly affects payment entities (like banks and credit card networks) and firearm retailers who must use standard retail codes. Violations carry a $1,000 fine per violation. The bill does not change gun laws or purchase requirements but modifies payment processing rules, effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill would repeal Wyoming's existing low-carbon energy standards for public utilities. It requires utilities to refund customers for rates collected under those repealed standards (with an exception for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date). The Public Service Commission would establish rules to implement these changes. The bill directly affects all public utilities operating in Wyoming and their customers who paid the now-repealed rates.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 108 would regulate chemical abortions by requiring healthcare providers to physically examine patients, be present during the first drug dose, and provide biohazard-labeled waste bags for disposal. It mandates that providers schedule follow-up visits within seven days and instruct patients on proper disposal of medical waste. The bill also holds manufacturers responsible for the environmental remediation of abortion drugs and their byproducts entering water systems. This law directly affects healthcare providers prescribing abortion drugs and drug manufacturers, with penalties including up to three years in prison or $10,000 fines for violations.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming legislative bill (SJ 3) proposes amending the state constitution to require future constitutional amendments to be approved by a majority of voters in at least three-fourths of Wyoming's counties (not just statewide). It would directly affect all future constitutional amendment proposals by adding this county-level approval requirement. The key change modifies Article 20, Section 1 of the Wyoming Constitution, which currently only requires statewide voter approval. The bill failed to advance after a 14-17 vote against introduction on February 16, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Wyoming's temporary tax exemption for electricity produced from wind energy, ending a moratorium that previously exempted wind power from a production tax. Starting July 1, 2024, all wind-generated electricity in Wyoming - including power produced before the repeal that qualified for the old exemption - will be subject to the tax. The bill directly affects wind energy producers by requiring them to pay the tax on their electricity output. It makes no changes to existing tax rates but removes the specific exemption that had applied to wind energy since 2020. (Note: The bill failed to advance in the legislature on February 16, 2024.)

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 80 mandates that hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other 24-hour care facilities must allow visitation for patients. It requires facilities to permit visitors while permitting reasonable restrictions (like visitor limits, timing, or safety equipment) and to provide written visitation policies to patients or their representatives. The law explicitly excludes patients involuntarily detained under certain legal codes or individuals incarcerated by the state. Facilities must visibly post current visitation rules and allow patients to designate or block visitors. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 152, the "Life is a Human Right Act," prohibits most abortions by defining "abortion" as the intentional termination of an unborn baby's life from conception. It directly affects pregnant individuals and medical providers in Wyoming by banning abortion except when a physician uses reasonable medical judgment to prevent the death of the pregnant woman, address a serious risk to her life or a life-sustaining organ, or treat an ectopic pregnancy. The bill explicitly excludes contraception from the prohibition and defines "unborn baby" as a living human from fertilization through birth. This law creates criminal penalties for violations and amends existing abortion-related statutes.