Sen. Tim Salazar

Maddy summarySF 105 requires public utilities in Wyoming to have a written customer allocation agreement with both utilities before providing service to a customer located within another utility's designated service territory. This directly affects utilities that might otherwise serve customers in areas legally assigned to another provider, such as when a customer's point of delivery is outside one utility's territory but consumption occurs within it. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for damages, lost income, and legal fees if this rule is violated. It became effective July 1, 2023, and aims to clarify service territory boundaries for utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Wyoming calculates the maximum duration of unemployment benefits. It bases the maximum benefit period (ranging from 12 to 23 weeks) on the state's average unemployment rate: 12 weeks if the rate is 5% or lower, plus one additional week for every 0.5% above 5%, capped at 23 weeks if the rate reaches 10.5% or higher. The change applies only to unemployment claims filed on or after July 1, 2023. It directly affects Wyoming residents who qualify for unemployment insurance by adjusting how long they can receive benefits based on statewide job market conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 262, the Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act, would have created new legal protections for individuals whose religious practices face government restrictions. It defines "burden" to include actions like denying benefits, imposing penalties, or excluding people from programs due to their religious exercise. The bill would have required state government to prove that any restriction on religious practice serves a "compelling interest" and is the "least restrictive means" to achieve it. This law would directly affect anyone whose religious practices might conflict with state regulations or programs. Note: The bill died in committee in February 2023 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 194, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible Wyoming students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover approved educational expenses. It directly affects K-12 students who are Wyoming residents and not yet graduated, allowing parents to use funds for tuition at qualified schools, online programs, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational services. The state treasurer administers the program, prohibits using local tax revenues for funding, and requires parents to sign agreements outlining permitted uses. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 88 prohibits foreign governments, businesses, and individuals from purchasing or acquiring agricultural land in Wyoming. It requires existing foreign owners (as of July 1, 2023) to register their land with the Secretary of State within 60 days and annually thereafter, providing details like location and ownership structure. Violations - including failure to register - carry a $5,000 daily civil penalty, and county clerks must report suspected violations to the Secretary of State. The law also mandates that property tax statements include notices about the ownership restriction and registration requirement.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill prohibits state and local governments from enforcing "extreme risk protection orders" (ERPOs), which are court orders that temporarily restrict firearm access to prevent harm. It blocks the use of state funds or personnel to implement ERPOs and preempts any local laws conflicting with this prohibition. Violating this ban is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $2,000 fine. The bill cites constitutional rights - including the Second Amendment and due process protections - as justification for its provisions.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 171, the "Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act," prohibits financial institutions from using or disclosing payment card transaction data to identify lawful firearm or ammunition purchases. It bans assigning "firearms codes" (like special merchant category codes) that would allow banks or payment networks to track gun-related transactions, preventing such data from being shared with government entities. The law defines "protected financial information" as payment records linked to firearm codes and allows civil lawsuits if the ban is violated. It directly affects banks, payment processors, and gun retailers by restricting how they handle transaction data related to firearm sales within Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 219 (Voter identification-ballot requests) requires voters to provide acceptable identification when requesting absentee ballots in Wyoming. It mandates that voters show ID in person or submit a copy of ID via secure electronic methods (email, mail, fax) when applying by mail or phone. County clerks must record the ID type and number in absentee ballot records. This bill, effective July 1, 2023, replaces prior requirements for absentee ballot requests and directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits annual increases in the taxable value used to calculate property taxes for most non-exempt properties in Wyoming. It caps the yearly increase at 5% from the previous year's taxable value, excluding changes from property improvements or renovations. This directly affects residential and commercial property owners who pay taxes on "all other property" (not agricultural or specific exempt categories). The rule applies to all such properties statewide starting January 1, 2024, preventing rapid tax bill jumps due to rising market values alone.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Wyoming's legislature to limit annual increases in the assessed value of residential real property for tax purposes. If approved, it would enable the state to implement a "maximum annual valuation increase" for residential properties, preventing rapid yearly jumps in taxable value. The amendment directly affects residential property owners by potentially stabilizing their property tax assessments over time. It does not change current tax rates but modifies how property values are calculated annually. The proposal requires voter approval to become part of Wyoming's Constitution.