Sen. Bill Landen

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits posting unauthorized signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal lands where lawful wildlife hunting is permitted. It specifically targets signs placed with intent to hinder hunting activities on public lands. Landowners retain the right to prevent trespass on private property, which is explicitly excluded from the law. The law applies to all public lands used for hunting and takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 111 adds fentanyl to Wyoming's list of controlled substances that constitute child endangerment when exposed to children. It prohibits anyone with care of a child from knowingly allowing them to absorb, inhale, or ingest fentanyl or methamphetamine, remain in rooms where these drugs are manufactured/sold, or enter areas used for storing these drugs. The bill removes a previous exception allowing prescriptions to be used as a defense in child endangerment cases involving controlled substances. It directly affects parents, caregivers, and anyone responsible for children's safety in environments where fentanyl or methamphetamine is present. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 112 increases penalties for repeat theft offenses by establishing a new felony classification for a fifth or subsequent conviction. It directly affects individuals convicted of a fifth or later theft-related crime, including shoplifting, larceny, or property theft under state or local laws. The bill imposes a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both for these offenses. This change takes effect on July 1, 2023, modifying existing theft penalty statutes to create a separate felony tier for repeat offenders.

Maddy summaryHB 145 expands access to criminal identification and intelligence information to specific state agencies, including law enforcement, the state board of parole, department of corrections, the office of homeland security (for purposes under W.S. 19-13-105), designated agencies under W.S. 14-6-227, and the department of family services. Agencies holding this information must implement security precautions to prevent unauthorized access, with rules tailored to each agency's specific use and security practices. The bill amends existing law to formalize these access provisions and security requirements. It takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 164 requires Wyoming newspapers publishing legal notices (such as court filings or public hearings) to also post them online. Specifically, newspapers must publish these notices on a statewide digital repository (maintained by a newspaper organization representing most Wyoming papers) and on their own website, in a free, open location with no extra cost to the person publishing the notice. This applies to all legal notices currently required to be published in print, ensuring public access to these notices online without additional fees. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 178 authorizes Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to host revenue-generating events (like weddings, concerts, or corporate gatherings) on specific state land parcels in Teton County, subject to approval by the Board of Land Commissioners. The bill limits each parcel to five event sites, requires temporary structures to be dismantled after use, and mandates that all event revenues be deposited into the common school account within the permanent land income fund. It appropriates $3 million for implementation, including site assessments, business planning, and securing concessionaires, with funds usable through June 2026. The law also requires the department and state lands office to develop implementing rules.

Maddy summarySF 115 prevents insurance companies from restricting how dentists bill patients for dental services. It prohibits insurers from requiring dentists to combine separate procedures into one bill (bundling) or reclassify complex procedures as simpler, lower-cost ones (downcoding). The bill also allows dentists to bill patients directly for services not fully covered by insurance, provided they first inform patients about limited coverage, obtain written consent, and provide a copy of that consent to the insurer. These changes apply to all dental insurance contracts issued, renewed, or delivered in Wyoming on or after July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 177 modifies Wyoming's school expulsion policy for students possessing deadly weapons, requiring a mandatory one-year expulsion from public schools for such violations. The bill allows school boards to extend expulsion beyond one year if the district provides alternative educational services during the additional period. It directly affects public school students in Wyoming who are found with deadly weapons, as defined under existing law. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2023, and does not alter the grounds for expulsion but specifies the minimum expulsion duration.

Maddy summaryHB 176 limits the number of K-12 content standards Wyoming schools must teach, capping at four per subject for grades K-6 and eight per subject for grades 7-12. It allows school districts to use course completion (like passing a class) instead of standardized tests to measure student performance in some cases. The bill requires districts to report on their assessment systems and directs the state to propose reducing testing by August 2023, potentially using college entrance exams to meet federal requirements. This directly affects Wyoming public schools, teachers, and students by changing curriculum expectations and assessment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 109 modifies Wyoming's Tomorrow Scholarship program to prioritize students in workforce-focused education. It adds a third preference for students enrolled in credential programs approved under the Wyoming Works program (which connects training to local job needs) and a fourth preference for teacher preparation students. The bill also changes how the scholarship fund's value is calculated, using longer historical averages starting in 2027, and transfers $75 million to the scholarship fund while directing $20 million to workforce programs. This directly affects students pursuing vocational credentials, teaching degrees, or other in-demand fields through Wyoming community colleges.