Sen. Jim Anderson

Maddy summaryWyoming Senate Bill 125 (SF 125) halts the Wyoming Business Council's (WBC) new funding activities starting April 15, 2027, prohibiting it from accepting new grant, loan, or bond applications for any programs it administers. The bill requires the WBC to submit a detailed report by April 30, 2026, listing all pending grants, outstanding loans, bonds, property, and funds held by the council, itemized by program. This report must include repayment schedules, recipient details, and the status of all financial obligations existing before the effective date. The legislation effectively transitions the WBC away from active funding operations while mandating transparency about its existing financial commitments.

Maddy summaryHB 144 clarifies and updates Wyoming law regarding fire protection districts' tax authority. It amends statutes to specify that districts may levy up to 3.10 mills (three ten mills) annually for operations, plus additional mills needed for debt payments on approved bonds, without exceeding limits set in other sections. This directly affects fire protection districts across Wyoming by defining their tax levy limits for funding operations and debt service. The bill makes no change to the existing mill levy cap but ensures consistent language in related statutes. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires regular drivers to yield to roadside service and tire repair vehicles when they're stopped or moving slowly near roadways. It allows these vehicles to use flashing white, amber, red, or blue lights and exempts them from having to install horns or sirens like emergency vehicles. The law directly affects roadside service crews, tire repair businesses, and all other drivers sharing roads with these vehicles. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 190 directs the Board of Land Commissioners to transfer specific parcels of land (totaling approximately 3,000 acres in Natrona County) to the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources for development as a state park. The bill requires the transfer to occur by July 1, 2027, after completing a site criteria process, with lands sold at fair market value (funds going to the common school account). It appropriates $6.5 million from the general fund specifically for land procurement and resolving mineral leases on the properties. The department must report on the site criteria process to a legislative committee by October 2027.

Maddy summarySF 115 transitions Northern Wyoming Community College to the Gillette Community College District. It ensures the Northern Wyoming district continues receiving full funding for both districts during the transition period - through either institutional accreditation for the new Gillette district or July 1, 2026, whichever comes first. The bill modifies existing law to maintain current funding allocations until this transition is complete. This directly affects the two community college districts and their funding under Wyoming’s community college commission model. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's DUI laws to clarify that "vehicle" does not include horses or other equines when ridden. It specifically updates sections 31-5-233 (DUI penalties) and 31-5-234 (youthful driver alcohol laws) to exclude horse riders from these provisions. The change directly affects people riding horses, ensuring they are not subject to motor vehicle DUI laws. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 156 creates a state-funded program to provide financial assistance to Wyoming municipalities (cities, towns, and special districts) for improving public water and wastewater systems. The program covers preliminary planning, local matching funds, repayment of other loans, and costs for joining regional systems, but only for projects meeting specific eligibility criteria like those approved under existing water pollution or drinking water loan programs. Funding comes from state loans up to $50 million annually, which must be repaid with interest capped at 1.5%, and the state loan board administers applications and reports annually to legislative committees. This program directly affects local governments managing water infrastructure by offering new funding options for system upgrades and regionalization efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 142 requires Wyoming public schools to implement literacy screening assessments for students in kindergarten through grade 5, administered three times yearly for K-3 and targeted for grades 4-5. Schools must provide evidence-based interventions for students identified as high-risk for reading difficulties (including dyslexia), with individualized plans requiring parental consent, while also mandating research-backed core literacy instruction in areas like phonemic awareness, decoding, and reading comprehension. The bill repeals Wyoming's previous reading assessment program and requires annual reporting to the state education department on student progress toward an 80% target for low-risk reading scores in K-3, with schools failing to meet goals submitting improvement plans. It directly affects K-5 students, school districts, and parents through new screening, intervention, and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 47 requires any person who reasonably believes another person faces immediate risk of serious injury or death to attempt to contact emergency services (like 911) if doing so doesn't endanger themselves or the other person. It directly affects all Wyoming residents who witness such emergencies. The law creates a misdemeanor offense for failing to assist under these conditions, with penalties of up to 6 months in jail and $750 for causing serious injury, or up to 1 year and $2,000 if death occurs. Exemptions include those who provide assistance under other laws or would self-incriminate by reporting. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 81, the "Less is More Plate Act," would have removed the requirement for Wyoming vehicle owners to display a license plate on the front of their vehicles, while keeping the rear plate requirement. This bill directly affected all drivers who currently display front plates under Wyoming law (W.S. 31-2-205(a)(i)). The key provision repealed front plate mandates in multiple sections of the vehicle code, including those governing registration and display rules. The bill failed to pass in the Wyoming House (38-23) in February 2026 and never became law.