Sen. Jim Anderson

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 125 authorizes Wyoming to plan for a second veterans' skilled nursing facility, located at least 75 miles from the existing Buffalo facility, following the "green house" care model. The bill appropriates $300,000 for initial planning and feasibility studies and $50,000 for a separate study on staffing, bed availability, and veteran needs across the state. It requires state agencies (construction department, veterans' commission, and health department) to complete these studies and submit reports to legislative committees by October 15, 2023. This bill directly affects veterans who may use the facility and the state agencies responsible for planning and health services.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 149 creates an "enhanced concealed carry permit" that requires applicants to show proof of recent firearm safety training (within one year), such as completion of a certified course (NRA or Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy) or active peace officer employment. This permit, available to residents 21 or older, includes specific training requirements covering firearm fundamentals, live-shooting qualification, and legal aspects of firearm use. The bill mandates that Wyoming's Attorney General notify other states by July 1, 2023, to seek reciprocity for this enhanced permit. It does not change existing concealed carry rules but aims to improve interstate recognition of Wyoming's enhanced permits. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023, with rulemaking required by the same date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 131 amends laws governing nuclear power facilities, primarily affecting operators of advanced nuclear reactors and waste storage sites. It requires operators to submit detailed pre-construction reports to the state department, including projected job creation, local/state tax revenue, and community impacts from construction, operation, and decommissioning. The bill updates definitions to include "advanced nuclear reactors" (replacing "small modular" terminology), mandates compliance with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules for waste storage, and exempts these reactors from certain utility purchase requirements. These provisions aim to align state regulations with federal oversight while requiring transparency about economic and community effects.

Maddy summaryHB 123 establishes rules for disposing of specific materials during mine reclamation. It requires mining operators to pay fees (25% for wind turbine blades/towers in coal mines, 10% for inert material in non-coal mines) to the state department, with fees credited to the general fund. The bill defines "inert material" as non-reusable waste and sets requirements like burying it below aquifers at minimum depths, removing mechanical parts, and following solid waste management standards. These rules apply to operators using such materials for backfilling reclamation sites in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 89 amends Wyoming law to strengthen enforcement of unpaid mineral production taxes. It allows the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to order wells to be plugged or halt production if a mineral producer owes over $2 million in ad valorem taxes that are more than 90 days overdue. Once taxes are paid, the commission must lift these restrictions. The bill directly affects mineral producers with significant delinquent tax payments and takes effect July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the December 31, 2022 expiration date for certifications allowing businesses to operate greater sage grouse game bird farms in Wyoming. It directly affects owners of these farms by making their certifications permanent, eliminating the need for renewal. The bill maintains existing rules requiring forfeiting birds if certification is revoked and prohibits reimbursement claims for birds held at expiration (which no longer occurs under this change). The policy change became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's regulations for nuclear facilities, focusing on advanced reactors and high-level radioactive waste storage. It requires operators to submit detailed reports before construction on job creation, local/state tax impacts, and community benefits (including training and security systems). Operators must also share all public federal regulatory reports (from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) with the state within 15 days. These provisions apply specifically to facilities operating under federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 11, directs the Wyoming State Historian to deliver one original Wyoming state flag to the heirs of Mrs. Verna Keyes, who designed the state flag in 1917. It corrects a historical oversight by fulfilling her request that the flag remain in her family's possession, with the condition it may only be publicly displayed if donated to a Wyoming government building. The bill amends a 1945 law to formalize this transfer and requires the Historian to provide a copy of the act to the heirs. It became effective July 1, 2022, and has no broader policy impact beyond this specific flag delivery.

Maddy summaryHB 125 requires Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services to provide clear, accessible information and guidance to employers and employees about workplace injuries, covering topics like rights, workers' compensation claim processes, and available support services such as financial assistance and rehabilitation programs. The department must widely share this information and submit an annual report to a state committee by September 30, detailing how many people used the guidance and distinguishing between workers' compensation-specific resources and general workplace injury information. Implementing rules for these requirements must be finalized by July 1, 2022. This law directly affects all employers and employees in Wyoming who navigate workplace injury claims or support systems.