Sen. Bob Ide

Maddy summaryHB 176 automatically restores the right to possess firearms and other civil rights for nonviolent felons in Wyoming five years after completing their sentence (including probation or parole), provided they haven’t been convicted of another felony (except for related offenses). It repeals a misdemeanor charge for nonviolent felons possessing firearms, as the penalty is no longer applicable once rights are restored under this law. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to notify federal authorities when firearm rights are restored. These changes take effect July 1, 2024, directly affecting nonviolent felons who have served their sentences and meet eligibility criteria.

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 124 repeals Wyoming's law (W.S. 35-4-106) that authorized the Department of Health to require smallpox vaccinations. It removes the state's legal authority to mandate such vaccinations, effective July 1, 2024, while allowing existing requirements to remain valid until that date. This is a procedural repeal of an outdated provision, as smallpox has been eradicated globally and no longer poses a public health threat in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 190 requires schools to notify parents about student health changes, name/pronoun adjustments, and well-being questionnaires, while prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for K-12 students. The bill mandates parental consent for school health services and prohibits schools from restricting parental access to student records or discouraging parent involvement in student welfare decisions. School staff violating these provisions face disciplinary action, and schools may be subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. The law directly affects K-12 students, parents/guardians, and school staff, with implementation set for the 2024-2025 school year. It also establishes legal remedies for parents alleging violations by schools or staff.

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 117 would require bond election proposals held outside general elections to meet two conditions: a majority of votes cast must support the bonds, and at least 51% of voters from the most recent general election must participate. This applies only to local bond votes not held on the same day as general elections, directly affecting cities, counties, and school districts seeking to issue bonds. If turnout falls below 51%, the proposal cannot be resubmitted for at least 12 months. The bill, effective July 1, 2024, aims to ensure broader voter engagement in bond decisions. It does not affect bond elections held on general election days or those already completed before its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 100 creates Wyoming's Critical Resilient Infrastructure Board to strengthen the state's critical systems - including water, power, transportation, and telecom - against extended outages (e.g., grid-down events from cyberattacks or disasters). The board, led by the Homeland Security director and including utility, energy, and telecom representatives, will align state efforts with federal programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Key provisions require hardening infrastructure to prevent long-term power failures, ensure water/wastewater systems remain functional during outages, and leverage federal funding and defense technology for resilience. The bill directly affects public utilities, energy providers, and state infrastructure operations by mandating specific resilience planning and federal collaboration.

Maddy summaryHJ 8 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not yet enacted) that would prohibit Wyoming's state government and all local entities (counties, cities, towns) from imposing any "carbon tax." The bill defines a carbon tax broadly as any tax, fee, or penalty based on the carbon content of products, electricity, fuels, or emissions from their use. If approved by voters, it would prevent the state or local governments from levying taxes tied to carbon usage or emissions. This is a procedural resolution seeking constitutional change, not a current law, and is still in early legislative stages (received for introduction in February 2024).

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.