Sen. Bob Ide

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 summaryWyoming's HB 87 updates the state's definition of "child pornography" to explicitly include cartoons, drawings, and other depictions alongside photographs or videos. It removes a previous exemption that allowed school, college, university, museum, or public library employees to promote obscenity during work activities. The bill directly affects educational and cultural institutions by eliminating this employment-related exception. Key provisions amend statutes to broaden the definition of child exploitation materials and repeal the specific exemption, effective July 1, 2023. The change clarifies that such materials in any visual form (including digital or drawn content) fall under the legal definition.

Maddy summaryHB 265 increases the interest rate public entities must pay on late payments for goods and services from 1.5% to 5% per month after a 45-day payment deadline. It directly affects contractors and vendors who sell to Wyoming state or local governments by ensuring they receive higher compensation for delayed payments. The bill amends existing statutes to require public entities to pay interest at this new rate on overdue amounts unless a good-faith dispute exists. The law was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, but the bill died in committee in February 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 220 prohibits schools and charter schools in Wyoming from using, displaying, or distributing pornographic or indecent materials that meet obscenity standards (defined as "sensitive materials" in the bill). It directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, and their instructional materials, excluding health, healthcare, or family and consumer sciences courses. Key provisions require school boards to ensure compliance, mandate annual reports to the education committee on complaints and resolutions, and direct the state board to create rules defining prohibited materials and handling violations. The bill does not restrict health-related instructional materials, which may be exempted by the state board.

Maddy summaryHB 235 would have required Wyoming school district board trustees to be sworn in and begin serving their duties on the same day as their election, replacing the current requirement that allowed them until December 1st or within 10 days of notification. This change would directly affect newly elected or appointed school board members across all Wyoming school districts. The bill amended Wyoming Statute 21-3-106 to eliminate the existing deadline for taking the oath. The bill was introduced in January 2023 but died in committee in February 2023 and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals restrictions that previously prohibited concealed weapons in government meetings and legislative sessions. It allows Wyoming residents with valid concealed carry permits to carry concealed weapons in those locations, specifically in "any meeting of a governmental entity" and "any meeting of the legislature or a committee thereof." The State Building Commission must create implementing rules within 30 days of the bill's effective date. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, removing existing prohibitions without additional conditions for permit holders.

Maddy summaryHB 146 prohibits former Wyoming state legislators from engaging in lobbying for two years after leaving office, with exceptions for lobbying on their own behalf. The bill increases penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist, raising fines from $200 to $5,000 for violations. It applies to legislators leaving office on or after July 1, 2023, and requires registration for any lobbying activity covered under existing rules. The law aims to limit post-office lobbying by former legislators while strengthening registration requirements for all lobbyists.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 110 creates a property tax exemption for small business owners who own tangible personal property valued at $2,400 or less in a single county. This directly affects small business owners with minimal business assets, excluding property used for personal or family purposes. The bill modifies existing tax law to exempt qualifying business property from taxation, effective January 1, 2024, and repeals related reporting requirements. It does not change tax rates or apply to property assessed before 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 259 would require runoff elections for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent, and federal offices if no candidate wins over 50% of votes in a party primary. The runoff would feature the top two candidates (determined by vote count or drawing lots for ties) and must be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August during general election years. The bill specifies a standardized ballot format for runoffs, including clear voting instructions and office groupings. All costs for runoffs would be covered by the secretary of state, who would reimburse counties using a dedicated account. This bill is proposed legislation (not yet enacted) and would take effect only if a related constitutional amendment is approved.

Maddy summaryHB 251 requires absentee ballots in Wyoming to include an official envelope inside the inner ballot envelope, where voters must provide identification information. Voters must submit either their Wyoming driver's license number, Wyoming ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number in this envelope. This bill directly affects all Wyoming voters who cast absentee ballots by mail, as it standardizes the identification requirements for returning ballots. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all absentee ballots processed after that date.