Sen. Bob Ide

Maddy summarySF 118 requires legislative approval before state-funded water projects can use eminent domain to acquire private land. It directly affects water districts, cities, or public entities seeking to build or expand water infrastructure using state funds. The bill adds a new requirement (W.S. 41-2-124(m)) that mandates the legislature must approve such eminent domain actions for water projects, modifying existing laws that previously allowed these entities to proceed without this step. This change applies specifically to projects utilizing state funds, not all eminent domain uses.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 181 prohibits all state and local government entities from using biometric data (like facial recognition or fingerprints) to identify people or verify identities, geolocation data to track individuals or vehicles, and automatic license plate reader systems for vehicle identification or toll collection. The bill requires governments to adopt compliance policies, creates a civil lawsuit option for violations, and amends the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to address liability. It specifically excludes school bus cameras, anonymized health data, and certain utility infrastructure from the restrictions. The law directly affects all state agencies, counties, cities, and law enforcement entities by restricting their use of these surveillance technologies. The bill is currently in early procedural stages and has not advanced beyond introduction.

Maddy summarySF 108 requires all Wyoming elections to use paper ballots that are manually counted in public view, replacing electronic voting systems. The bill mandates that ballots be designed for human reading and counting with security features to prevent fraud, and sets statewide standards for ballot handling, storage under 24-hour video surveillance, and public observation of counting. County clerks must maintain a documented chain of custody for ballots and publish final counts within one hour of completion. This law directly affects Wyoming county election officials, the secretary of state, and voters participating in all state and local elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Wyoming's Article 7, Section 1 regarding public school funding. It would require the legislature to establish a funding formula for public schools (subject to judicial review for constitutionality) but explicitly state that the *amount* appropriated for that formula cannot be challenged in court. If funding falls short, spending would be reduced uniformly across all schools rather than through court intervention. The amendment directly affects Wyoming's public school funding process, state courts, and the legislature's budget authority. It does not change how funding is calculated but removes judicial oversight of the final appropriation amount.

Maddy summarySJ 7 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Wyoming legislature, not courts, the authority to define what constitutes "health care" for the purpose of the constitutional right to health care access. It would also require that any health care laws passed by the legislature undergo judicial review under the "rational basis" standard (meaning courts would only strike down laws lacking a reasonable connection to a government interest). This change would directly shift how health care decisions are legally defined and regulated in Wyoming, moving authority from judges to elected lawmakers. The amendment must be approved by Wyoming voters to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 134 would require Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to redirect emails filtered out of a legislator's inbox to their main inbox upon request. If an email is automatically filtered (e.g., by spam or security systems), the sender can request redirection after the office verifies their email address. The office must comply within two business days unless a security threat exists. This applies only to system-wide filtering, not personal email settings, and affects anyone emailing legislators whose messages are automatically diverted.

Maddy summaryHB 135 prohibits Wyoming public officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of information related to public funds, public obligations, land-use impacts, or information already required to be public under existing law. It applies to all elected and appointed officials, employees, and agents of Wyoming government entities (cities, counties, state agencies). The bill makes such agreements void and unenforceable, imposes misdemeanor penalties (up to $1,000 fine) for violations, and allows termination of employment or removal from office for violations. Residents can also seek court action to void noncompliant agreements. The bill never became law, as it failed committee consideration in February 2026.

Maddy summarySF 97 requires all Wyoming government entities (including state agencies, counties, cities, schools, and public colleges) to accept cash payments for in-person transactions like fees, fines, taxes, and event admissions. It prohibits these entities from charging extra fees solely because someone pays with cash, though they may still collect authorized fees regardless of payment method. The bill defines "cash" as physical U.S. coins and paper currency and takes effect on July 1, 2026. This law directly affects anyone paying government fees in person across Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 59 modifies Wyoming's bond election rules to require local governments to clearly state key details in bond questions, including the purpose, maximum principal amount, repayment term, and interest rate. Voters can now sue a local government if the bond question fails to meet these requirements, delaying bond issuance until a court resolves the dispute. The bill directly affects cities and towns seeking voter approval for bond issues and ensures transparency in how bond proposals are presented. It does not change election timing rules but adds a legal remedy for misleading bond language.

Maddy summaryHB 14 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully defend against criminal charges by reasonably using self-defense, resulting in a not-guilty verdict, dismissed charges, or release from prosecution. It also mandates automatic expungement (permanent removal) of criminal records for these individuals without requiring a court hearing, including no filing fees for either reimbursement petitions or expungement requests. The bill directly affects people prosecuted for crimes but acquitted or having charges dismissed due to lawful self-defense. Key provisions include county-funded reimbursement for defense costs and streamlined court orders to erase all related arrest and prosecution records. The law applies to cases where self-defense was used to prevent injury or property damage, as defined in the bill.