Sen. Drew Perkins

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 111 authorizes community colleges to offer applied bachelor's degree programs (called "baccalaureate of applied science" degrees) for the first time. It requires the Community College Commission to approve all new such programs before they can receive state funding. The bill also updates the Hathaway scholarship program to cover these new degrees, allowing students to use scholarships for up to eight semesters to complete them while maintaining a 2.25 GPA. This directly affects community college students pursuing applied bachelor's degrees and the colleges offering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying private schools from county zoning regulations in Wyoming. It specifically applies to private schools located on 35 or more contiguous acres with a capacity for at least 50 students, as defined in state law. County zoning rules can no longer restrict the location, use, or occupancy of such schools. The policy change took effect July 1, 2019, directly affecting only private schools meeting these two size and capacity requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 293 authorizes the construction of new student housing at the University of Wyoming to replace aging dormitories. It creates a phased project (Phase 1 for ~2,000 students) on campus, requiring new buildings to be 6 stories or less with student services, and removes a construction moratorium. The bill redirects $8 million annually from the state budget reserve to a new University of Wyoming housing account, while requiring the university to reduce its standard budget request by that amount. It also provides funds for Laramie traffic improvements related to the project and modifies bond programs to support construction financing.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 150 creates a framework for the Department of Health to conduct "innovative studies" focused on reducing health care costs, enabling home-based long-term care, developing new health services, and expanding telehealth access. The bill establishes a dedicated $1 million health care innovation account (funded from the general fund), allows the department to bypass standard procurement rules and waive certain regulations for these studies, and defines "innovative study" as controlled trials or pilot programs (excluding pharmaceuticals). It requires annual reports to legislative committees on study progress and funding use. The bill directly affects the state health department and entities partnering with it to test new health care approaches.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows private buyers to purchase retiring Wyoming coal-fired power plants without becoming regulated public utilities, while requiring utilities to make good-faith efforts to sell such plants before retirement. It prevents utilities from recovering costs for replacement facilities unless the commission determines they attempted to sell the retiring plant and received no reasonable offers. The Public Service Commission must approve all sale agreements and evaluate offers based on cost savings, risk reduction, and public interest - not potential lost utility revenues. It directly affects Wyoming utilities owning retiring coal plants, potential private buyers, and the commission overseeing approvals.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 134) provides temporary severance tax exemptions for oil and gas producers under specific conditions. It exempts new wells (after July 2019), wells undergoing workovers/recompletions, and tertiary recovery projects from severance taxes for 24 months. Exemptions are reduced or eliminated if oil prices exceed $80/WTI for sweet crude, $60/WCS for sour crude, or $6.00/MCF for natural gas at the time of production. The exemptions directly affect Wyoming oil and gas producers meeting these criteria, with partial exemptions applying during price ranges between $60-$80/WTI for sweet crude, $40-$60/WCS for sour crude, and $5-$6.00/MCF for natural gas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most Wyoming Medicaid recipients to work, attend school, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week to maintain eligibility, beginning three months after initial approval. Exceptions apply to children under 18, seniors 65+, pregnant individuals, caregivers of young children or disabled dependents, and those in treatment programs. Failure to comply results in a 12-month loss of Medicaid coverage, with verification required every six months. The bill also prohibits similar work requirements for SNAP (food assistance) and mandates that any federal savings from approved waivers fund child care for employed Medicaid recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 103) expands and reorganizes Wyoming's oversight for state capital construction projects. It renames the "select committee on school facilities" to include community colleges and state capital construction, authorizes additional temporary members, and specifies the committee's expanded duties - including reviewing construction project designs and receiving annual reports from state agencies. The bill removes the requirement for quarterly committee meetings and updates statutes to clarify how the committee coordinates with the state building commission and legislative bodies on construction priorities and funding recommendations. This change directly affects the committee, state agencies managing facilities, and the legislative process for capital projects.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 152, the Underground Facilities Notification Act, requires construction planners and contractors to identify and mark underground utility locations (like gas lines or water pipes) before excavation. It directly affects contractors, engineers, and utility operators by mandating pre-excavation checks at no cost to utility companies, pre-marking of excavation areas, and specific emergency protocols if damage occurs (e.g., calling 911 for gas leaks). For government projects over $750,000 in public rights-of-way, it adds requirements for pre-design meetings with utility operators. The bill also specifies that hand-digging or "soft digging" must be used near utilities to prevent damage and clarifies that compliance doesn’t eliminate liability for negligence.

Maddy summaryHB 86 simplifies probate for property passed through family lines by creating a "summary distribution" process. It allows heirs or beneficiaries to directly claim property inherited through previous family members' estates without full court oversight, using a new definition of "distributee." The bill sets limits on creditor claims against distributed property and requires court decrees to be recorded as proof of ownership. This applies to property distribution cases filed after July 1, 2019, streamlining the process for qualifying heirs.