Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 prohibits cities, towns, and counties from adopting policies that restrict local officials from sharing non-confidential immigration status information with federal immigration authorities. It defines "immigration status information" as details about a person's legal presence in the U.S. and requires local governments to cooperate with federal enforcement on immigration matters. The bill allows the governor, with advice from the attorney general, to withhold state and federally administered funding from localities that violate this requirement. This directly affects all Wyoming municipalities and counties by mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and imposing financial penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 177 prohibits natural asset companies from operating in Wyoming. These companies, defined as SEC-recognized entities managing natural or agricultural lands for conservation, are barred from managing any federal, state, or private land within the state. The bill also stops conservation easement holders from using these companies via credits and bans the state treasurer from investing in them. It takes effect July 1, 2024, directly impacting natural asset companies, conservation groups using such structures, and state financial decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 160, the "Protect Firearms Rights Act," prohibits Wyoming state and local governments from implementing or enforcing extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), which are court orders restricting firearm access for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill directly affects Wyoming residents who might otherwise be subject to such orders, while explicitly excluding existing protection orders (e.g., domestic violence orders) and mental health hospitalization orders from this prohibition. Key provisions include preempting conflicting local laws, banning state/local use of funds or personnel to enforce ERPOs, and defining ERPOs to exclude specific existing legal mechanisms. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, and is currently in the introduction stage (received February 12, 2024).

Maddy summaryHB 178, the Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act, would prevent state government from restricting religious practices unless it proves the restriction is necessary for a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive option. It applies to individuals, businesses, and religious groups whose religious exercise is burdened by government actions like denying permits, benefits, or access to facilities. Those affected could sue in court to challenge such restrictions. The bill explicitly states it does not override laws protecting public health, safety, or order.

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 136 would repeal a specific definition of "gender identity" in Wyoming education law that previously determined student eligibility for interscholastic activities (like school sports). This change would directly affect student-athletes in Wyoming public schools by removing the requirement to use that definition for participation eligibility. The bill's key provision is simply removing the referenced statutory definition (W.S. 21-25-201(a)(v)), with no new rules added. It is currently pending in the Wyoming legislature (last action: received for introduction on February 9, 2024) and would take effect July 1, 2024, if enacted. The bill does not create new eligibility rules; it only eliminates the existing definition.

Maddy summaryHB 155 provides $300,000 in state funding to help safe haven providers (like hospitals or shelters) purchase newborn safety devices. These devices alert staff when a newborn is placed inside, ensuring immediate attention. The bill creates a temporary grant program managed by Wyoming's Department of Family Services, open to eligible providers until March 1, 2025, with all funding required to be spent by June 30, 2025. The program specifically funds device purchases, not administrative costs, and expires after the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 137 would require healthcare providers to show a pregnant person an ultrasound (including the heartbeat if audible) at least 48 hours before providing medication for a chemical abortion. The law mandates providers document the ultrasound details (date, time, physician, and fetal age) and verify the ultrasound occurred before dispensing abortion drugs. Violations could result in felony charges with fines up to $20,000 or up to five years in prison, though pregnant people would not face criminal penalties. This bill directly affects medical providers and individuals seeking medication-based abortions 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 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.