Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summarySF 72 prohibits Wyoming employers from requiring or pressuring employees to get microchips implanted in their bodies, including during hiring, and bans punishing employees who refuse. It also bans employers from creating hostile work environments or denying promotions, raises, or job security based on refusal to consent to voluntary implants. For voluntary microchips, employers must obtain written consent, cover all costs (including removal), disclose data usage, and remove chips within 30 days of termination. The law takes effect July 1, 2023, and applies to all employers and employees in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming's state treasurer to accept gold or silver coins (called "specie") as legal payment for state and local taxes, subject to authentication. It mandates the treasurer to set and publish real-time exchange rates between precious metal coins and regular currency, and to exchange these coins for other legal tender. The treasurer must also hold and potentially invest in precious metals, with rulemaking authority to implement these changes. This directly affects taxpayers who pay with coins and the treasurer's office, which gains new duties under the Wyoming Legal Tender Act.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 159 requires companies seeking state contracts to certify they do not engage in "economic boycotts" as defined by the bill. This directly affects businesses bidding on state government contracts (e.g., for goods or services) by mandating written verification that they avoid specific actions, such as refusing to work with fossil fuel, agriculture, or firearms companies, or opposing certain environmental standards. Key provisions include defining "economic boycott" broadly to cover actions targeting industries or policies related to energy, firearms, environmental goals, or abortion access, and requiring contractors to certify compliance annually. The law would apply to all state agencies, universities, and local governments entering contracts, with limited exceptions. If enacted, it would alter how Wyoming selects vendors for state-funded projects.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 180 requires the state veterinarian to notify livestock owners within three days when an animal tests positive for brucellosis. It mandates the Wyoming Livestock Board to create a communication protocol sharing test results with affected livestock producers, veterinarians, and brand inspectors in the same county. The bill also specifies that adjacent landowners, local veterinarians, and owners of potentially exposed animals may receive limited information to manage disease outbreaks. These changes amend existing statutes to standardize reporting and notification procedures for brucellosis, directly affecting livestock owners and veterinarians in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces Wyoming's property tax assessment rate for "all other property" (including most residential and commercial properties not covered by other classifications) from 9.5% to 7.5% of fair market value. It directly affects property owners in this category by lowering the taxable value used to calculate their annual property tax bill. The change takes effect January 1, 2024, as amended in sections 39-11-101(a)(xvii)(C) and 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C) of Wyoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 108 prohibits the sale of THC-containing edibles (like gummies or baked goods) and vaping products to anyone under 21 years old in Wyoming. It defines "edible products" as consumables with THC and "vaping products" as devices that deliver THC vapor, including e-cigarettes and vape pens. Retailers face fines up to $750 for violations (increasing for repeat offenses within 24 months) and may face temporary sales bans for third offenses. An exception allows parents/guardians to purchase CBD oil with ≤0.3% THC for minors’ use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 102, the Food Freedom Act, allows home producers to directly sell homemade eggs, dairy, and non-hazardous foods (like baked goods) without state inspection, provided they follow specific rules. It prohibits Wyoming from enforcing food inspection standards stricter than those set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sellers must clearly label products as "not inspected" and avoid displaying them alongside commercially inspected foods in stores. The law applies to sales at farmers markets, farms, homes, or agreed-upon locations, with producers or designated agents (named in writing) facilitating transactions. It explicitly aligns state rules with federal requirements, preventing stricter state oversight for these home-based food sales.

Maddy summaryHB 188 creates a program to compensate Wyoming livestock owners, lessees, or their agents for damages caused by gray wolves in areas where wolves are classified as predatory animals. The Wyoming Department of Agriculture will verify wolf-caused damage and determine compensation amounts based on department rules, using a $135,000 appropriation from the general fund. The program runs from July 2023 through June 2026, with funds dedicated solely to this purpose and expiring if unspent by the end of the period. It requires the department to contract with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and USDA for claims investigation and to promulgate necessary rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 111) creates a new felony offense for intentionally administering medical procedures, drugs, or agents to change the sex of a child under 18. It directly affects minors under 18, their medical providers, and parents/guardians regarding certain medical treatments. Key exceptions include medical care for intersex conditions diagnosed before age 4, treatment for ambiguous genitalia at birth, and care for traumatic injuries or life-threatening conditions - excluding psychological or emotional issues. Consent from the child, parents, or guardians is not a valid defense against this offense. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 143, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing $6,000 annually per eligible student (adjusted for inflation) to cover qualifying education expenses. It directly affects Wyoming residents who are K-12 students not yet graduated, allowing parents or guardians to use ESA funds for private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational costs. The state treasurer administers the program, disbursements occur monthly, and funds come from a dedicated state account - not local taxes - with excess funds transferred to the school foundation program if balances exceed $30 million. Qualified schools (non-governmental, non-discriminatory) are explicitly not considered state or federal agents under this program.