Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summarySF 161 amends Wyoming's legislative management council membership rules. It specifies that two senators and two representatives are selected at large by each chamber's party caucuses, with strict limits on party representation (no more than one from the same party as the chamber's presiding officer). The bill also establishes a two-year rotation of the council chairmanship between the House and Senate and clarifies that the council directs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This procedural bill affects only the internal organization of the Wyoming Legislature, not public policy.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 40) sets specific blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for operating watercraft. It establishes a 0.08% BAC limit for motorboats and a 0.10% limit for all other watercraft, aligning motorboats with standard DUI limits while setting a slightly higher threshold for other watercraft. The law clarifies that evidence of BAC levels measured within three hours of operation can be used in prosecutions, and it specifies that operating with a BAC between 0.05% and 0.08% for motorboats (or 0.10% for other watercraft) does not automatically imply impairment. This directly affects anyone operating watercraft in Wyoming, including recreational boaters and commercial operators.

Maddy summarySF 99 (Wyoming) allows counties to count election ballots at a central location instead of individual polling places, and gives county clerks discretion to use alternative accessible voting methods beyond electronic machines. It requires the Secretary of State to create rules ensuring compliance with federal disability laws (ADA, Help America Vote Act) and specifies procedures for sealing ballots and records. The bill directly affects county election officials and voters, particularly those needing accessible voting options. It became effective July 1, 2019, with rulemaking required by that date.

Maddy summaryHB 270 would remove a legal shield that currently prevents lawsuits against Wyoming's Transportation Commission for issues arising from its contracts. If passed, the bill would amend state law to eliminate the Commission's ability to claim immunity under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act when defending contract-related lawsuits. This change would directly affect the Transportation Commission and individuals or entities seeking legal recourse over contractual disputes with the Commission. The bill, introduced in 2019 but never enacted, was intended to take effect July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 150 modifies primary election rules for specific county offices in Wyoming, including sheriff, clerk, treasurer, and others, when more than two candidates run. It requires that the two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary - regardless of political party - advance to the general election ballot. In case of a tie for the top two spots, the county canvassing board resolves it by drawing lots. Additionally, if a candidate who qualified for the general election withdraws, dies, or becomes ineligible before ballots are printed, the remaining top candidate (with tie-breaking by lot if needed) replaces them.

Maddy summaryHB 240 exempts drivers operating irrigation district vehicles from Wyoming's commercial vehicle licensing and regulatory requirements when used solely for operating or maintaining irrigation infrastructure. The bill specifically covers vehicles driven for tasks related to headgates, canals, laterals, ditches, pipelines, and reservoirs. This exemption applies to irrigation district employees performing routine facility maintenance and operations, removing a layer of administrative burden for these specific duties. The policy change was intended to take effect July 1, 2019, though the bill did not advance beyond committee.

Maddy summaryHB 183 repeals restrictions that previously banned concealed weapons in certain public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry concealed firearms in government meetings, the legislature, and most public schools (with exceptions for specific school district policies under existing law). It establishes that only the Wyoming state legislature can regulate firearms, weapons, and ammunition, preempting local governments from creating their own firearm restrictions. The bill explicitly preserves private property owners' rights to ban firearms on their land and maintains existing prohibitions in courtrooms. This directly affects concealed carry permit holders, local governments seeking to regulate firearms, and school districts managing firearm policies on school property.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 214 reduces the required record retention period for licensed real estate brokers from seven years to two years. The bill directly affects all licensed real estate brokers in Wyoming who must maintain full records of every transaction they participate in. It amends Wyoming Statute 33-28-123 to require brokers to keep these records for a minimum of two years after the transaction's latest date. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 155 allows courts in Wyoming to create reintegration plans when parents petition to end a guardianship they previously lost. It directly affects parents seeking to regain custody of their children after a court determined them unfit, requiring courts to prioritize the child's best interests while presuming fit parents deserve custody. Key provisions let courts mandate graduated visitation, require parenting classes (with costs adjusted for the parent's ability to pay), or impose other specific conditions to safely return the child to the parent. The law applies to termination petitions filed on or after July 1, 2019, and was enacted without opposition.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming election code to clarify procedures for voters changing political party affiliation. It allows voters to change their party affiliation at the polls on election day (for general elections) or when requesting an absentee ballot, in addition to the existing 14-day advance filing requirement before primaries. The change must be noted on the poll list by election judges, but voters cannot switch parties between two weeks before absentee voting begins and primary election day. It directly affects Wyoming voters seeking to alter their party affiliation before casting a ballot. The bill took effect July 1, 2019.