Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summaryHB 156 requires voters in Wyoming to prove they have been a bona fide resident of the state for at least 30 days before an election. It mandates that voters provide documentation verifying their residency when registering and prohibits registration based on documents showing noncitizen status. The bill defines "proof of residence" and directs the Secretary of State to establish acceptable documents through rulemaking. This affects all individuals registering to vote in Wyoming elections by adding a residency verification step to the registration process.

Maddy summaryHB 62 amends Wyoming's prostitution and solicitation laws to explicitly include "sexual contact" as a prohibited act. The bill defines "sexual contact" as touching intimate areas (or clothing covering them) with sexual intent, expanding the scope of what constitutes prostitution. This change directly affects individuals engaging in or soliciting sexual contact for money, now covered under existing misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail or a $750 fine. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, updating statutes W.S. 6-4-101 and 6-4-102.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 165) amends Wyoming's election law (W.S. 22-3-116) to update how county clerks notify voters about potential registration cancellations. It allows county clerks to send cancellation notices via email in addition to mailing them, while keeping the current 20-day window for voters to request their name remain on the registry. The bill directly affects voters whose registrations may be canceled (e.g., due to inactivity or moving) and county clerks managing voter rolls. It does not change the requirement to notify voters before cancellation or the exceptions (like voting in another state or written request). The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 228 prohibits state and county election officials (including county clerks) from accepting private money, grants, or services for election administration costs like voter education, registration, or outreach. The bill requires all election-related expenses to be funded solely with public money, with exceptions only for meals provided to poll workers on election day or during training. It also bans private entities from offering such funds and explicitly allows federal election funding. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and creates misdemeanor penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's election code to change deadlines for forming new political parties. It requires petitions to form a new party to be filed with the Secretary of State no later than June 1 before a general election year (previously May 1), and allows petition circulation to begin no earlier than April 1 of the preceding year (previously March 1). These changes directly affect groups seeking to establish new political parties in Wyoming that want to qualify for the general election ballot. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming's legislature to comply with constitutional requirements for drawing legislative districts. It mandates that future districts follow county lines and ensure each county has at least one senator and one representative, aligning with Wyoming Constitution Article 3, Sections 3 and 48. A legislative committee will study apportionment options during the 2025 interim, gather public input, and report findings by December 2025 to inform potential legislation for the 2026 budget session. The bill does not change current districts but sets a process to create a constitutionally compliant plan for the next reapportionment cycle after the 2020 census.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 125) defines "health care" in state law to clarify what legal actions qualify as health care. It specifies that medical procedures causing harm to body systems (like heart, brain, or organs) are *not* considered health care unless documented as medically necessary to save a pregnant woman’s life or for patients with no chance of meaningful recovery. The definition applies broadly to all Wyoming statutes and constitutional interpretations but excludes the Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, aiming to protect public health and welfare through clear legal standards.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 43 requires commercial websites that profit from content harmful to minors (such as obscene material or child pornography) to verify users' ages before allowing access. Covered platforms must use specific, accepted methods like driver's licenses, passports, or credit cards (excluding those not requiring users to be 18+) to confirm users are not under 18. The law creates legal liability for platforms that fail to verify ages, imposing penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and allows parents or minors to sue for damages. It directly affects commercial online platforms hosting such content, not general websites or non-profit services.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution requests Wyoming's Governor to prioritize promoting the state's existing stable power sources - coal, natural gas, uranium, and hydroelectric - over taxpayer-funded wind and solar projects. It directs the Governor to oppose subsidies for commercial wind/solar generation and instead advocate for Wyoming's "stable dispatchable base load energy" exports to other states and globally. The resolution does not create new laws but urges a shift in energy policy focus. It directly affects state energy promotion efforts and the Governor's role in shaping Wyoming's energy strategy.

Maddy summarySF 152 creates a Wildfire Management Task Force to study wildfire impacts on state lands, local fire agencies, and communities. The task force, including legislative members, state officials, and industry representatives, must report by October 2025 with recommendations for future legislation. The bill also updates the state forester’s duties to include managing fire control programs on state lands, pre-positioning resources during high-risk periods, and setting standards for privately contracted fire services. It appropriates $50,000 total ($25,000 each for legislative and non-legislative members) to fund the task force, which will operate until December 31, 2026.