Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summarySF 183 imposes a temporary ban on initiating or expanding new solar and wind energy facilities in Wyoming, effective immediately until June 30, 2030. The bill prohibits new projects but explicitly excludes existing facilities, net metering systems, and projects that received final county approval before specific dates. Key provisions include defining "solar energy facility" and "wind energy facility" while requiring conforming changes to related statutes about permits, eminent domain, and land-use regulations. This policy change directly affects developers, energy companies, and local governments planning new renewable energy infrastructure within the state.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 92 declares carbon dioxide "not a pollutant" and a "beneficial substance," reversing its classification under environmental law. The bill repeals existing low-carbon energy standards and prohibits the state from pursuing "net-zero" carbon reduction targets. It requires public utilities to refund customers for rates paid under repealed carbon-related rules (excluding costs for carbon capture technology), with refunds mandated within 60 days of the bill's effective date. The law directs the public service commission to create implementing rules, directly affecting Wyoming's energy sector and utility ratepayers.

Maddy summaryHB 222 (Medical Ethics Defense Act-2) protects healthcare workers, hospitals, insurers, and other healthcare entities in Wyoming from being forced to provide or pay for specific health services that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. It allows them to refuse participation in or payment for such services without facing discrimination, job loss, license penalties, or other adverse actions. The law explicitly states this protection does not override duties to provide emergency care or other non-conflicting services, and it defines key terms like "conscience" and "health care service" to clarify coverage. The bill creates new legal safeguards for conscience-based decisions within healthcare delivery.

Maddy summarySF 83 requires legislative approval before state funds can be used for large energy projects exceeding $400,000. It mandates that state agencies, universities, cities, and counties (awarding entities) report annual project details to the legislature and seek new approval for any project funding beyond $200,000 after initial authorization. The bill defines "large energy projects" broadly to include carbon capture, hydrogen production, solar, wind, and other energy infrastructure. It applies to all state-funded projects starting July 1, 2025, shifting approval authority from agencies to the legislature for significant energy investments.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 123) modifies the state's adverse possession law by stopping the 10-year clock for someone claiming ownership through long-term occupation whenever the property owner pays all property taxes. It directly affects property owners who pay taxes and individuals attempting adverse possession claims. The key provision states that the adverse possession timeline pauses during any period the owner has paid all taxes on the property. The law applies to claims starting after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 60 requires all public schools, the University of Wyoming, and Wyoming community colleges to designate athletic teams by sex and prohibits male students from competing on teams designated for female students. The bill creates legal remedies allowing schools or students harmed by violations to seek damages, attorney fees, and injunctions through private lawsuits within two years of the violation. It defines "female" and "male" based on biological reproductive systems and prohibits schools from participating in female-designated sports with teams known to include male students. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for all institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 135 (Wyoming) establishes rules for autologous and direct blood donations. It requires hospitals and licensed health facilities to allow patients to donate their own blood (autologous) or donate blood specifically for another person (direct) before a medical procedure, as ordered by a healthcare provider. Blood banks must follow these orders unless the donor has health conditions making donation unsafe, and may charge reasonable fees for facilitating and storing the blood. The bill directly affects hospitals, blood banks, and patients seeking pre-donated blood for future procedures. It takes effect July 1, 2025, with rulemaking by the Department of Health required for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 209 repeals Wyoming's low-carbon energy standards for public utilities, removing requirements that previously mandated certain carbon-reduction measures. The bill directly affects electric utilities by eliminating statutory obligations related to low-carbon energy generation and dispatchable/reliable power definitions. Key provisions repeal specific sections of Wyoming law (W.S. 37-1-101, 37-18-101, and 37-18-102) that established these standards. The Public Service Commission must then create new rules to implement the repeal, with the bill taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill prohibits using eminent domain (government power to take private land) for pipelines transporting carbon dioxide used in carbon capture, utilization, or storage projects. It directly affects companies developing carbon capture infrastructure, preventing them from acquiring land through eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. The law applies only to projects starting construction on or after July 1, 2025, and amends existing eminent domain statutes to exclude carbon dioxide pipelines from standard utility rights. It does not impact other pipeline projects or existing carbon capture operations.

Maddy summaryHB 184 requires electricity sellers to obtain a written agreement (a "customer allocation agreement") with both the customer and the utility that serves the customer's specific service area (certificated territory) before selling power for use within that utility's territory. This applies when electricity is delivered to a point outside the seller's service area but consumed inside another utility's territory. The bill allows the affected utility to sue for lost income, attorney fees, and other costs if this requirement is violated. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.