Sen. Charles Scott

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 summaryThis bill requires Wyoming school districts to separately account for and spend all funds allocated for teachers under the education resource block grant model exclusively on teacher salaries, health insurance, and benefits starting in the 2023-2024 school year. It exempts charter schools, certain alternative schools, and very small districts (under 49 students or 243 total students). School districts must report annual spending data to the Department of Education, which then reports to the education committee by October 1 each year. The bill also mandates a study by June 2024 to refine how these funds are allocated.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 142 requires public utilities to offer coal-fired power plants for sale specifically for carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects. The bill establishes rules for selling carbon dioxide streams (e.g., for enhanced oil recovery), mandates bonding to cover future decommissioning and cleanup costs, and sets definitions for key terms like "carbon capture customer" (oil/gas companies using CO2 streams). It aims to make captured carbon dioxide available for industrial use while preventing rate hikes for electricity customers. The law also requires studies and reports on implementation, targeting coal plant operators and oil/gas industry stakeholders directly affected by the new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment shifts responsibility for school facility construction from the state to local school districts, requiring districts to secure voter approval for capital projects via bonds or other means. The state would provide mandatory equalization funding to ensure no district's local property tax burden exceeds what a statewide average would require, calculated using per-person assessed valuation. It also allows optional state funds to address financial hardships for districts pursuing capital projects. The amendment directly affects school districts (as primary builders) and the state (as funder of equalization).

Maddy summaryHB 176 limits the number of K-12 content standards Wyoming schools must teach, capping at four per subject for grades K-6 and eight per subject for grades 7-12. It allows school districts to use course completion (like passing a class) instead of standardized tests to measure student performance in some cases. The bill requires districts to report on their assessment systems and directs the state to propose reducing testing by August 2023, potentially using college entrance exams to meet federal requirements. This directly affects Wyoming public schools, teachers, and students by changing curriculum expectations and assessment methods.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HJ 11 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to change federal regulations so agricultural producers can directly access medically important antibiotics for livestock without needing a veterinarian's supervision. Currently, FDA rules require these antibiotics (used in feed or water) to be dispensed under a licensed veterinarian's oversight, which the resolution claims causes delays in treating livestock. The resolution specifically asks Congress to eliminate this vet-supervision requirement and allow over-the-counter access for Wyoming farmers. This would directly affect Wyoming livestock producers by altering how they obtain antibiotics for animal health care.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly state that taxation and spending powers belong to Wyoming's legislative and executive branches, not the judiciary. It would allow the legislature to delegate local taxing authority to subdivisions (with elected officials serving no longer than four years) and delegate debt payment duties to others (with courts enforcing these tasks). For public school funding, it requires the legislature to create a funding formula subject to judicial review, while the appropriation amount for that formula cannot be challenged in court. If funding falls short, spending would be reduced uniformly across all programs. This amendment must be approved by Wyoming voters to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summarySF 60 (Redistricting of the legislature-2) was a bill introduced in 2022 to redraw the boundaries of state legislative districts. It would have directly affected voters and elected representatives by changing which communities are grouped into specific legislative districts for elections. The bill died in committee in March 2022 and never became law, meaning current district boundaries remained unchanged. As a procedural redistricting measure, it did not alter any existing voting districts.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 62, the Civics Transparency Act, requires all public K-12 school districts to publish an annual online list of instructional materials (including textbooks, videos, websites, and activities) on their district websites by July 1 each year. The bill also mandates specific civics instruction in fourth grade and beyond, covering Wyoming's suffrage history, constitutional principles, and anti-discrimination education. This affects every Wyoming public school district and impacts students, teachers, and parents by increasing visibility into classroom materials and curriculum content. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with lists required to remain online for at least one year.

Maddy summaryHB 144 establishes a $40 million grant program to fund active transportation and recreation projects across Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will administer 90% of the funds ($36 million) for projects like bike paths, sidewalks, safe routes to schools, and walkable downtown corridors, while the Department of State Parks will manage 10% ($4 million) for natural surface trails (hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking) and related planning. Applicants must provide a 20% local match and projects must align with specific eligible categories outlined in the bill. The program is funded through June 30, 2024, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury.