Sen. Tara Nethercott

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 53) requires high school athletes to maintain "amateur status" to compete in school-sanctioned sports, directly affecting student-athletes in Wyoming public high schools. It prohibits athletes from receiving money, prizes exceeding association limits, or monetizing their name/image/likeness for competition, with key exceptions including family support payments, necessary travel expenses, and scholarships paid directly to colleges after graduation. Violating these rules results in loss of eligibility for the sport. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and aims to align with national amateurism standards for high school athletics.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 82) requires registered agents for business entities (like corporations and partnerships) to maintain the names and addresses of all owners (e.g., partners, shareholders, members) at the registered office. Exceptions apply if an entity has over 100 owners, operates from a physical location in Wyoming for daily business, is a decentralized autonomous organization, or is a specific type of nonprofit association. The requirement applies until the entity's first annual report is filed, then when annual reports are due. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 101 requires guardians to have monthly in-person contact with their wards to monitor well-being, with written records submitted to the court. It sets limits on guardian fees (capping payments at federal rates) and mandates that guardians notify service providers (like healthcare or housing entities) about their appointment. The bill directly affects guardians, their wards (adults under guardianship), and courts, which must review the contact logs and reports. Key provisions include banning inappropriate restraints, requiring detailed court reports on the ward's condition, and ensuring fees don't harm the ward's financial independence. These changes aim to strengthen oversight in guardianship cases.

Maddy summarySF 92 creates Wyoming's False Claims Act, allowing the state to sue individuals or entities that knowingly submit false claims for payment. It imposes penalties of three times the state's damages plus $5,500-$11,000 per false claim, affecting contractors, grantees, and state employees who submit inaccurate claims or fail to repay overpayments. The law includes reduced penalties if the person reports violations within 30 days and fully cooperates with investigations. It defines key terms like "knowingly" and "false claim" to clarify when penalties apply.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 87 creates a new felony offense for intentionally causing bodily injury to a police officer while the officer is performing lawful duties. This amendment specifically targets individuals who assault officers during the course of their work, making such acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill directly affects people who physically harm officers in the line of duty, strengthening penalties for this specific conduct. It amends existing law (W.S. 6-5-204(b)) to clarify that causing bodily injury during officer engagement constitutes a felony. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Wyoming's zoning protest rules to make it easier for neighbors to block certain property changes. It lowers the required vote from city councils to approve zoning changes from three-quarters (3/4) to two-thirds (2/3) when a protest meets specific owner thresholds. To trigger this lower vote requirement, protesters must either own 33%+ of the affected lots or represent 33%+ of adjacent property owners within 300 feet (not counting streets). The change applies to zoning decisions made on or after July 1, 2026. This directly affects property owners near proposed zoning changes who wish to challenge them through the protest process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming cities and towns to hold elections for existing surface water drainage fee systems that began collecting payments before July 1, 2026, without prior voter approval. Municipalities must hold these elections by July 1, 2027, and if voters reject the fees, they must stop collecting them within 60 days. It clarifies that new or existing drainage systems must follow specific rate-setting rules for water use and runoff management after an election. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting local governments managing surface water drainage.

Maddy summaryWyoming Senate Bill 125 (SF 125) halts the Wyoming Business Council's (WBC) new funding activities starting April 15, 2027, prohibiting it from accepting new grant, loan, or bond applications for any programs it administers. The bill requires the WBC to submit a detailed report by April 30, 2026, listing all pending grants, outstanding loans, bonds, property, and funds held by the council, itemized by program. This report must include repayment schedules, recipient details, and the status of all financial obligations existing before the effective date. The legislation effectively transitions the WBC away from active funding operations while mandating transparency about its existing financial commitments.

Maddy summaryHB 115 requires all Wyoming school districts (including charter schools) to create and implement cardiac emergency response plans for general school settings and separate plans for athletic events. Key provisions mandate that schools place and maintain AEDs in unlocked, accessible locations (within 3 minutes), train staff in CPR and AED use per American Heart Association standards, and rehearse athletic venue protocols annually. The bill allocates $50,000 for reimbursement of implementation costs during the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, with priority for districts serving higher percentages of students eligible for free meals. It applies directly to school staff, students, and emergency medical providers by standardizing cardiac emergency protocols across all school properties and athletic events.

Maddy summarySF 115 transitions Northern Wyoming Community College to the Gillette Community College District. It ensures the Northern Wyoming district continues receiving full funding for both districts during the transition period - through either institutional accreditation for the new Gillette district or July 1, 2026, whichever comes first. The bill modifies existing law to maintain current funding allocations until this transition is complete. This directly affects the two community college districts and their funding under Wyoming’s community college commission model. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.