Sen. Lynn Hutchings

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes amending Wyoming's constitution to prohibit foreign adversaries of the U.S. and foreign entities deemed a national security threat by the legislature from owning, using, or inheriting property in Wyoming. It would block these entities from holding any real estate, mineral rights, or other property interests, including surface and subsurface rights. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect as part of the state constitution. (Note: This is a constitutional amendment proposal, not a law, and has not yet been enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 127 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real property in Wyoming's "all other property" category. It exempts a portion of a property's value above its prior year's taxable value, adjusted by the county's median household income change (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who acquired their property in the prior calendar year are excluded, and tax assessment notices must now show exemption details. The exemption applies starting with the 2024 tax year.

Maddy summarySF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

Maddy summarySF 84 sets limits on fees school districts can charge for renting their facilities in Wyoming. It requires districts to charge no more than the *additional* costs incurred for each specific rental (like extra utilities or cleaning), provide a clear breakdown of those costs, and keep fees consistent for similar uses. This directly affects school districts (who set the fees) and renters (like community groups or businesses using school buildings). The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 121 establishes a property tax exemption for primary residences, allowing homeowners to exclude up to $300,000 of their home's value from annual property taxes. To qualify, residents must have lived in Wyoming for at least five years and resided in the home for nine months of the prior tax year, and must submit an annual sworn claim by May 4th. The exemption applies to single-family homes only, with no more than one exemption per property per year, and includes penalties for false claims. Funding for the exemption will come from the state's legislative stabilization account, with counties reporting impacts to the state department of revenue. The bill takes effect January 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 119 creates a new property tax exemption for non-agricultural real estate in Wyoming. It exempts value above last year's taxable amount plus the county's median household income growth (capped at 3% annually). Property owners who purchased their property in the prior calendar year are excluded from the exemption. Tax assessment notices must now clearly show if this exemption applies to a property. The exemption begins for 2024 property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes federal oversight from Wyoming's State Guard, granting the governor full authority to organize and maintain it without federal approval. It specifies that state funds - not federal resources - will cover guard members' pay and equipment, aligning with existing state budget processes. The changes directly affect Wyoming State Guard members and the governor's operational control over the force. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 211 changes how property tax assessments work for certain real property by establishing a rebuttable presumption that acquisition value (what a property was purchased for) should be used instead of market value for tax calculations. It directly affects property owners and tax assessors dealing with properties classified under W.S. 39-13-103(b)(iii)(C), typically commercial or industrial properties. The bill removes confidentiality rules for sworn statements about these properties, making them public records accessible to anyone contesting tax assessments, and prohibits criminal penalties for disclosing them. This shifts transparency in property tax disputes by prioritizing purchase price data over market value for specific property types.

Maddy summaryHB 91 prohibits Wyoming from enforcing health mandates or requirements from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) related to mask-wearing, vaccines, or medical testing for COVID-19 or its variants. The bill explicitly states these federal and international health organizations have "no jurisdiction" in Wyoming, meaning their guidance cannot be used to justify such requirements within the state. It directly affects Wyoming residents, businesses, and local officials who would otherwise be subject to CDC or WHO directives. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies specifically to pandemic-related health measures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 prohibits cities, towns, and counties from adopting policies that restrict local officials from sharing non-confidential immigration status information with federal immigration authorities. It defines "immigration status information" as details about a person's legal presence in the U.S. and requires local governments to cooperate with federal enforcement on immigration matters. The bill allows the governor, with advice from the attorney general, to withhold state and federally administered funding from localities that violate this requirement. This directly affects all Wyoming municipalities and counties by mandating cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and imposing financial penalties for non-compliance.