Sen. Lynn Hutchings

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 28 amends the legal definition of "explicit sexual conduct" under the state's child exploitation law. It adds specific examples like bestiality, masturbation, and sadistic/masochistic abuse to the existing definition, clarifying what constitutes the crime. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling child exploitation cases by providing a more detailed standard for charging offenders. The updated definition takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 157 creates a civil lawsuit right for parents if Wyoming state agencies or local governments infringe their parental rights under Wyoming law (specifically W.S. 14-2-206). It removes standard government immunity and waives the typical 2-year notice requirement for filing such claims. Parents who win these lawsuits can recover attorney fees and court costs. The law applies to state agencies and political subdivisions (like school districts) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 76 repeals a Wyoming law that previously blocked landowners from objecting to city annexations when part of the annexed area borders an existing city or town. This change directly affects landowners in properties adjacent to municipal boundaries who may now file objections to proposed annexations. The bill removes a specific barrier (W.S. 15-1-406(c)) that prevented such objections, allowing landowners to formally challenge annexation efforts in perimeter-contiguous cases. The repeal applies to all annexation proceedings initiated on or after July 1, 2026, with the law taking effect on that date. This is a procedural change to annexation rules, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming cities, towns, and counties from imposing fees, conditions, or concessions related to workforce housing, unmet housing needs, or affordable housing on new residential or commercial development projects. It applies to all permit applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026, and does not affect existing contracts or obligations for projects approved before that date. The law creates new state code sections (15-1-612 for municipalities and 18-5-209 for counties) to enforce this prohibition, directly affecting local governments and developers by removing potential requirements for affordable housing projects.

Maddy summaryHB 159 protects students' religious, political, and ideological speech in Wyoming public schools. It prohibits schools from discriminating against students for expressing these views in class discussions, assignments, club activities, or clothing - similar to how other student speech is treated. The bill creates a legal cause of action for violations, allowing students or clubs to seek at least $5,000 in damages plus other remedies. Exceptions include unprotected speech (per the First Amendment) or conduct that disrupts school operations or creates a hostile environment.

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 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 summaryHB 108 requires Wyoming's Department of Audit to post specific financial reports from local governments and special districts on its official website by set deadlines. This includes annual reports from counties, cities, and towns by December 31 each year, special district budgets within 30 days of submission, and annual audits within 30 days of their due date. The bill increases transparency by making these documents publicly accessible online without changing existing reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 61 prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat (meat grown from animal cells in a laboratory) for human consumption in Wyoming. The bill requires businesses to label cell-cultured products as "containing cell cultured product" and plant-based alternatives as "vegetarian," "vegan," or similar terms. It also allows health authorities to immediately suspend business licenses for establishments selling cultivated meat. The ban takes effect on July 1, 2026, with administrative provisions effective upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 191 requires Wyoming school district boards of trustees to stream meetings where official actions occur live over the internet, unless internet is unavailable or unforeseen circumstances prevent it. This applies to all school districts and directly affects their transparency practices. Key provisions mandate that live broadcasts, recordings, and meeting minutes become public records, and require publishing warrants over $500 in local newspapers within 30 days. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, with salary payments only needing annual publication in March. It focuses on increasing public access to school board decision-making processes.