Sen. Lynn Hutchings

Maddy summaryHB 191 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Wyoming to protect pharmacies and patients. It requires PBMs to report quarterly on drug reimbursement appeals, including denial reasons and cost adjustments, and prohibits retroactive claim denials or fees for claim processing. The bill bans PBMs from basing pharmacy payments on patient outcomes without prior agreement, restricting point-of-sale fees, and preventing unfair contract changes without 45 days' notice. These provisions directly affect pharmacies and pharmacy designees that contract with PBMs, aiming to ensure fair reimbursement practices and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 194, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) providing eligible Wyoming students with $6,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) to cover approved educational expenses. It directly affects K-12 students who are Wyoming residents and not yet graduated, allowing parents to use funds for tuition at qualified schools, online programs, tutoring, textbooks, technology, and other approved educational services. The state treasurer administers the program, prohibits using local tax revenues for funding, and requires parents to sign agreements outlining permitted uses. The bill died in committee in February 2023 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 171, the "Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act," prohibits financial institutions from using or disclosing payment card transaction data to identify lawful firearm or ammunition purchases. It bans assigning "firearms codes" (like special merchant category codes) that would allow banks or payment networks to track gun-related transactions, preventing such data from being shared with government entities. The law defines "protected financial information" as payment records linked to firearm codes and allows civil lawsuits if the ban is violated. It directly affects banks, payment processors, and gun retailers by restricting how they handle transaction data related to firearm sales within Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHB 211 limits who can return absentee ballots for others in Wyoming elections. It restricts designated returners to handling no more than two ballots per election, unless the ballots belong to immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, siblings, children, or blood relatives living in the same household). The bill requires designated returners to notify the county clerk using a state-prescribed form. This directly affects voters who ask others to submit their absentee ballots, particularly those who might have used ballot harvesting services. The law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 87 updates the state's definition of "child pornography" to explicitly include cartoons, drawings, and other depictions alongside photographs or videos. It removes a previous exemption that allowed school, college, university, museum, or public library employees to promote obscenity during work activities. The bill directly affects educational and cultural institutions by eliminating this employment-related exception. Key provisions amend statutes to broaden the definition of child exploitation materials and repeal the specific exemption, effective July 1, 2023. The change clarifies that such materials in any visual form (including digital or drawn content) fall under the legal definition.

Maddy summaryHB 105 repeals restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in certain public spaces, allowing permit holders to carry in government meetings, legislative sessions, and most public schools (excluding specific areas under existing school district rules). It clarifies that only the Wyoming state legislature can regulate firearms, precluding local governments from enacting their own gun laws. The bill also establishes penalties for barring entry to someone lawfully carrying a concealed weapon in permitted locations. This changes prior "gun-free zone" policies by expanding where concealed carry is allowed while maintaining state-level control over firearm regulation.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 218 would designate the Teton County fairgrounds (approximately 26.09 acres) as the "Rylee McCollum Teton County Fairgrounds State Historic Site." The bill prohibits using the land for purposes other than the fairgrounds, western heritage events, agriculture, or public recreation - specifically blocking its sale, transfer, or modification for housing without legislative approval. This aims to protect the site, which hosts annual events like the Jackson Hole rodeo (70,000+ visitors) and county fair (15,000+ attendees), from further land loss due to development. The bill was introduced in January 2023 but died in committee in February 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 179 modifies Wyoming's medical education programs to prioritize training for rural healthcare needs. It requires universities to emphasize rural health care in medical curricula, create a Medical School Student Fund (using student payments and investments), and use fund income for relocation costs, rural training, and scholarships for students committing to practice in underserved areas. The bill directly affects medical students, Wyoming's higher education institutions, and rural communities facing healthcare shortages. Universities must report annual fund usage and program modifications to legislative committees by October 1 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 146 prohibits former Wyoming state legislators from engaging in lobbying for two years after leaving office, with exceptions for lobbying on their own behalf. The bill increases penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist, raising fines from $200 to $5,000 for violations. It applies to legislators leaving office on or after July 1, 2023, and requires registration for any lobbying activity covered under existing rules. The law aims to limit post-office lobbying by former legislators while strengthening registration requirements for all lobbyists.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 110 creates a property tax exemption for small business owners who own tangible personal property valued at $2,400 or less in a single county. This directly affects small business owners with minimal business assets, excluding property used for personal or family purposes. The bill modifies existing tax law to exempt qualifying business property from taxation, effective January 1, 2024, and repeals related reporting requirements. It does not change tax rates or apply to property assessed before 2024.