Sen. Lynn Hutchings

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 109 requires the Department of Revenue to study converting the state's property tax system to one based on a property's purchase price (acquisition value), excluding agricultural and commercial land. The study must assess necessary legal changes, revenue impacts, and ensure the transition would be revenue-neutral in the first year, with valuations applied prospectively only. The department must report findings to the Joint Revenue Committee by September 2022, enabling lawmakers to consider related legislation for the 2023 session. This bill does not change current tax rules but mandates an analysis of potential future reforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new felony offense for intentionally or recklessly exposing an unborn child to a controlled substance without a valid prescription, if measurable drug levels are present in the umbilical cord, blood, or tissue at birth and cause bodily injury, disability, or disfigurement. It directly affects pregnant individuals using un-prescribed drugs and expands mandatory reporting requirements to include suspected prenatal drug exposure that could harm a newborn. The law requires anyone with knowledge or reasonable suspicion of such exposure to report it to child protective services or law enforcement, with penalties up to 10 years in prison for standard violations and up to 25 years for aggravated cases involving severe injury. It became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 108 prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on social credit scores, environmental/social justice metrics, social media activity, political affiliation, union membership, or employer-related factors. The law defines a "social credit score" as a metric based on personal behavior, technology use, and lifestyle choices, and declares its use a deceptive trade practice. Financial institutions may still apply subjective criteria if they fully disclose and explain them in writing before contracts are signed. This law directly affects banks, credit unions, and lenders operating in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022. It aims to prevent consumer discrimination tied to non-financial personal data.

Maddy summaryHB 83 clarifies that Wyoming's parental rights protections apply to all legal proceedings involving parentage, neglect, termination of parental rights, child custody, or visitation. The bill specifically requires these protections to be considered in cases under Wyoming Statutes Title 14 (family law) or Title 20 (child welfare). It adds a new section to define this scope, ensuring consistent application across court and administrative decisions. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 82 redefines "honorable discharge" in Wyoming law to include veterans discharged "general or other than honorable solely for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine." This directly affects Wyoming veterans who were discharged for vaccine refusal during the pandemic, allowing them to qualify for state benefits and exemptions they previously lost. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 8-1-102 by adding a specific definition to include these veterans under "honorable discharge" for benefit eligibility. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, ensuring affected veterans can access state support without requiring additional legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 97) changes Wyoming's rules for voters changing political party affiliation. It specifies that voters must submit a signed application to their county clerk to change party affiliation before primary elections (by the nomination filing deadline) or before general elections (at least 14 days prior, or at the polls). Requesting a partisan primary ballot automatically counts as declaring party affiliation. The bill directly affects Wyoming voters who wish to switch party affiliations for upcoming elections.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 103 amends education law to require constitutional instruction in public schools and colleges, mandating at least three years of study in K-8 and one year in secondary/college. The bill explicitly excludes concepts described as "critical race theory" or "critical theory" from the required curriculum, defining "American institutions and ideals" to not include ideas that "inflame divisions" based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. This directly affects all public schools and colleges in Wyoming receiving state funding. The law took effect July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of chemical abortion drugs (such as RU-486, mifepristone, and misoprostol) for abortions in Wyoming, affecting healthcare providers who prescribe, dispense, or administer these drugs. Exceptions include contraceptive use before pregnancy confirmation, treatment for natural miscarriages, and medical care for immediate physical threats to a woman's life (excluding mental health concerns or self-harm risks). Violating the ban would result in misdemeanor charges with penalties of up to six months in jail or a $9,000 fine. Women undergoing abortions with chemical drugs would not face criminal prosecution under this law.

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.