Maddy summaryHB 274 prohibits students assigned male at birth from competing on women's sports teams at Wyoming schools and colleges, affecting high school and higher education athletic programs. It expands existing rules to include institutions of higher education, creates liability for government entities that violate the prohibition through negligent or intentional acts, and establishes private lawsuits for harmed students or schools. The bill adds whistleblower protections for employees reporting violations and removes immunity for entities that retaliate against those who report or pursue legal action under the law. It also sets a three-year statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related to violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a 36.5-mile segment of US Highway 16 in Johnson County (between mile markers 52.47 and 89) as the "USMC CPL Seth Rasmuson Memorial Highway" to honor a Marine Corps corporal. It authorizes the Wyoming Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage and appropriates $3,000 from the general fund for this purpose, with funds expiring June 30, 2026. The bill has no policy impact beyond naming the highway segment and installing commemorative signage.
Maddy summaryHB 120 allows individuals facing certain administrative penalties in Wyoming to request a jury trial during contested case hearings. It applies when someone is subject to a sanction of $20 or more, loss of a significant liberty interest (like freedom or property rights), or denial/suspension of a license. The bill requires agencies to notify people of this right and mandates a six-person jury trial, with the jury's decision becoming the final outcome. This changes the process by introducing jury trials into administrative hearings for specified cases, rather than having decisions made solely by agency officials.
Maddy summarySF 133 (Wyoming) creates a legal right for parents to challenge government actions that infringe on parental rights in court. It amends state law to allow parents to assert violations of parental rights as a defense or claim in any judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the government is a party. The bill specifies that parents may seek remedies like court orders, compensation, and attorney fees if their rights are violated. This directly affects parents and government entities in Wyoming, making government liability possible for such violations starting July 1, 2025. The law does not change parental rights themselves but provides new legal tools to enforce them.
Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 124 would require employers to verify the immigration status of potential employees before hiring and report unauthorized workers to law enforcement. It mandates that law enforcement officers ask about immigration status during detentions and notify federal agencies when encountering unauthorized aliens. The bill also requires verification of lawful presence for individuals applying for state or local public benefits (excluding emergency medical care and disaster relief). These provisions directly affect employers, law enforcement agencies, and immigrants seeking public benefits or employment in Wyoming. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee with a recommendation for amendment.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 128) removes the sales tax on electricity sold by public utilities for domestic, industrial, or commercial use in Wyoming. It directly affects all electricity consumers, including households and businesses, by eliminating a tax they currently pay on their electricity bills. The key mechanism is amending Wyoming’s tax code (W.S. 39-15-103 and 39-15-105) to create a specific exemption for electricity sales. The change takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Residential Property Tax Reduction Account" to fund property tax refunds for Wyoming homeowners. It directly affects primary residence owners who paid property taxes in the prior year, capping refunds at $13,300 per household. Key mechanisms include funding the account from unappropriated general fund balances (exceeding 5% of projected receipts) and mineral trust earnings, with refunds paid proportionally if funds are insufficient. Refunds will begin for 2025 taxes in 2026, with even years capped at half the account balance and odd years using the full balance. The program defines "primary residence" as where a homeowner lived at least six months of the tax year.
Maddy summaryThis Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 2) demands that the U.S. Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming's boundaries - currently covering over 46% of the state's surface and 69% of its subsurface resources - to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional right to "equal footing" as a state admitted to the Union. It cites the state's 1890 admission act and the U.S. Constitution's Admissions and Property Clauses, arguing that continued federal control violates Wyoming's sovereignty. The resolution specifically asks Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 2025, proposes that transferred lands become state public lands, and offers to negotiate cession of lands deemed nationally significant. As a non-binding resolution, it serves as a formal request to Congress, not a legislative action with immediate effect.
Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 150 creates a property tax exemption for real estate and equipment (like buildings and training tools) used exclusively by for-profit trade schools for educational purposes in the state. To qualify, schools must be registered in Wyoming, located within the state, offer career-focused training aligned with workforce needs, and maintain national accreditation. The exemption applies only to property used for teaching - commercial uses like retail space don't qualify - and requires annual reporting to the state. Schools must apply for the exemption, which lasts five years and requires renewal before expiration. This policy aims to support workforce development by reducing operating costs for qualifying institutions.
Maddy summaryHB 167 requires Wyoming municipalities, counties, school districts, and special districts to post their proposed and adopted budgets on their websites by specific deadlines (June 1 for proposed budgets, 30 days after adoption for final budgets). It mandates that adopted budgets include a detailed report of the previous fiscal year's revenues and expenditures. Non-compliant entities face consequences including withheld funding, public notices of potential dissolution, and mandatory cost assessments for non-compliance. The bill applies to all qualifying local government entities and aims to increase financial transparency through standardized online reporting.