Sen. Darin Smith

Maddy summaryHB 270 changes Wyoming's spending policy for the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund by reducing the annual spending rate from 5% to 4.5% of the fund's five-year average market value. This adjustment directly affects how the state calculates and spends earnings from the trust fund's investments each fiscal year. The bill modifies Section 9-4-719(d)(v) of Wyoming law to implement this lower spending percentage. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, applying to all future fiscal years.

Maddy summaryHB 182 clarifies that for voting purposes in Wyoming, "residence" refers only to a person's primary home where they actually live and intend to return, excluding secondary or commercial addresses not used for habitation. The bill amends election code definitions to prevent voters from registering using vacation homes, rental properties, or business locations as their official residence. It directly affects Wyoming voters who might attempt to register at non-primary addresses. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and never became law, with no effective date implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's state guard laws to remove the requirement that the National Guard must be activated for U.S. service before the Wyoming State Guard can be organized. It eliminates federal oversight by removing the secretary of defense's role in governing the state guard and grants the governor sole authority to establish, maintain, and equip the force. The governor will now fund the state guard through a $25,000 state appropriation (expiring June 2026) instead of federal sources, with members receiving up to 75% of National Guard pay rates. This directly affects the governor, state guard members, and Wyoming's defense structure by shifting control and funding entirely to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 126 repeals a sales tax on services that repair, alter, or improve tangible personal property (like car repairs or home renovations) in Wyoming. This directly affects businesses providing these services and their customers, who will no longer pay this tax on such work. The bill amends tax code sections to remove the tax requirement for these services, while keeping sales tax on digital products separate. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2025, with the Department of Revenue required to adopt implementing rules by that date.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJ 11) requests Wyoming’s state officials to use legal tools to challenge financial institutions that allegedly prioritize non-financial, ideological factors (like "stakeholder capitalism") over financial returns in investment decisions. It specifically directs the attorney general to investigate and litigate against such practices, including joining ongoing antitrust lawsuits (like the coal industry case with Texas), and asks the state treasurer to select asset managers focused solely on maximizing returns. The resolution directly affects Wyoming’s sovereign wealth funds and investment policies by requiring decisions to align with the state’s financial interests under its "prudent investor rule." It does not create new laws but urges state agencies to leverage existing enforcement powers to counter what the resolution describes as collusive investment practices harming Wyoming’s industries.

Maddy summaryHB 227 sets a 30-day expiration limit for Wyoming governors' executive orders after the issuing governor leaves office, or at the end of their term - whichever comes first. It directly affects governors and state agencies implementing executive orders, requiring them to renew or replace orders before the 30-day window ends. The bill specifies that no executive order can remain effective beyond 30 days after a governor's departure from office. This applies to all executive orders issued on or after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date. The legislation aims to prevent long-term executive actions without legislative oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 173 modifies requirements for independent candidates running for partisan offices in Wyoming. It requires candidates to swear they are unaffiliated with major parties or not registered with one, increases the signature requirement from 2% to 5% of votes cast for the relevant office in the last general election, and extends the petition filing deadline from 70 to 81 days before the primary election. These changes directly affect independent candidates seeking statewide, county, or district offices. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 324 makes employees of Wyoming's secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction "at-will" employees, meaning these officials can terminate them at any time without cause (except for illegal reasons). It exempts these employees from standard executive branch personnel rules, including compensation plans, job classifications, and discipline procedures. The bill does not affect existing employment contracts signed before July 1, 2025, and specifically states it won't override contracts that already specify employment terms. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 106 establishes rules for how new vehicle dealers can set rates for warranty repairs. It allows dealers to set hourly labor rates and parts markup rates based on their actual non-warranty service pricing, requiring mutual agreement with manufacturers or submission of specific repair order data. The bill specifies calculations (dividing total charges by hours for labor, or parts charges by cost for markup) and excludes routine maintenance, collision repairs, and other non-qualifying work from rate calculations. Manufacturers must pay approved warranty claims within 30 days and follow new procedures for audits. This directly affects dealers who perform warranty work and manufacturers who pay for those services.