Sen. Stephan Pappas

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.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 39 allows vehicle owners to automatically transfer title to a named beneficiary upon death, bypassing probate. Owners complete a beneficiary designation form listing the vehicle details, all current owners, and the beneficiary's name, then sign it. Upon the owner's death, the beneficiary presents the form, proof of death, and a fee to the county clerk to receive a new title - without needing court involvement or the estate's approval. This applies only to vehicles with a properly executed form and does not affect existing liens or ownership interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Wyoming county treasurers to accept applications and payments for wildlife conservation license plates, expanding the current process that only involved the state department. Vehicle owners who register non-commercial vehicles can pay a one-time $150 fee plus a $50 annual fee (waived the first year) to receive these plates, with optional voluntary donations for wildlife conservation related to transportation. All fees collected under this bill are directed to a new wildlife conservation account within the state highway fund. It directly affects Wyoming residents who register personal vehicles and wish to support wildlife conservation through their license plate choice.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a state tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as cigars and smokeless tobacco. It directly affects businesses that sell these non-cigarette tobacco products by removing their tax obligation and eliminating a requirement to dispose of confiscated cigarettes. The bill also amends definitions related to "cigarettes" and "wholesalers" in Wyoming's tax code and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025. These changes simplify tax compliance for affected businesses without altering the existing cigarette tax.

Maddy summaryHB 320 creates the Taxation and Revenue Task Force 2028 to study how local governments, school districts, and special districts in Wyoming fund essential services. The task force, composed of legislative members, county/city representatives, school district leaders, and revenue experts, must analyze current revenue sources to determine if they cover services and meet constitutional requirements for equal education funding. It will develop recommendations for sustainable revenue solutions through 2050, including potential legislation, and report findings to the governor and legislature by December 2026. This bill does not change tax laws but directs a study to address long-term revenue needs for local services and schools.

Maddy summaryHB 178 increases Wyoming employees' time off to vote from one hour to two hours during election hours (polling hours) for primary, general, or special elections to fill a U.S. House of Representatives seat. It ensures employees do not lose pay for this time off when they cast a legal vote, applying to all eligible voters except those with three or more consecutive nonworking hours during polling. The bill modifies existing law (W.S. 22-2-111) to clarify these provisions and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects Wyoming workers participating in federal elections who need to vote during standard work hours.

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 summaryThis bill (SF 185) requires Wyoming public entities (like cities, counties, school districts, and the state) to sell government-owned property not used for "governmental purposes" after 10 consecutive years of non-use, with a deadline of January 1, 2027. It defines "governmental purpose" to include health/safety facilities, education, infrastructure, and administrative buildings, but explicitly excludes recreational properties (like campgrounds and movie theaters), leased commercial spaces, and idle land. Property required by law (such as state lands managed by the Board of Land Commissioners) is exempt from this requirement. The law aims to ensure government assets are used for public services or sold, reducing unused public holdings.

Maddy summaryHB 213 requires landlords in Wyoming to ensure all residential rental units have operational electrical, heating, plumbing, and hot/cold running water, removing a prior exception that allowed written agreements to waive this requirement. This directly affects landlords and tenants in standard residential rentals across Wyoming, effective July 1, 2025. The bill eliminates the ability for landlords to bypass utility maintenance through written agreements, mandating these basic amenities as standard. Seasonal rentals like summer cabins remain exempt, as specified in the amended law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 230 creates a task force to study interstate highway traffic and authorizes up to $250 million from the state mineral trust fund to provide loans for highway construction projects. It requires annual $50 million transfers from the legislative stabilization reserve fund starting in 2026 to repay these loans, with interest rates set by the state treasurer. The bill specifically directs funding for adding passing lanes on segments of U.S. Highway 20 (between Casper and Thermopolis) and expanding U.S. Highway 287 near Laramie to four lanes. These provisions directly affect Wyoming's transportation infrastructure and the state's budget allocation for highway projects.