Sen. Affie Ellis

Maddy summaryHB 126 clarifies that home-based child care provided in a private residence (for up to 15 children regularly) is considered a "residential use" of property. This means property covenants that only allow "residential" uses cannot block family day care operations, unless the covenant explicitly and clearly prohibits child care. The law applies to existing and future property covenants that don't address child care directly. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, directly affecting homeowners operating family day care in their residences.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 96 clarifies that certain custodial and fiduciary accounts held by banks - where customers' assets (including digital assets) are managed - cannot be treated as the bank's assets during bankruptcy or receivership. The bill requires banks to keep these assets fully segregated from their own funds, maintain separate accounting, and use written agreements explicitly stating customers retain ownership. It specifically governs digital asset handling, allowing stablecoin reserves and third-party trading platforms under strict segregation rules, while prohibiting commingling of customer assets with the bank’s or third parties’ assets. This directly affects banks offering digital asset custody services and their customers by ensuring asset protection in financial distress.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund to support recreational and tourism projects across the state. It creates a 9-member board (appointed by the governor) to manage the fund, approve grants for recreation projects, and ensure projects benefit both residents and visitors. The board must prioritize multi-partner projects, consult with tribal governments, and consider community impacts when reviewing grant applications. Funds will support small projects approved directly by the board and larger projects requiring legislative committee review.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 61) allows charter schools to directly apply for and receive federal and state education grants by treating them as local education agencies (LEAs). It requires school districts to pay charter schools based on specific funding formulas and repeals previous rules designating school districts as the LEA for charter schools. Charter schools will now handle special education services for their students under federal law. The changes take effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 145) defines "customer" to include natural persons or their agents/trustees for open banking purposes. It requires banks to obtain a customer's express written consent before sharing any data with third parties, and limits shared data to what is strictly necessary for the customer to receive a financial product or service. The law directly affects Wyoming residents who use banking services and banks offering open banking features. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not create new services but sets clear rules for data sharing.

Maddy summaryHB 141 requires Wyoming's land board to verify if oil and gas lease applicants meet defined qualifications before issuing new leases on state lands. If the highest bidder is unqualified, the board must consider the next highest bid instead. Unqualified applicants face a civil penalty equal to their bid amount, recoverable by the attorney general. The law applies only to new leases and does not affect existing agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires e-cigarette and vapor material manufacturers to certify their products meet U.S. FDA requirements (either via marketing authorization or premarket application) and submit this information to Wyoming's Department of Revenue by October 1, 2024, and annually after. It creates a public directory of compliant products, prohibiting the sale of any e-cigarettes or vapor products not listed in this directory starting October 2024. Sellers (including retailers, distributors, and wholesalers) must maintain records and comply with biannual inspections, with penalties including fines for false certifications or selling unlisted products.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 76) updates prostitution and solicitation laws by expanding the definition of prohibited acts to explicitly include "sexual contact" and "sexual intrusion" as defined in existing law. It affects individuals engaging in or soliciting commercial sexual acts, now covering specific acts previously not explicitly listed under these statutes. The bill maintains the same penalties: up to six months in jail, a $750 fine, or both for violations. The law becomes effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 77 amends Wyoming's simple assault and domestic assault laws to explicitly include "threatening or menacing conduct" that causes someone to reasonably fear immediate physical harm. It expands the definition so that making another person feel in danger of being physically hurt - through words, gestures, or actions - now qualifies as assault, not just physical attempts. This change directly affects individuals accused of simple assault or domestic assault in Wyoming, applying to all offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024. The bill does not alter penalties but clarifies that verbal threats or menacing behavior alone can constitute a crime.

Maddy summarySF 84 sets limits on fees school districts can charge for renting their facilities in Wyoming. It requires districts to charge no more than the *additional* costs incurred for each specific rental (like extra utilities or cleaning), provide a clear breakdown of those costs, and keep fees consistent for similar uses. This directly affects school districts (who set the fees) and renters (like community groups or businesses using school buildings). The law takes effect July 1, 2024.