Sen. Affie Ellis

Maddy summarySF 92 prohibits adult sex offenders required to register under Wyoming law for offenses involving minor victims from applying for or accepting employment or volunteer positions involving direct interaction with minors (either as co-workers or when providing services to unaccompanied minors). Offenders may seek court relief through a petition requiring proof they pose no substantial risk of reoffending, with a hearing and prosecutor notification. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors with up to six months in jail or a $750 fine. The law applies to positions beginning July 1, 2024, and does not affect existing positions.

Maddy summaryHB 175 allows Wyoming school districts to request fingerprint-based background checks for volunteers who regularly interact with or have unsupervised access to minors in K-12 schools. Previously, such checks applied only to school employees, but this bill extends the requirement to volunteers meeting these specific access criteria. School districts must cover all costs for the fingerprinting and background check process. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 89 gives Wyoming county clerks authority to reject or note filings as "frivolous" if they lack legal or factual basis or are filed for improper purposes like harassment. County clerks must first seek a district court ruling after providing notice and a hearing opportunity to the filer before rejecting a filing or adding a "frivolous" notation. If a court declares a filing frivolous, the clerk must refund any filing fee within 10 days and the filing gains no legal effect. This bill directly affects county clerks (who implement the process) and individuals or entities submitting court documents (who may face rejection or notations).

Maddy summaryHB 206 requires criminal background checks for all personnel directly involved in Wyoming's horse racing and pari-mutuel betting events. It specifically applies to roles like jockeys, trainers, mutuel employees, grooms, farriers, and others with access to restricted areas or wagering systems. The bill mandates that these individuals submit fingerprints for checks through the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation before working at events. This policy aims to prevent individuals with criminal histories from participating in regulated betting activities, as defined by the Wyoming Gaming Commission's rules.

Maddy summaryHB 185 exempts qualifying oil and gas producers from specific severance taxes when using enhanced recovery techniques with Wyoming-sourced carbon dioxide. It provides a 50% exemption on one tax portion and a 100% exemption on another tax portion for production meeting strict criteria, including use of carbon capture technology and Wyoming-origin CO2. Producers must apply for the exemption, and the state must report annual revenue impacts to legislative committees. The exemption expires on July 1, 2032, applying only to production completed before that date. This directly affects oil and gas companies using enhanced recovery methods with in-state CO2.

Maddy summaryHB 216 would have removed a requirement for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Wyoming to obtain additional "advanced certification" to provide hospital care. Instead, it would have allowed hospitals to set their own physician oversight rules through their medical staff bylaws, rather than mandating certification through the Board of Nursing. The bill proposed this change take effect on July 1, 2024. However, the bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 16, 2024, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Wyoming Dividend Account" within the state's legislative stabilization fund. It would allow the legislature to distribute cash payments to qualifying Wyoming residents annually, based on specific eligibility criteria (e.g., full-year residency, no felony convictions in the prior year, not claimed as a dependent on federal taxes). Funding for these payments would come from 0.5% of annual investment earnings from Wyoming's mineral trust fund, with the remainder going to other state accounts. The bill failed to advance in the legislature (12-19 vote on February 14, 2024) and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 174 creates a new Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board to oversee public charter schools statewide. The board, consisting of five members (including the state superintendent and appointees from the governor, Senate, and House), will approve, renew, and oversee charter schools under specific quality standards. The bill modifies how charter schools are authorized (replacing school district oversight with the state board), adjusts funding rules, and requires transparency in decision-making. This directly affects public charter schools, their governing boards, and the state education department as the local education agency.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 94 codifies the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into state law, directly affecting Indian children and their tribes in custody cases. The bill establishes that tribes have primary authority over child custody proceedings for Indian children living on reservations or with significant tribal ties, requiring state courts to transfer cases to tribal courts when appropriate. It mandates that state courts notify tribes, parents, and Indian custodians at least 10 days before decisions on shelter care or parental rights termination, and requires Wyoming to honor tribal court decisions in these matters. The law defines key terms like "Indian child" (under 18 and a tribal member or eligible for membership) and "tribal court" to ensure consistent application.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how court reporter fees are set in Wyoming. It requires district courts to establish fees for transcripts, records, and other papers through rules created by the district court judicial conference (instead of fixed statutory amounts). The bill repeals existing fee structures and takes effect July 1, 2023. It directly affects court reporters and individuals needing court documents in civil cases, as fees will now be determined locally by court rules rather than statewide.