Sen. Affie Ellis

Maddy summarySF 114, the "Employer Vaccination Mandate Law," prohibits Wyoming employers with two or more employees from requiring COVID-19 vaccines without offering specific exemptions. Employers must grant exemptions for medical reasons (with a healthcare provider's statement), religious beliefs (with a signed statement), documented immunity (via lab tests), regular testing (using FDA-approved tests), or use of employer-provided personal protective equipment. Employees who falsely claim an exemption face misdemeanor penalties, and employers cannot ban employees from receiving vaccines. The law excludes religious organizations and entities covered by federal rules, and requires employers to allow vaccine receipt without penalty.

Maddy summaryHB 82 redefines "honorable discharge" in Wyoming law to include veterans discharged "general or other than honorable solely for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine." This directly affects Wyoming veterans who were discharged for vaccine refusal during the pandemic, allowing them to qualify for state benefits and exemptions they previously lost. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 8-1-102 by adding a specific definition to include these veterans under "honorable discharge" for benefit eligibility. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, ensuring affected veterans can access state support without requiring additional legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 54 authorizes Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to lease state lands for recreational use and sell permits allowing public access to these areas. The bill establishes a system where funds from permit sales must be used for operations and maintenance of leased recreational sites, and permits may include restrictions like per-person or vehicle limits. It also allows the department to lease concessions (such as boat rentals or cabins) on leased lands under specific terms. The bill directly affects state parks management and recreational users who purchase permits or use concession services on state lands. This legislation modifies existing statutes (W.S. 36-4-103, 36-4-104, etc.) to clarify and expand the department's authority for managing recreational lands.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 109 prohibits members and staff of the state gaming commission from engaging in, investing in, or pursuing any business regulated by the commission, including horse racing betting or other gaming activities. It requires immediate disclosure and divestment of any such interests if they exist, and mandates that affected individuals recuse themselves from related commission decisions. This applies directly to commission members and staff who own or have family interests in regulated businesses, such as racetracks or casinos. The law, effective July 1, 2022, strengthens ethics safeguards by preventing conflicts of interest in gaming regulation. It amends existing rules to clarify prohibitions and repeals a duplicate provision.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Wyoming's legislature to reimburse students for non-public school education costs, but only for students aged 6-21 who are otherwise eligible for public school. The amendment would permit reimbursement up to the cost of public education in Wyoming, excluding expenses for out-of-state education, non-K-12 schooling, or education for students ineligible for public school. It does not require the legislature to fund such reimbursements, nor does it authorize payments exceeding public school costs. The proposal must be approved by Wyoming voters to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 112) limits how Wyoming cities and towns can collect past-due payments for trash, recycling, water, or sewer services. It states that municipalities may only recover such payments if a property owner has a specific written contract for that service. The law does not change existing contracts signed before the bill's effective date (July 1, 2022). It directly affects property owners who use municipal services and the cities/towns providing those services.

Maddy summaryThis bill corrects a drafting error in a 2021 law that accidentally repealed Wyoming’s entire 2020 gaming commission law instead of just one section. It specifically amends the 2021 law to clarify that only Section 1 of the 2020 law was intended to be repealed. The bill also retroactively ensures Wyoming Gaming Commission law enforcement officers are covered under the state retirement system from April 5, 2021, including all contributions made during that period. It directly affects Gaming Commission personnel by fixing the legal error and securing their retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1019 corrects a drafting error in Wyoming's 2021 gaming legislation that accidentally repealed the entire 2020 gaming commission law instead of just one section. It specifically amends the 2021 Act to clarify that only Section 1 of the 2020 Act is repealed, aligning with the legislature's original intent. The bill also retroactively ratifies retirement system participation for Wyoming Gaming Commission law enforcement officers from April 5, 2021, covering contributions made during that period. This directly affects Gaming Commission personnel by ensuring their retirement benefits are properly secured under state law.

2021/Summaries/SF0130.pdf

2021/Summaries/SF0068.pdf