Sen. Jared Olsen

Maddy summaryHB 88 removes the requirement for public notice publication when minors seek name changes in Wyoming. Previously, courts had to publish notices in local newspapers for minor name change petitions, but this bill eliminates that step. The change directly affects minors and their families seeking to legally change a child's name, streamlining the court process. The law took effect on July 1, 2022, and applies to all name change petitions for minors filed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 147 changes Wyoming's state budget process by requiring that recommended spending for each two-year budget cycle cannot exceed two-thirds of the state's actual revenue from the previous three fiscal years. This limits how much the state can spend based on verified past revenue, excluding certain funds like pension reserves and unencumbered balances. The bill directly affects state budget planners, the governor's office, and the legislature when developing annual budgets. It repeals older budget rules about fund transfers and stabilization accounts, effective July 1, 2023. The key change is a new revenue-based spending cap to prevent budgeting based on projected or hypothetical revenue increases.

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 bill (SF 113) extends a property tax exemption to private, nonprofit community housing development organizations that receive funding from Wyoming's Community Development Authority (WCDA). It directly affects these affordable housing providers by exempting their owned property from local property taxes. The key provision adds a new exemption under Wyoming law (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xviii)(B)), which terminates if the organization sells or leases the property. The exemption became effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 149 prohibits abortions performed solely because of an unborn child's disability, sex, race, color, national origin, or ancestry. It directly affects health care providers who perform abortions, requiring them to avoid these specific reasons for termination. The bill imposes felony charges (up to 14 years imprisonment), civil liability for wrongful death, and potential license discipline for violations under Wyoming's health licensing laws. It also defines "disability" broadly to include conditions like Down syndrome and "lethal fetal anomaly" as a condition likely causing death within three months of birth.

Maddy summaryHB 135 creates Wyoming's "General Regulatory Sandbox Program," allowing businesses to temporarily test new products or services without full compliance with certain state regulations. It directly affects businesses seeking to innovate in Wyoming by requiring them to apply to the state council for limited, time-bound waivers of licensing or regulatory requirements. Key provisions include mandatory consumer safety assessments, requirements for businesses to maintain operations and records within Wyoming, and council oversight to ensure waivers don't violate federal law or endanger public health. The program aims to support business development while protecting consumers through structured testing protocols.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 64 (proposed in 2022) required public utilities operating coal-fired power plants over 200 megawatts to consider installing carbon capture technology if planning to retire those facilities. It gave utilities three options: install the technology themselves (with cost recovery rules), partner with a third party for installation, or sell the facility to a buyer who will install it, while requiring utilities to report on these plans. The bill also mandated the Public Service Commission to publish a list of retiring plants and hold hearings on third-party proposals for carbon capture. However, the bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on February 18, 2022, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 130 requires biennial salary adjustments for most full-time state employees in Wyoming, including those working for state agencies, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges, but excluding elected officials. The adjustments are based on a three-year average of Wyoming's cost-of-living index, applying to salaries up to $80,000, with a minimum of 0% and maximum of 3% per adjustment. The first adjustment takes effect July 1, 2024, and will occur every even-numbered year after. The bill also directs school districts to consider these same cost-of-living adjustments when calculating external cost adjustments for school funding.

Maddy summaryHB 143, the "Wyoming Patient Cannabis Act of 2022," proposes a legal framework for medical cannabis in Wyoming. It would allow patients with qualifying conditions (like chronic pain, cancer, or multiple sclerosis) to access cannabis products through licensed dispensaries, with caregivers permitted to assist them. The bill establishes licensing for cultivation facilities, testing labs, and dispensaries under the Wyoming Department of Revenue Liquor Division, prohibits local governments from banning such operations, and defines medical cannabis products while banning synthetic marijuana prescriptions. This would be the first state-regulated medical cannabis program in Wyoming, affecting patients, caregivers, and licensed businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 95 would provide a single, one-time benefit payment to retirees under specific Wyoming public employee retirement plans (including those for state workers, highway patrol, and firefighters). It requires the Wyoming Retirement System Board to study inflation impacts on retirees, current funding levels, and potential adjustments to benefit formulas. The bill mandates a detailed report by September 2022, analyzing plan costs, contribution rates, and whether endowments could fund future cost-of-living adjustments. The bill was introduced in February 2022 but was not considered for passage. It does not change existing benefit restrictions but seeks to address historical payment gaps.