Sen. Jared Olsen

Maddy summaryHB 106 decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana in Wyoming by replacing criminal penalties with civil fines. It eliminates jail time for possessing up to 3 ounces of marijuana in plant form or equivalent amounts in edibles (up to 16 ounces), paraphernalia, or other forms. The bill also removes marijuana possession as a criminal offense but does not legalize recreational use or expand medical access - doctors remain restricted to prescribing only FDA-approved products like dronabinol. This change affects individuals caught with specified small quantities, shifting enforcement from criminal courts to civil penalties. The bill was introduced in 2022 but was not advanced for consideration.

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 summaryWyoming's HJ 2 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically asks for a convention limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and set term limits for federal officials and Congress members. The resolution includes strict conditions, such as prohibiting any consideration of changes to the Bill of Rights and requiring Congress to call the convention only if two-thirds of states request it for the same purpose. The bill failed to advance in the Wyoming legislature (21-37 vote) and remains a procedural request to Congress, not a binding law.

Maddy summaryHB 111 requires the Wyoming Retirement Board to study and report on public employee retirement plans, including those for state employees, highway patrol officers, game wardens, and firefighters. The report must examine inflation's impact on retirees since 2012 (when cost-of-living adjustments were restricted), analyze plan funding levels, and recommend adjustments to benefit payments while keeping plans financially sustainable. It directly affects retirees who have not received cost-of-living increases since 2012 and will inform potential future legislation. The bill, introduced in 2022 but failed committee passage, mandates the report be submitted by September 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 prohibits Wyoming public entities from enforcing federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers with 100+ employees or healthcare providers in Medicare/Medicaid programs. It creates a new state law (W.S. 9-14-103) making it a misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail or $750 fine) for public entities to comply with such federal rules until federal court challenges are resolved. The bill authorizes Wyoming’s attorney general to sue federal agencies over these mandates and appropriates $1 million for legal action. It directly affects Wyoming state agencies, local governments, and employers subject to federal vaccine requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming state government agencies from enforcing federal mandates requiring employers to ensure employees receive COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing. It specifically blocks enforcement until federal regulations are legally confirmed after all court challenges are resolved. The law also appropriates $1 million for the attorney general to challenge federal mandates in court, aiming to protect citizens' rights to make personal health decisions without government coercion. It directly affects Wyoming public entities (like state agencies) and employers subject to federal rules, but does not apply to private businesses.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 1001 prohibits most employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. It allows exceptions only for employers who document that vaccination is critical for workplace safety and provide medical/religious exemptions, along with reasonable alternatives like reassignment or testing. Employers violating the law face $100 daily penalties, and must offer severance pay if employees leave due to non-compliant mandates. The bill specifically addresses healthcare employers and creates a program for antibody testing, while citing staffing shortages as its legislative motivation.

Maddy summaryHB 1001 prohibits Wyoming employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment, except in limited circumstances. It mandates employers to provide medical and religious exemptions, offer reasonable alternatives (like reassignment or testing), and pay severance to employees who leave due to non-compliant mandates. The law applies broadly but specifically addresses critical staffing shortages in healthcare, requiring employers to document workplace safety justifications for any exceptions. It also creates programs for employer-funded testing and adjusts worker's compensation to cover vaccine-related injuries.

2021/Summaries/SF0130.pdf

2021/Summaries/HB0127.pdf