Sen. Jared Olsen

Maddy summarySF 97 prohibits anyone except authorized election officials (county clerks or the secretary of state's designees) from sending absentee ballot application forms to voters unless the voter specifically requests one. This bill directly affects voters by preventing unsolicited mailings of ballot forms and restricts distribution to only those who explicitly ask for them. The key mechanism requires election officials to distribute forms only upon a qualified elector's specific solicitation, eliminating unsolicited outreach. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 144 creates special suicide awareness and prevention license plates for non-commercial vehicles. Vehicle owners pay a $150 initial fee plus a $50 annual fee, with all funds going to the state's 988 suicide prevention hotline system. The plates must display the national lifeline number (988), a slogan, and a symbol, and require 500 plates sold by 2033 to continue. The program begins January 1, 2025, and will terminate if the 500-plate threshold isn't met.

Maddy summaryHB 170 requires Wyoming state agencies to prepare detailed statements estimating the economic impact of new rules before implementation. These statements must analyze whether a rule could cause over $100,000 in aggregate costs within five years for economic growth, business competitiveness, or regulatory expenses, and specifically assess impacts on small businesses, counties, cities, and towns. Agencies must also consider lower-cost regulatory alternatives submitted by the public within 45 days of rule notice and provide written reasons if rejecting them. If a rule exceeds the $100,000 cost threshold, it cannot be enforced until approved by the legislature in the next session.

Maddy summaryHB 98 requires registered agents for Wyoming businesses to maintain current names and addresses of all entity owners (like partners, members, or shareholders) at the registered office. This applies to most businesses, except those with over 100 owners, which are exempted. Registered agents must update this information within 60 days of any change and keep it available for inspection. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 180 amends Wyoming's Controlled Substances Act to clarify and streamline property forfeiture procedures related to drug violations. It specifies that property subject to forfeiture includes controlled substances, equipment used in drug manufacturing, vehicles transporting drugs, buildings used for drug activity, and money traceable to drug offenses. The bill requires courts to issue notices to potential owners or lienholders before final forfeiture, giving them 30-60 days to contest the seizure, and mandates that property used without the owner's knowledge cannot be forfeited. This directly affects property owners involved in drug-related cases by altering the legal process for government seizure of assets.

Maddy summaryHB 204 would decriminalize small amounts of cannabis in Wyoming by replacing criminal penalties with civil fines. It eliminates criminal charges for possessing up to 3 ounces of marijuana in plant form or 16 ounces of edibles, while creating specific civil penalties for exceeding these limits. The bill also removes marijuana possession and paraphernalia from criminal law and allows medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis (after FDA approval), aligning with medical use standards. This primarily affects adults in Wyoming who possess small amounts for personal use or seek medical cannabis treatment.

Maddy summaryHB 195, the "Defend the Guard Act," prohibits the Wyoming National Guard from being deployed into active duty combat unless the U.S. Congress has officially declared war or taken specific constitutional action under Article I, Section 8. It defines "active duty combat" as participating in armed conflicts, hazardous services related to conflicts abroad, or duties involving war instruments. The bill requires the governor to prevent such deployments without these congressional actions, while allowing Title 32 deployments for domestic missions within the U.S. and its territories. This law directly affects Wyoming National Guard members and their deployment authority, taking effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HJ 6 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose constitutional amendments. The convention would be limited to addressing federal fiscal issues (like debt and spending), restricting federal power over states, and setting term limits for federal officials and Congress. The resolution includes specific safeguards, such as requiring two-thirds of states to agree on the same purpose before Congress acts, ensuring states vote one state, one vote, and explicitly excluding any changes to the Bill of Rights. This resolution serves as Wyoming's continuing application until two-thirds of states support identical proposals.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SJ 4 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments focused on fiscal restraint, limiting federal power, and setting term limits for federal officials. The resolution specifies that the convention must not consider changes to the Bill of Rights and must operate with each state having one vote. The bill failed to pass during introduction in the Wyoming Senate on February 15, 2024, with 17 votes in favor and 14 against. This procedural resolution does not directly change laws but seeks to initiate a state-driven process for potential constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 85 would require social media companies to obtain parental permission before minors under 18 can create accounts on their platforms. It defines "minor" as unmarried, unemancipated Wyoming residents under 18 and mandates platforms to verify consent through rules created by the attorney general. The law would deny access to minors who haven't provided verified parental consent, with enforcement under Wyoming's Consumer Protection Act. The bill failed committee review in February 2024 and is not currently law.