Sen. Chris Rothfuss

Maddy summaryHB 138 requires Wyoming school districts to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based suicide prevention education to students. It directly affects all public school districts and their students across the state. The bill mandates that programs align with existing state materials under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxv) and training requirements in W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxiii). The law was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, if passed. This is a policy change requiring specific educational programming in schools, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 168 allows licensed custom exempt meat processors in Wyoming to sell their products directly to consumers at retail. This affects small meat processing facilities that already operate under specific federal exemptions (9 C.F.R. 303.1) for processing carcasses for individual customers. The bill creates a new law (W.S. 35-7-128) explicitly permitting these processors to offer retail sales without needing additional permits. The change takes effect July 1, 2023, enabling local producers to sell directly to shoppers while maintaining existing inspection standards.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 192 requires all public school districts to provide daily lunch to every enrolled student starting in the 2023-2024 school year. It creates a state financial assistance program covering up to 50% of unpaid meal costs from the previous school year, funded by $150,000 in state appropriations (with $75,000 available annually). School districts must apply by September 30 each year, charge a state-determined minimum meal price, and report program details to the education department. The law directly affects all Wyoming public school districts and their students, with funds administered by the state education department through a new rulemaking process.

Maddy summaryHB 203 repeals two reserve accounts for Wyoming's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund (PMTF) and Common School Permanent Fund (CSPLF), eliminating their specific spending policies. It transfers funds previously held in these accounts to other designated state funds, simplifying the management of public funds. The bill removes outdated provisions related to these reserve structures and updates fund distribution rules. This change directly affects how Wyoming allocates excess investment earnings from these permanent funds.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 175 requires all public school districts, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges to adopt written policies prohibiting hazing. These policies must define hazing (as intentional acts causing harm or embarrassment for group membership), include reporting procedures (with anonymous options), specify consequences for violations, and protect against retaliation for reporting. The law mandates that school districts create these policies by July 1, 2024, with the state education department developing model guidelines by November 2023. It directly affects students, staff, and school communities by establishing clear standards to prevent hazing in educational settings.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 193 repeals energy standards requiring public utilities to provide "reliable and dispatchable low-carbon" electricity. The bill removes definitions for "dispatchable" and "reliable" energy from state law, effectively eliminating the previous requirement for utilities to meet specific low-carbon generation targets. It mandates that utilities refund customers for rates collected under the repealed standards (with exceptions for costs already spent on carbon capture technology before the bill's effective date), and requires the Public Service Commission to issue implementing rules. This bill directly affects Wyoming's electricity providers and their customers by changing compliance requirements and financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 115 reorganizes Wyoming's election administration by designating the state canvassing board (led by the secretary of state) as the central authority responsible for overseeing elections statewide. It directly affects county clerks, who will now operate under the board's supervision, and voters, whose felony conviction status will be verified through the board's electronic voter registration system instead of county-level processes. Key provisions include defining the "state canvassing board" in statute, requiring the board to maintain election law uniformity, and streamlining voter registration checks for felony convictions without requiring fingerprints or fees. The bill amends over 40 election code sections to centralize these responsibilities but was not advanced beyond introduction in 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 273 amends Wyoming's game and fish trespass law to require that a person must "knowingly" enter private property to hunt, fish, collect antlers, or trap without permission for it to be a violation. This change clarifies that accidental or unintentional entry does not constitute a trespass under this statute. The bill directly affects hunters, anglers, and trappers who might enter private land without authorization, ensuring the law applies only to intentional violations. It does not change penalties or create new regulations, merely specifying the required mental state for the offense. The amendment becomes effective July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHB 110 designates June 19 as Juneteenth, a state holiday in Wyoming, to be observed annually on that date. It requires all state agencies, including the University of Wyoming, to update their holiday policies and personnel rules to recognize Juneteenth as a paid day off for employees. The bill repeals prior Juneteenth holiday provisions and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 180) amends trespass laws to create an exception for incidental contact when moving between adjacent land parcels. It directly affects landowners and individuals authorized to access two connected parcels of land that share a common corner. The key provision states that a person does not commit criminal trespass or game/fish trespass if they accidentally touch or pass through another person's land while traveling between two parcels they are permitted to access. This change applies to both general trespass and hunting/fishing trespass laws, effective July 1, 2023.