Sen. Chris Rothfuss

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 80 amends definitions in solid waste management law to clarify what constitutes solid waste and recycling facilities. It excludes certain materials (like post-use polymers processed through advanced recycling) from "solid waste" definitions and creates new terms for "advanced recycling" (using processes like pyrolysis) and "advanced recycling facilities." This change specifically affects recycling operations that convert plastic waste into raw materials, removing them from standard solid waste management regulations. The bill requires the Environmental Quality Council to create implementing rules, with most provisions effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 96 clarifies that certain custodial and fiduciary accounts held by banks - where customers' assets (including digital assets) are managed - cannot be treated as the bank's assets during bankruptcy or receivership. The bill requires banks to keep these assets fully segregated from their own funds, maintain separate accounting, and use written agreements explicitly stating customers retain ownership. It specifically governs digital asset handling, allowing stablecoin reserves and third-party trading platforms under strict segregation rules, while prohibiting commingling of customer assets with the bank’s or third parties’ assets. This directly affects banks offering digital asset custody services and their customers by ensuring asset protection in financial distress.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 114) requires local governments (counties, cities, towns) to recognize contractor licenses issued by other Wyoming jurisdictions. It ensures contractors with active, good-standing licenses from one area can work elsewhere in Wyoming without paying new fees or retaking tests - only minimal verification (like proof of license validity) is allowed. The law does not force recognition for unrelated license types and lets localities maintain their own application processes for work outside a contractor’s original license scope. It applies to all Wyoming local governments issuing contractor licenses and takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 145) defines "customer" to include natural persons or their agents/trustees for open banking purposes. It requires banks to obtain a customer's express written consent before sharing any data with third parties, and limits shared data to what is strictly necessary for the customer to receive a financial product or service. The law directly affects Wyoming residents who use banking services and banks offering open banking features. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, and does not create new services but sets clear rules for data sharing.

Maddy summaryHB 134 revises Wyoming's property tax deferral program for primary residences under 40 acres. It shifts administration to the Department of Revenue, limits deferrals to half the annual property taxes owed, and changes interest calculations (to 4% compounded or based on treasury yields). The bill requires annual financial verification from applicants and ties deferrals to available state funding, ending automatic deferrals if funds run short. This directly affects qualifying homeowners who own their primary residence on small parcels, ensuring they must re-qualify yearly and face potential immediate payment if their financial situation changes.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 82 (Summer Vacation Preservation Act) reduces the minimum required school year from 175 to 165 days and mandates that public school years begin after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day, unless the state board approves an alternative schedule. The bill requires school districts to hold public meetings before proposing alternative schedules and annually evaluate their effectiveness. It also adjusts funding calculations, changing the required minimum operating days for full foundation funding from 185 to 170 days. These changes apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, affecting all Wyoming public school districts and their funding.

Maddy summaryHB 54 designates the third Tuesday in May as "Wyoming Reads Day" to recognize efforts supporting early childhood literacy, primarily honoring John and Sue Jorgensen. The bill requires public schools, state/local governments, and organizations to appropriately observe the day through celebrations that promote reading. It mandates the governor issue an annual proclamation for the observance but explicitly states the day does not authorize school or business closures, nor affect legal agreements or court proceedings. This is a ceremonial measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.

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.