Rep. John Eklund

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 165) amends Wyoming's election law (W.S. 22-3-116) to update how county clerks notify voters about potential registration cancellations. It allows county clerks to send cancellation notices via email in addition to mailing them, while keeping the current 20-day window for voters to request their name remain on the registry. The bill directly affects voters whose registrations may be canceled (e.g., due to inactivity or moving) and county clerks managing voter rolls. It does not change the requirement to notify voters before cancellation or the exceptions (like voting in another state or written request). The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's election code to change deadlines for forming new political parties. It requires petitions to form a new party to be filed with the Secretary of State no later than June 1 before a general election year (previously May 1), and allows petition circulation to begin no earlier than April 1 of the preceding year (previously March 1). These changes directly affect groups seeking to establish new political parties in Wyoming that want to qualify for the general election ballot. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 219 grants permanent rights for existing county and municipal roads to use state and school lands without fees. It applies to roads established before January 1, 2025, that already cross state/school lands. The bill requires counties and cities to submit documentation by April 2030 to secure these rights, with the state land board handling recording and fees. New roads built after 2025 must follow separate procedures, not automatic rights. This directly affects local governments managing roads on public lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal process for electric utilities to gain a prescriptive easement (a legal right to use land) for power lines after five years of continuous, uninterrupted use without landowner permission. It directly affects landowners whose property is used for power lines and electric utilities that maintain delivery systems. Key provisions require utilities to provide 30 days' written notice to landowners before recording the easement, maintain the system while minimizing disruption (including 72-hour notice for temporary infrastructure removal), and compensate landowners for direct damages. The easement width must match industry standards for safe operation, and the law explicitly states it doesn’t override existing easements or property rights.

Maddy summaryHB 229 designates the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum in Laramie County as a state historic site managed by Wyoming's Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. The bill requires the department to create a strategic master plan for preservation and operations within one year, including partnerships with local entities, and authorizes fees to fund site maintenance, development, and staff. These fees must be deposited into the state parks account, with annual financial reports submitted to the legislature. The bill also specifies $3.3 million in existing funds for site operations, effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $79 million from Wyoming's general fund to remodel the state veterans' home in Buffalo, Wyoming. It specifies that construction costs must not exceed $103.85 million total, including state funds, federal funds received for the facility, and other authorized spending. The bill requires federal funds received for the veterans' home to offset the state appropriation dollar-for-dollar, reducing the state's required contribution. Any unspent state funds remaining after project completion must revert to the general fund, per state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates over $143 million in state funds to address wildfire impacts in Wyoming from 2024. It provides $1 million for wildfire suppression coordination, $30 million to the state fire suppression account, and $100 million for restoring vegetation, habitats, and public infrastructure on both private and state lands, plus $10 million for water system repairs. A steering committee - including state agency representatives, legislators, and agricultural experts - will review grant applications and recommend fund distribution, with annual reports due until December 2026. The bill directly affects landowners, communities, state agencies, and wildfire-impacted areas by funding immediate restoration and prevention efforts.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 181) establishes new rules for using eminent domain to take private land for energy collector systems (like solar or wind infrastructure) connected to commercial electricity facilities. It requires developers to negotiate with landowners to secure agreements covering at least 85% of the affected land or 85% of landowners (if three or more are involved) before seeking condemnation. The bill also mandates proof of these negotiations to courts, sets minimum compensation standards based on fair market value, and requires 30 days' notice to county and local officials before filing a condemnation case. These provisions directly affect landowners whose property may be taken and energy developers seeking to expand electricity infrastructure.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 63 allows property owners adjacent to state lands (without a lease) to build legal partition fences along those boundaries. The state lands office will cover half the construction cost, and both parties share maintenance costs based on their interest in the fence. The bill requires the state lands office to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2025, except for rulemaking and effective date provisions that take effect immediately upon enactment. This directly affects landowners bordering state lands and the state lands office.

Maddy summaryHB 168 prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat in Wyoming. It directly affects businesses producing or selling lab-grown meat products within the state. The bill defines "cultivated meat" as meat grown from cultured animal cells in a lab (not harvested from animals) and bans its sale under state law, with penalties including license suspension for violators. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, except for implementation rules that take effect immediately upon passage.