Rep. Jim Blackburn

Maddy summaryHB 137 requires the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners to post public notice online for any proposed exchange of state-owned land. It applies to anyone - including government agencies - seeking to swap state land, mandating the Board post notice within 30 days of receiving an application and keep it visible until a final decision is made. The notice must include how the public can access details and submit comments. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with rules to be established by the Board by that date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 77 reduces the residency requirement for filing a name change petition. It changes the rule from requiring 2 years of county residency to just 60 days immediately before filing. This directly affects individuals seeking to legally change their names in Wyoming county courts. The bill amends Wyoming Statute 1-25-102 and takes effect immediately upon becoming law. The change simplifies the process for residents who have lived in a county for a shorter period.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 141 appropriates $1.2 million from Wyoming's general fund to the Governor's office for lawsuits challenging state or federal laws that block Wyoming coal exports or cause early closures of coal-fired power plants using Wyoming coal. The funds are specifically for litigation to defend Wyoming's coal industry against legal actions that impede coal exports or force plant shutdowns. The appropriation expires on June 30, 2030, with unspent funds reverting to the state treasury. The Governor and Attorney General must submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing how the funds were used in these lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 140 requires landowners to obtain a permit from their county commission before creating a conservation easement, effective July 1, 2022. It limits all new conservation easements to a maximum 30-year duration (with possible renewal) and establishes a formal application process including survey requirements and a 45-day review timeline by the county board. The bill also mandates that county commissions adopt rules for implementation and specifies that fees for permits (capped at processing costs) fund the county general fund. This directly affects landowners seeking to create easements, county commissions managing permits, and the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Account, which cannot fund non-compliant easements.

Maddy summaryHB 139 prohibits Wyoming state agencies and local governments from using public funds or staff resources for projects involving permanent conservation easements or federal conservation efforts. It specifically restricts compliance with the Biden administration's goal to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030, requiring state agencies to host workshops on tax impacts of conservation easements and track local resolutions opposing the federal mandate. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to maintain online lists of jurisdictions supporting or opposing the 30x30 goal and designates a state coordinator for federal climate programs. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, landowners, and agricultural/mining industries by limiting state cooperation with federal conservation programs. The bill failed to pass in 2022 (30-30 vote).

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 138 creates the Hope Scholarship Program, providing state-funded scholarships to eligible Wyoming K-12 students. It directly affects Wyoming residents enrolled in public schools who qualify (e.g., attending public school for 45+ days annually), with funds usable at participating private schools. The program establishes a scholarship account funded through state education appropriations (2% of public school funding or per-student amounts), administered by a nine-member board including state education officials. Funds cover qualifying education expenses, with annual transfers from the state education budget to the scholarship program fund. The bill defines key terms like "eligible recipient" and "participating schools" but does not specify implementation timelines beyond the 2023 fiscal year.

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 summaryHB 132 creates a new standing committee called the "Federal Review Committee" within Wyoming's legislature. This committee would review all federal laws, regulations, and actions to determine if they infringe on Wyoming's sovereignty or violate the U.S. Constitution as defined during ratification debates. The committee must disregard U.S. Supreme Court interpretations when making these determinations and would sponsor legislation based on its findings. The bill directly affects the Wyoming legislature by establishing this new committee with specific constitutional review powers.

2021/Summaries/HB0187.pdf