Rep. Karlee Provenza

Maddy summaryWyoming's SJ 9 is a joint resolution urging Congress to protect the state's access to federal public lands while ensuring local communities have a say in land management decisions. It opposes broad or indiscriminate sales of public lands and demands federal agencies respect Wyoming's existing land-use plans, county-level input, and multiple-use frameworks that support recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, and resource development. The resolution also calls for funding to streamline efficient land exchanges under current laws when they benefit local communities and public access, without advocating for specific policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming's state engineer to conduct groundwater studies every decade in counties with designated groundwater control areas. The studies must assess water usage, determine necessary controls to replenish underground water systems, and may include mapping or test wells. Results must be publicly shared and reported to a legislative committee within 15 days of completion. The state engineer's office is allocated $250,000 specifically for this study, which must be finished by June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows hunters who have shot a black bear to use one leashed blood-trailing dog to track and recover the animal within 72 hours of the shot. It directly affects hunters who harvest black bears in Wyoming, permitting this specific tracking method under defined conditions. The key provision requires the dog to remain leashed and limits tracking to wounded or killed bears within the 72-hour window. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 26 exempts vehicles owned by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes (Wind River Indian Reservation) from Wyoming's county and state vehicle registration fees. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include tribal government vehicles under the exemption list, which previously covered federal/state/local governments and certain districts. This change applies only to vehicles used for tribal operations, not commercial activity. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects tribal governments' operational costs for their official vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 133 changes how conservation district supervisors are elected in Wyoming. It requires new districts to elect five supervisors: three rural agricultural residents (one specifically for production agriculture), one urban resident, and one at-large candidate, all serving staggered terms. The bill defines "production agriculture" as commercial farming, ranching, or crop production and mandates that at least two supervisors must be rural residents actively involved in such work. These rules apply to supervisors elected on or after July 1, 2026, the bill's effective date. The bill does not alter existing supervisors' terms but sets new election standards for future appointments.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill prohibits state and local government agencies from using artificial intelligence to assign "social scores" based on personal behavior or characteristics, which could lead to unfair treatment (like denying services for unrelated reasons). It specifically bans AI systems from identifying individuals using biometric data (e.g., fingerprints, facial recognition) without consent, except for health data covered under HIPAA. The law applies broadly to all government entities - including counties, schools, and departments - excluding universities and certain health districts. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 138, the "Reproductive Freedom Act," proposes to protect abortion access in Wyoming by prohibiting the state from interfering with a person's right to have an abortion before fetal viability (when the fetus can survive outside the womb) or to protect the person's life or health. It defines key terms like "abortion" and "viability," sets penalties for unauthorized abortions (misdemeanor with up to one year in jail or $5,000 fine), and ensures state regulations must be medically necessary and impose the least restrictions possible. The bill also allows healthcare providers and facilities to refuse participation in abortions without discrimination and prohibits state penalties for aiding abortion seekers. This proposed bill, introduced in February 2026 but not yet considered for debate, would replace current abortion laws if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 166 reclassifies marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance under Wyoming law, directly affecting medical users and providers who previously relied on state-recognized prescriptions. The bill amends definitions to clarify that "edible products" containing THC (like gummies or baked goods) and "analog" substances with similar effects to marijuana are included in this classification. Crucially, it prohibits practitioners from prescribing or dispensing marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or synthetic equivalents - even for medical use - unless the substance has U.S. FDA approval (like dronabinol). This would effectively ban medical marijuana in Wyoming while maintaining existing penalties for possession under Schedule III rules. The bill is pending, having been assigned a number in 2026 but not yet considered for introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 149 prohibits individuals convicted of specific offenses against minors or under investigation for child abuse/neglect from administering home-based educational programs in Wyoming. It bans parents/guardians with recent convictions (within 7 years) for offenses like child abuse, sexual assault, or crimes involving minors (as listed in subsection 21-4-102(b)(i)), unless the conviction was reversed, annulled, or pardoned. The bill also restricts anyone advised by child protective services not to start home schooling during an active abuse/neglect investigation. Parents already running home schools before an investigation may continue, but must appeal restrictions through administrative hearings if challenged.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 181 prohibits all state and local government entities from using biometric data (like facial recognition or fingerprints) to identify people or verify identities, geolocation data to track individuals or vehicles, and automatic license plate reader systems for vehicle identification or toll collection. The bill requires governments to adopt compliance policies, creates a civil lawsuit option for violations, and amends the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to address liability. It specifically excludes school bus cameras, anonymized health data, and certain utility infrastructure from the restrictions. The law directly affects all state agencies, counties, cities, and law enforcement entities by restricting their use of these surveillance technologies. The bill is currently in early procedural stages and has not advanced beyond introduction.