Rep. Ryan Berger

Maddy summaryHB 45 creates a property tax exemption for single-family homes in Wyoming, directly affecting homeowners with residential structures. The exemption covers increases in a home's value above 5% of the previous year's assessed value, meaning homeowners pay tax only on growth exceeding that threshold. However, the exemption doesn't apply if the value increase comes from new construction, additions, or if the property was purchased in the prior year. The law requires tax assessment notices to include exemption details and applies to tax years starting January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 52 establishes a homestead property tax exemption for Wyoming homeowners based on age: up to $50,000 exemption for owners 64 or younger, $100,000 for ages 65-74, and $150,000 for those 75+ on January 1 of the tax year. It requires annual claims by May 4th to the county assessor, limits exemptions to one per property per year, and defines "primary residence" as where the owner lives most of the year. The bill includes an $88.4 million state appropriation to reimburse local governments for lost revenue from the exemption, ending December 31, 2027. It expires on that date, with no renewal automatic.

Maddy summaryHJ 3 is a Wyoming joint resolution expressing support for state and local government involvement in federal rulemaking. It does not create new laws but formally commits the Wyoming Legislature to oppose specific federal rules and plans (like the BLM's Rock Springs resource management plan) that the resolution claims negatively impact Wyoming's agriculture, energy, mineral, and recreation industries. The resolution requires the Wyoming Secretary of State to send this position to federal officials, including Congress and the White House. As a procedural resolution, it focuses on expressing legislative opposition rather than changing federal policy.

Maddy summaryHB 203 creates a property tax exemption for single-family residential properties in Wyoming, covering the first $200,000 of value in 2024 and $1 million annually thereafter. To offset lost local revenue, it adds a 2% sales tax (raising the total rate to 6%) effective July 2024. Funds from this tax are distributed to counties based on their lost property tax revenue from the exemption, with any remaining funds used for sales tax refunds to businesses paying severance and sales taxes. The bill directly affects homeowners with qualifying properties and local governments reliant on property tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 175 allows Wyoming school districts to request fingerprint-based background checks for volunteers who regularly interact with or have unsupervised access to minors in K-12 schools. Previously, such checks applied only to school employees, but this bill extends the requirement to volunteers meeting these specific access criteria. School districts must cover all costs for the fingerprinting and background check process. The law takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 63) creates a property tax exemption for single-family homes. It exempts homeowners from paying tax on any increase in their home's assessed value that exceeds 5% over the previous year's value. The exemption does not apply if the home was recently renovated, added to, or purchased within the last year. Tax assessment notices must now include details about this exemption and how it affects the homeowner's tax bill. The exemption applies starting with the 2024 tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 186 appropriates $40 million from Wyoming's general fund to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system trust fund, as specified in existing law (W.S. 35-25-506). The funding directly supports Wyoming's 988 suicide prevention hotline operations and is restricted to that purpose. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not create new policy but provides dedicated financial resources for the existing crisis hotline service.

Maddy summaryHB 207 repeals a lifetime restriction preventing certain hunters from obtaining moose or bighorn sheep hunting licenses. It directly affects individuals who, as of July 1, 2022, were subject to a five-year restriction under Wyoming law for these species. The bill allows these hunters to apply for and receive licenses as if they had never been restricted after July 1, 2022, though they will face the standard lifetime restriction if issued a license after the bill's effective date of July 1, 2024. This change modifies existing provisions in Wyoming's hunting license regulations (W.S. 23-1-703 and 23-1-705) without altering the underlying five-year restriction period.

Maddy summaryHB 213 creates a grant program to provide financial assistance to preschool providers serving economically disadvantaged and at-risk students in Wyoming. It establishes a $50 million endowment fund (funded by a July 1, 2024 transfer from the public school foundation account) and an expenditure account to distribute grants. Eligible providers (including school districts and nonprofit/private organizations) can apply for grants up to $50,000 annually to cover specific costs like teacher salaries, facility leases, parent training, and early childhood learning materials. Grants must be used solely for qualifying student services and require applications submitted by May 15 each year, with awards distributed by October 1.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 196 requires the federal government to exchange equivalent federal-owned lands whenever it acquires additional property in the state after July 1, 2024 (excluding specific military, infrastructure, or reclamation projects). The bill mandates that federal land acquisitions must be paired with transfers of federal lands to Wyoming to prevent a net increase in federal ownership. If an exchange isn't possible, the federal government must provide 90 days' notice to Wyoming's land board before finalizing the acquisition. Additionally, any land transferred to Wyoming under this policy must be disposed of through a public process prioritizing adjacent landowners and local uses if it would cause a net increase in state-owned lands beyond July 1, 2024.