Sen. Jeff Wasserburger

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Wyoming's "seal of biliteracy" and "advanced distinction seal of biliteracy" for high school graduates. It allows school districts to award these seals to students who demonstrate proficiency in English plus one or more world languages (including American Sign Language, classical languages, and indigenous languages). The state superintendent designs the program, sets assessment standards, and requires districts to report annually on the number of seals issued, languages used, and seal types. The program applies to all Wyoming high school students meeting the proficiency criteria, with implementation beginning July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 123 establishes rules for disposing of specific materials during mine reclamation. It requires mining operators to pay fees (25% for wind turbine blades/towers in coal mines, 10% for inert material in non-coal mines) to the state department, with fees credited to the general fund. The bill defines "inert material" as non-reusable waste and sets requirements like burying it below aquifers at minimum depths, removing mechanical parts, and following solid waste management standards. These rules apply to operators using such materials for backfilling reclamation sites in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 55 exempts airports in Wyoming counties outside incorporated cities or towns from a rule limiting retail liquor licenses within five miles of city limits. Normally, such counties could issue no more than three retail liquor licenses in that 5-mile zone, but airports are now allowed to operate liquor sales without counting toward that cap. The bill directly affects airports seeking liquor licenses in rural or unincorporated areas, removing a barrier to serving alcohol on-site. It became effective July 1, 2022, and makes no other changes to liquor licensing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's regulations for nuclear facilities, focusing on advanced reactors and high-level radioactive waste storage. It requires operators to submit detailed reports before construction on job creation, local/state tax impacts, and community benefits (including training and security systems). Operators must also share all public federal regulatory reports (from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) with the state within 15 days. These provisions apply specifically to facilities operating under federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses.

Maddy summarySF 43 adjusts the timing for community college district board elections in Wyoming, requiring the first regular election to occur in May during the first fiscal year a special mill tax is levied, rather than following a previous schedule. It clarifies that the first election will have four members serving four-year terms and three serving two-year terms, with all subsequent elections held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The bill standardizes election dates and term start dates (beginning December 1) for all community college district boards, affecting how these boards are organized and elected across Wyoming. These changes apply directly to community college districts and their voters, streamlining the election process under state law.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 54 establishes the "Interstate Compact for Licensed Professional Counselors," allowing counselors licensed in Wyoming to practice across other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill directly affects licensed professional counselors and their clients, enabling multistate practice where the client is located at the time of service. Key provisions include preserving each state's authority to license counselors, supporting military spouses through streamlined licensure, and creating a data system for sharing disciplinary information. The compact aims to improve public access to counseling services while maintaining state regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 101 clarifies that nonconsenting landowners (those whose property is included in an oil and gas drilling unit without their agreement) are entitled to a cost-free royalty interest equal to the acreage-weighted average fee royalty of leased tracts within that unit. This policy change directly affects landowners whose mineral rights are pooled into drilling units but who did not consent to the development. The bill requires the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to create implementing rules and applies only to new pooling orders issued after the law takes effect. It does not alter existing royalty agreements but ensures new nonconsenting owners receive a standardized royalty rate based on the unit's average lease terms.

Maddy summaryHB 94 sets a maximum size of 1,280 acres for oil and gas drilling units in Wyoming, directly affecting oil and gas operators who establish these land groupings for drilling. The bill amends state law to require that drilling units must be large enough to efficiently drain with one well but cannot exceed 1,280 acres. This change applies to all new drilling unit orders issued on or after July 1, 2022. The law aims to standardize unit sizes for operational efficiency without specifying environmental or economic impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 122 changes how Wyoming fills vacancies in certain elected offices by requiring proportional voting in nomination processes. It mandates that state central committee members' votes for vacancies in U.S. House seats, other state offices (excluding governor, legislature, and judges), and multi-county legislative districts must be weighted by each county's population relative to the state total, using the most recent federal census data. For multi-county legislative vacancies, county commissioners' votes must instead reflect the population of the legislative district within each county. The bill, effective July 1, 2022, applies only to nominations for remaining terms and does not alter the appointment process for vacancies.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HJ 2 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically asks for a convention limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and set term limits for federal officials and Congress members. The resolution includes strict conditions, such as prohibiting any consideration of changes to the Bill of Rights and requiring Congress to call the convention only if two-thirds of states request it for the same purpose. The bill failed to advance in the Wyoming legislature (21-37 vote) and remains a procedural request to Congress, not a binding law.