Sen. Cheri Steinmetz

Maddy summaryHB 148, the Land, Water and Fiscal Integrity Act, sets new rules for leasing Wyoming state lands for large industrial projects. It defines "utility scale industrial projects" as those costing $15 million+ or covering 320+ acres (excluding mineral extraction), requiring county commissioners to request public hearings for such leases. The bill mandates that leases must include radar-activated lighting to reduce visual impact, require a written analysis of tourism, tax revenue, migration corridors, and property value effects, and require decommissioning bonds. These provisions directly affect state land commissioners, county governments, and developers seeking industrial leases on state lands. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 186, the "Baby Olivia Act," requires Wyoming public schools to provide human development education to students in grades 5-12, mandating specific instructional materials. The bill directs schools to show two videos: one displaying high-definition fetal organ development via ultrasound, and another demonstrating fertilization and human development stages from conception to birth. School districts must allow parental opt-outs via written request and comply with annual audits by the state education department. The law applies to all public school districts beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, with implementation requiring legislative approval for health education standards. The bill failed its introduction in the Wyoming House (39-20-3) on February 14, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 58 requires voter approval for new mill levies imposed by school districts and educational boards for recreational facilities, cooperative education services, and special school taxes. Before any new levy can be implemented, a proposition must be submitted to voters at the general election, requiring majority approval. Approved levies would last four years and require renewal votes at the second general election every four years. This bill applies only to new levies; existing levies are unaffected by this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires three-judge panels to handle cases challenging the constitutionality of Wyoming state laws or session laws. When a party seeks an injunction against a law's enforcement, the district court clerk must notify the state court administrator, who then randomly selects two judges from other districts to join the local judge on a panel. Individual judges may no longer issue permanent injunctions blocking state laws in these cases - only temporary orders for up to 30 days while the panel reviews the challenge. All decisions by these panels are appealable directly to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Maddy summarySF 91, the Wyoming Energy Project Accountability Act, requires legislative approval before construction begins for large energy projects or when state funds are used. It directly affects industrial-scale energy projects (over 150 megawatts or large footprints - 5,000 acres for wind, 500 for solar) and large industrial power loads (75+ megawatts). The bill mandates that any project using state funds over $200,000 must have a specific legislative bill or resolution detailing the project, funding source, and conditions to protect ratepayers. Exceptions apply for emergencies or routine maintenance on existing projects.

Maddy summarySF 93 amends Wyoming's child custody laws to promote shared custody as the default for temporary orders and requires courts to explain when it is not ordered. The bill adds a new factor for courts to consider: evidence that a parent provided false information about past domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect. It defines "shared custody" as combining joint legal and physical custody and mandates that courts must order it for final custody decisions unless they find it unsuccessful or not in the child's best interests. The law applies to all custody cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's tax exemption rules for housing projects owned by cities or counties. It requires that such housing property be 100% publicly owned (by a municipality, county, or fully controlled entity) to qualify for tax exemption, excludes profit-making portions from the exemption (while allowing adjustments for public utility costs), and permits cities to instead make payments to maintain low-rent housing. The changes apply to all Wyoming cities, towns, and counties starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 134 would require Wyoming's Legislative Service Office to redirect emails filtered out of a legislator's inbox to their main inbox upon request. If an email is automatically filtered (e.g., by spam or security systems), the sender can request redirection after the office verifies their email address. The office must comply within two business days unless a security threat exists. This applies only to system-wide filtering, not personal email settings, and affects anyone emailing legislators whose messages are automatically diverted.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 4) proposes three key changes: requiring Senate approval for Supreme Court justices before they take office, expanding the Judicial Nominating Commission from 7 to 9 members with specific representation rules, and giving the legislature authority to define what counts as "actual practice of law" for judicial qualifications. It directly affects the Governor (who appoints justices), the Judicial Nominating Commission, and candidates for the Supreme Court. If approved, justices would need Senate majority confirmation, and the legislature could set standards for legal experience requirements. The bill failed to advance in the Senate (16-15 vote) and remains a proposed constitutional change, not law.

Maddy summaryHB 59 modifies Wyoming's bond election rules to require local governments to clearly state key details in bond questions, including the purpose, maximum principal amount, repayment term, and interest rate. Voters can now sue a local government if the bond question fails to meet these requirements, delaying bond issuance until a court resolves the dispute. The bill directly affects cities and towns seeking voter approval for bond issues and ensures transparency in how bond proposals are presented. It does not change election timing rules but adds a legal remedy for misleading bond language.