Sen. Charles Scott

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming joint resolution (SJ 8) requests Congress to propose a constitutional amendment allowing states and Congress to establish reasonable limits on money spent to influence elections. It specifically seeks authority to distinguish between natural persons (individuals) and artificial entities like corporations, unions, or AI when setting these limits. The resolution argues that current Supreme Court interpretations equating unlimited spending with free speech undermine political equality, election integrity, and local representation. It does not create new laws but formally asks Congress to initiate a constitutional amendment process to address these concerns.

Maddy summaryHB 235 creates a new categorical grant program to fund career and technical education (CTE) supplies, materials, and equipment for Wyoming public school districts. It provides funding calculated as $14,184.68 per full-time equivalent CTE teacher (based on district reports from the prior year), paid by February 15 of each school year. Funds must be used exclusively for CTE program supplies/equipment and cannot replace existing education funding. School districts must apply annually, report expenditures, and comply with department of education rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide reading assessment and intervention program for kindergarten through fourth grade in Wyoming. It requires schools to use universal screening three times yearly to identify early reading difficulties (including dyslexia), mandates targeted interventions for students not meeting reading benchmarks, and requires parental notification and involvement in intervention planning. Schools with 60% or more students scoring proficient in grade 3 reading for two consecutive years are exempt from certain requirements. The bill also creates new provisions for student retention in grades 3-4 due to reading inadequacies, sets standards for teacher certification related to reading assessments, and prohibits altering proficiency scores on statewide English language arts tests. It directly affects K-4 students, school districts, teachers, and parents.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment shifts primary responsibility for building public school facilities to local school districts, requiring voter approval for capital projects. It mandates state funding to equalize costs so districts pay no more than a statewide average tax burden (based on per-person valuation), using mechanisms like statewide mill levies. The state may also provide additional funds to address financial hardships for school districts. This change replaces a system previously required by a 2001 court ruling that placed full responsibility on the state, which relied on declining coal lease revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 315 requires Wyoming to transfer all responsibilities of the state board of education and the state board of career and technical education to the state superintendent of public instruction by July 1, 2026. The bill mandates the superintendent to create a reorganization plan by July 2025, detailing how functions will be transferred, personnel and resources moved, and necessary legal changes. The plan requires legislative approval before implementation, while current board operations continue until the transfer date. This reorganization directly affects state education governance structures and administrative oversight of K-12 and career/technical programs.

Maddy summaryHB 212 amends Wyoming's local sales and use tax procedures to require approval from at least 50% of incorporated municipalities (down from two-thirds) for tax propositions, instead of the previous 2/3 requirement. It shortens the tax term from four years to two years for new taxes, and repeals the optional municipal sales tax provision. The bill also modifies election timing and ballot language requirements for county-level tax votes. These changes directly affect Wyoming counties and municipalities seeking to implement or renew local sales taxes. The bill focuses on procedural adjustments to tax approval processes without altering tax rates or revenue distribution.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 100 requires insurers and their intermediaries to pay pharmacies within 21 days for electronic pharmacy claims and 30 days for non-electronic claims, provided the claim is "clean" (complete with all required documentation). If payment isn't made on time, insurers must pay 18% annual interest. The bill defines "clean claims" as those without deficiencies, mandates insurers to notify pharmacies of missing information within 10-15 days, and prohibits insurers from charging pharmacies fees for payment processing. This applies to all pharmacy benefit contracts and takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming constitutional amendment (SJ 5) shifts responsibility for school facility construction from the state to local school districts, while adding state-funded equalization to ensure districts don't face higher local tax burdens than a statewide average. School districts would primarily fund facilities through voter-approved bonds or other means, but the state would provide equalization funding - potentially via a statewide mill levy - to cap local property tax rates at the state average per person. It directly affects school districts and taxpayers by changing how capital construction costs are shared, requiring voter approval for projects, and addressing a court-mandated funding gap that arose after coal lease revenue declined. The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 117 requires public schools to assess all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading proficiency three times yearly using state-approved tools. Students scoring "below basic" on the grade 3 English language arts assessment must be placed on an individualized reading plan with parental involvement, or face grade retention in third grade. The bill mandates schools to notify parents of reading deficiencies, provide evidence-based interventions, and document progress. It applies directly to K-3 students and their schools in Wyoming public education, with specific requirements for parental notification and intervention planning. The bill also prohibits score modification and outlines procedures for addressing reading deficiencies before retention.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 174 creates a new Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board to oversee public charter schools statewide. The board, consisting of five members (including the state superintendent and appointees from the governor, Senate, and House), will approve, renew, and oversee charter schools under specific quality standards. The bill modifies how charter schools are authorized (replacing school district oversight with the state board), adjusts funding rules, and requires transparency in decision-making. This directly affects public charter schools, their governing boards, and the state education department as the local education agency.