Sen. Taft Love

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 summaryWyoming's HB 126, the "Human heartbeat act," prohibits most abortion procedures after a detectable fetal heartbeat is identified (typically around 6 weeks gestation), directly affecting pregnant individuals seeking abortions and healthcare providers performing them. The bill requires healthcare providers to confirm a detectable heartbeat via standard medical equipment before proceeding with an abortion, except in cases of medical emergencies that threaten the patient's life or major bodily function. Violations are classified as felonies punishable by up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines, and healthcare professionals face mandatory license revocation for noncompliance. The law creates new definitions, exceptions for medical emergencies, and penalties for violations, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 98 amends Wyoming law to add criminal penalties for violating the Prohibit Red Flag Gun Seizure Act. It makes knowingly violating this law a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects individuals who improperly seize firearms under the red flag law, such as law enforcement or officials acting outside legal authority. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not change the underlying red flag seizure procedures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 113 requires county clerks to conduct hand counts of election ballots for the 2026 primary and general elections. Specifically, counties must physically examine approximately 5% of ballots for one federal race, one statewide race (selected by the state secretary of state), and all legislative races on the ballot. The hand count results must be compared to electronic tabulation results within nine days of the county canvass, with any discrepancies reported to the secretary of state. This bill directly affects county election officials who will implement the hand count audits. The law takes effect immediately upon becoming law, with reports due by May 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 57, the Hospital Price Transparency Act, requires licensed hospitals to publicly list standard prices for at least 300 "shoppable" medical services (like procedures or supplies patients can schedule in advance) on their websites. Hospitals must display specific charges - including gross charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates - with clear descriptions, in a machine-readable format, and without requiring user accounts or personal information. The Department of Health will monitor compliance and enforce penalties for non-compliance, with hospitals required to update the price lists annually. This directly affects all Wyoming hospitals providing inpatient or outpatient services, aiming to make healthcare pricing more accessible to patients.

Maddy summarySF 107 creates a statewide electronic system for processing motor vehicle registrations and license plates in Wyoming. The Department of Transportation must implement this system by July 1, 2028, to handle all registration transactions (like renewals and transfers), plate issuance, and fee processing for registration, specialty plates, and sales taxes. County treasurers are required to use this system for their vehicle registration duties instead of older methods, and the state may charge a $5 transaction fee to cover system costs. The bill also mandates electronic record-sharing between counties and the state, with development part of replacing the existing revenue system.

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 summaryHB 2, the Fast Track Permits Act, requires cities, towns, and counties in Wyoming to review residential building permit applications within strict deadlines. Local governments must notify applicants within 15 days if an application is incomplete and must approve or deny complete applications within 30 days (excluding delays for clarification or state/federal approvals). If deadlines are missed, permits are automatically approved as submitted the next day. The bill directly affects homebuilders applying for permits for detached single-family homes, townhouses, or small multi-unit projects under specific size and code limits, and the local governments that process these applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the expiration date (sunset) for Wyoming's property tax exemption that benefits long-term homeowners, making the exemption permanent. It directly affects homeowners who have owned their primary residence in Wyoming for a specified period, typically 10 or more years under existing law. The key provision removes the scheduled end date for this tax break, ensuring eligible homeowners continue to receive the exemption without needing future legislative action. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies statewide to qualifying properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 13-member Wyoming Business Council Strategic Advisory Task Force to evaluate the state's Wyoming Business Council (WBC). The task force, including legislative members, business representatives (from agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, oil/gas, and local economic development), and local officials, must assess the WBC's programs, duties, and operations - including those not specified in law - and compare them to economic development models in other states. It will develop recommendations for strategic direction, propose changes to the WBC's structure or functions, and suggest improvements for communication with state leadership. The task force must meet at least three times and submit findings by a specified deadline. (Note: This is a procedural evaluation bill, not a policy change.)