Ground for termination of parental rights-guardianship.
This Wyoming bill (SF 22) amends state law to allow a child's parental rights to be terminated if the child has been under a relative's guardianship for over 24 months *and* the parent is found unfit. It specifically adds this scenario as a legal ground for termination, requiring clear evidence of both the extended relative guardianship and parental unfitness. The change directly affects parents whose children are in long-term relative care and have been deemed unfit by a court. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025
Signed Mar 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Mar 13, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was finalized and enrolled into law, making it official. The main substantive change is that the required guardianship period before parents can lose their rights was reduced from 'more than 24 months' to 'at least 24 consecutive months', slightly lowering the threshold for termination. The bill also removed the page numbering and formatting inconsistencies from the original draft.
Scope change
The bill applies to termination of parental rights cases in Wyoming when a relative guardian has been caring for a child for 24 consecutive months and the parent is found unfit.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the guardianship duration requirement from 'more than 24 months' to 'at least 24 consecutive months', making it easier for parents to lose custody rights.
TECHNICAL
Removed draft formatting elements including page numbers, bill file references, and duplicate header sections.
TIMELINE
Added official certification signatures and approval lines for the Governor and legislative officers, indicating the bill has passed all stages.
Confirmed the effective date of July 1, 2025 for the new guardianship termination provisions.
Floor votes · House Mar 3, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Mar 13, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed SEA No. 0083
legislature
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
S Concur:Passed 16-15-0-0-0
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-17-1-0-0
lower
Mar 3, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (53-4-1)
house
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
H COW:Passed
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
S 3rd Reading:Passed 19-11-1-0-0
upper
Feb 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
S COW:Passed
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Wendy Schuler
RRepublican
Co
Art Washut
RRepublican
Co
Bill Landen
RRepublican
Co
Ken Chestek
DDemocratic
Co
Ken Clouston
RRepublican
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