SF 10 allows Wyoming's Department of Health to enter contracts with county detention centers to provide security, examination, and treatment for mentally ill individuals awaiting competency evaluations in criminal cases. This bill directly affects county detention facilities (if designated), the Department of Health, and mentally ill detainees who would be held in these contracted facilities instead of the state hospital. Key provisions include creating new authority for the Department to designate qualified facilities and establish written contracts with counties under Section 7-11-308. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include county jails with such contracts as "facilities" under the law. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
Wyoming's HB 28 amends the legal definition of "explicit sexual conduct" under the state's child exploitation law. It adds specific examples like bestiality, masturbation, and sadistic/masochistic abuse to the existing definition, clarifying what constitutes the crime. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling child exploitation cases by providing a more detailed standard for charging offenders. The updated definition takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Wyoming's SF 87 creates a new felony offense for intentionally causing bodily injury to a police officer while the officer is performing lawful duties. This amendment specifically targets individuals who assault officers during the course of their work, making such acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill directly affects people who physically harm officers in the line of duty, strengthening penalties for this specific conduct. It amends existing law (W.S. 6-5-204(b)) to clarify that causing bodily injury during officer engagement constitutes a felony. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Wyoming's SF 9 bill increases penalties for distributing fentanyl to minors under 18. It makes it a felony to distribute fentanyl (including all its isomers, esters, and salts) to anyone under 18, punishable by a fine and up to double the standard prison term for such offenses. The law specifically targets fentanyl distribution to minors, distinguishing it from penalties for other controlled substances. This bill affects individuals who distribute fentanyl to minors and will take effect July 1, 2026.
SF 7 amends Wyoming's theft laws to increase penalties for certain offenses. It raises the maximum penalty for theft of property under $1,000 from six months in jail and $750 fines to one year and $1,500, and lowers the felony threshold from a fifth to a third theft offense. The bill also updates penalties for using theft detection shielding devices to match the new misdemeanor penalties. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
This Wyoming bill (SF 8) creates a new criminal offense for "absconding for criminal purposes," targeting individuals who travel between counties within Wyoming or to another jurisdiction *after* committing a crime. It directly affects people who flee to commit additional crimes, hide stolen property, or further a felony. The law specifies that penalties for this offense will match the penalty for the most serious underlying crime (e.g., the original offense or the intended one). The bill is pending and would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
This Wyoming bill prohibits state and local government agencies from using artificial intelligence to assign "social scores" based on personal behavior or characteristics, which could lead to unfair treatment (like denying services for unrelated reasons). It specifically bans AI systems from identifying individuals using biometric data (e.g., fingerprints, facial recognition) without consent, except for health data covered under HIPAA. The law applies broadly to all government entities - including counties, schools, and departments - excluding universities and certain health districts. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 42 amends Wyoming law to make failing to stop after a vehicle accident causing death or serious injury a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. Drivers involved in accidents resulting in death or "serious bodily injury" (as defined in state law) would face up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine, compared to the current maximum of 1 year or $5,000 for injuries alone. The bill directly affects drivers involved in collisions with fatal or severe injury outcomes, increasing legal consequences for hit-and-run behavior. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 47 requires any person who reasonably believes another person faces immediate risk of serious injury or death to attempt to contact emergency services (like 911) if doing so doesn't endanger themselves or the other person. It directly affects all Wyoming residents who witness such emergencies. The law creates a misdemeanor offense for failing to assist under these conditions, with penalties of up to 6 months in jail and $750 for causing serious injury, or up to 1 year and $2,000 if death occurs. Exemptions include those who provide assistance under other laws or would self-incriminate by reporting. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 14 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully defend against criminal charges by reasonably using self-defense, resulting in a not-guilty verdict, dismissed charges, or release from prosecution. It also mandates automatic expungement (permanent removal) of criminal records for these individuals without requiring a court hearing, including no filing fees for either reimbursement petitions or expungement requests. The bill directly affects people prosecuted for crimes but acquitted or having charges dismissed due to lawful self-defense. Key provisions include county-funded reimbursement for defense costs and streamlined court orders to erase all related arrest and prosecution records. The law applies to cases where self-defense was used to prevent injury or property damage, as defined in the bill.
