Wyoming's SF 85 (RAVEN Act) creates a dedicated funding account for the state's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, directly supporting law enforcement efforts to investigate and combat online child exploitation. The bill appropriates $1.6 million from the general fund (2026-2028) to sustain the ICAC program, with funds continuously available for investigations, victim assistance, and public education on internet safety. All money in the account must be used solely by the Division of Criminal Investigation to address internet crimes against children, with no funds allowed to lapse or transfer to other purposes. The account will accept additional grants or donations, ensuring stable, long-term resources for this critical law enforcement work.
Wyoming's HB 70, the GRANITE Act, creates legal protections for Wyoming residents and businesses against foreign governments or international organizations enforcing censorship laws that conflict with U.S. and Wyoming constitutional free speech protections. It establishes a cause of action allowing lawsuits against foreign entities for imposing penalties (like fines or platform shutdowns) on U.S.-based platforms for constitutionally protected speech, such as the UK's threat to 4chan or Brazil's actions against X (Twitter). The bill prohibits Wyoming from recognizing, enforcing, or cooperating with foreign judgments related to such censorship, and imposes civil penalties on foreign entities. It directly affects Wyoming-based digital platforms, blockchain companies, and residents whose speech is targeted by foreign censorship laws. The law aims to prevent foreign coercion of U.S. speech by placing the burden on foreign governments to justify their censorship under strict scrutiny.
Wyoming's HB 160, the Digital Taxonomy Act, defines key terms and creates a classification system for digital assets (like cryptocurrencies) and "sealed tokens" recorded on distributed ledgers (e.g., blockchain). It establishes legal frameworks for characterizing these assets, including definitions for concepts like "distributed ledger," "digital asset," and "computational indicia," to clarify their legal status. The bill directly affects businesses, developers, and legal entities working with digital assets by providing standardized terminology for transactions, ownership, and jurisdiction. It does not impose new taxes or regulations but aims to create a consistent legal foundation for digital asset use within Wyoming. The bill is currently pending, having died in committee in March 2026.
Wyoming's HB 15, "Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment," requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with documentation, parts, embedded software, and tools for diagnosing, maintaining, or repairing digital electronics manufactured after July 1, 2026. The bill mandates that these resources be made available on "fair and reasonable terms," prohibiting practices like parts pairing that block repairs and ensuring no excessive pricing or unnecessary restrictions. It specifically covers digital electronics sold in Wyoming for the first time after the 2026 effective date, excluding equipment sold before that date. The law defines key terms like "independent repair provider" and sets requirements for how OEMs must share resources without impeding repairs. This bill does not apply to equipment already in use or sold prior to the 2026 deadline.
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 97 prohibits state and local governments, as well as financial institutions, from collecting, disclosing, or using financial records related to firearm or ammunition sales. It bans the use of "firearms codes" or merchant category codes that identify firearm retailers, preventing payment processors from discriminating against these businesses or their customers. The bill also prohibits maintaining registries of privately owned firearms or their owners through financial data and allows civil actions for violations. It directly affects firearm retailers, payment processors, and customers purchasing firearms or ammunition. Violations could result in criminal penalties (up to $2,000 fine or 1 year in jail) or civil enforcement.
