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HB0043

HB0043: Penalties for Domestic Violence

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill amends penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses by increasing maximum probation and prison terms, raising fines, and clarifying how time between offenses is calculated.

What it does

  • Increases the maximum probation period for a second domestic violence offense from two years to three years.
  • Increases the maximum prison sentence for a third or subsequent domestic violence offense from five years to ten years.
  • Increases the maximum fine for a third or subsequent domestic violence offense from $2,000 to $10,000.
  • Requires that a person convicted of a second offense serve at least seven days in jail before being eligible for probation or suspension of sentence.
  • Allows probation for a second offense only if it includes mandatory anger management counseling.
  • Specifies that the time between offenses is calculated based on when the crimes happened, not when the convictions occurred.

Who it affects

  • People convicted of second or subsequent domestic violence offenses against household members.
  • Courts and judges who sentence individuals for these offenses.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill was still active and had not completed all legislative steps at the time of the last recorded action.
  • The final version of the bill may have changed after the summary was written, as noted in the official summary text.
  • The bill does not specify how anger management counseling is provided or monitored.

Plain language

Terms to know

Household member
A person defined by state law (W.S. 35-21-102) in the context of domestic violence offenses.
Probation
A period of supervision in the community instead of serving time in jail or prison.
Enhanced penalties
Stricter punishments, such as longer prison sentences or higher fines, applied for repeat offenses.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestOfficial summaryCurrent bill text
Read the official summary

2008 General Session Summary for HB0043 Bill No.: HB0043 Drafter: JHR LSO No.: 08LSO-0035 Effective Date: 7/1/2008 Enrolled Act No.: <enrnum> Chapter No.: <chptnum> Prime Sponsor: Representative Berger Catch Title: Penalties for domestic violence. Subject: Amends a penalty for domestic abuse offenses and provides a calculation for time periods for purposes of penalties. Summary/Major Elements: This bill: Amends the potential term of probation for a domestic violence offense from the current 2 years to 3 years; Clarifies that the time periods to be used for calculating enhanced penalties shall be based on the dates of the offenses, not the dates of the convictions; Adds language to aid in the clarification of when the time period begins for purposes of enhanced penalties. Note: Final action on this bill was not taken at this time this summary was prepared. Should changes be made to the bill upon final passage, an updated summary will be transmitted to all legislators.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 11:21 PM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues that the bill should be rejected because it failed to include meaningful changes regarding penalties for domestic violence and subsequent offenses.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:06:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports giving judges more flexibility in sentencing because the current approach is too rigid and does not account for individual circumstances.

Public statementFloor statement at 32:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports changing time frames because they were previously too short, even though federal law only recommends them rather than mandating them.

Public statementFloor statement at 50:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports increasing fines and incarceration terms for domestic violence offenses to protect families, provide financial deterrence, and ensure victim safety when rehabilitation is not possible.

Public statementFloor statement at 39:20 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

5 roll calls

H Did Not Concur 0-57-3-0-02008-03-06 · House0 yes 57 no
Yes
0
No
57
Absent
0
Excused
3
Conflict
0

No 57

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24Dan DockstaderR · S16David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Dn.Doug SamuelsonH07Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jerry IekelH29Jim SlaterH46Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Robert A BrechtelH38Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Timothy P HallinanH32Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

Excused 3

Frank PhilpH34Kathleen DavisonH20Marty A MartinH48, S12
S Passed 3rd Reading 30-0-0-0-02008-03-05 · Senate30 yes 0 no
Yes
30
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 30

Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Bill LandenR · S27Bill Mr. VaseyS11Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chuck TownsendS01Curtis MeierS03Drew A PerkinsS29E. Jayne MocklerS08Eli D BeboutS26Gerald E GeisS20Grant C LarsonS17Henry R CoeS18Jim AndersonS02John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Kathryn L SessionsS07Kenneth J DecariaS15Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Mike MassieS09Patricia L AullmanS16Phil A NicholasS10Rae L JobS12Ray R PetersonS19Robert D FechtS05Stan CooperS14Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
H Passed 3rd Reading 59-0-1-0-02008-02-21 · House59 yes 0 no
Yes
59
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 59

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24Dan DockstaderR · S16David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Dn.Doug SamuelsonH07Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jim SlaterH46Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Marty A MartinH48, S12Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Robert A BrechtelH38Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Timothy P HallinanH32Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

Excused 1

Jerry IekelH29
H01 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02008-02-15 · House9 yes 0 no
Yes
9
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 9

Dan DockstaderR · S16Deborah AldenH03Edward BuchananH04Erin E Mrs. MercerH53George BagbyH15Keith M GingeryH23Lisa A SheppersonH58Mary A ThroneH11Monte OlsenH22
H Introduced and Referred to H01 59-1-0-0-02008-02-14 · House59 yes 1 no
Yes
59
No
1
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 59

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24Dan DockstaderR · S16David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Dn.Doug SamuelsonH07Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jerry IekelH29Jim SlaterH46Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Marty A MartinH48, S12Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Timothy P HallinanH32Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

No 1

Robert A BrechtelH38

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
  2. H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
  3. H Did Not ConcurHouse
  4. H Received for ConcurrenceHouse
  5. S Passed 3rd ReadingSenate
  6. S Passed 2nd ReadingSenate
  7. S Passed CoWSenate
  8. S Amendments AdoptedSenate
  9. Amendment AdoptedSenate
  10. S Placed on General FileSenate
  11. S Introduced and Referred to S01Senate
  12. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  13. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  14. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  15. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  16. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  17. H Passed CoWHouse
  18. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  19. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  20. H Placed on General FileHouse

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

HB0043H3001

Adopted 3rd reading by SIMPSON

HB0043H3002

Adopted, Corrected 3rd reading by BRECHTEL

HB0043HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H01

HB0043SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by ROSS