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Wyoming2008Did Not Pass

HB0050

Restoration of Rights for Felony Convictions

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed changing the rules for people with felony convictions to regain their voting rights and required the state to notify them when they are eligible.

What it does

  • Allows people convicted of nonviolent felonies to apply to the state board of parole for a certificate that restores their voting rights.
  • Changes the waiting period from five years to one year after finishing all sentence terms or probation.
  • Requires that applicants have not been convicted of any election-related felonies.
  • Requires the department of corrections to send a written notice to people when they become eligible to apply for rights restoration.
  • Defines 'election-related felony' based on specific state laws regarding voting offenses.

Who it affects

  • People in Wyoming who have been convicted of nonviolent felonies.
  • The state board of parole, which would process applications for voting rights restoration.
  • The department of corrections, which would send eligibility notices to eligible individuals.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and failed introduction in the 2008 session, so these changes were not enacted.
  • The text is a working draft, so final language may have differed if it had moved forward.

Plain language

Terms to know

Nonviolent felony
A serious crime that is not classified as violent under state law.
Election-related felony
A serious crime involving violations of voting laws, such as voting fraud.
Certificate of restoration of rights
An official document from the state board of parole that confirms a person's voting rights have been restored.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 5:15 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker argues that the current law unfairly prevents individuals who have served their time from voting, which hinders community reintegration and reduces alienation. She also notes that research shows no link between disenfranchisement and crime reduction.

Public statementFloor statement at 36:47 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The speaker supports the bill because he believes that after serving their time, individuals should be allowed to rejoin society and participate fully as citizens. He views the current law as a barrier to this integration.

Public statementFloor statement at 38:33 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

1 roll call

H Failed Introduction 39-21-0-0-02008-02-12 · House39 yes 21 no
Yes
39
No
21
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 39

Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Colin SimpsonH24David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Dn.Doug SamuelsonH07Elaine HarveyH26Erin E Mrs. MercerH53Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Jane WarrenH13Jerry IekelH29Kathleen DavisonH20Ken A EsquibelH41Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Mark SemlekH01Marty A MartinH48, S12Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Pete JorgensenH16Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Timothy P HallinanH32Tom Lubnau IIH31W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

No 21

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Dan DockstaderR · S16Edward BuchananH04Jim SlaterH46Keith M GingeryH23Kermit C BrownH14Kevin A WhiteH45Lorraine K QuarbergH28Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Robert A BrechtelH38Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Roy CoheeH35Steve HarshmanR · H37William "Jeb" StewardH47

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed IntroductionHouse
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO