Mary W Hales
H36
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker believes it is their parental right, not the school or state's right, to grant consent for a child to drop out of school.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:48:00 Watch the statement
Wyoming2010Enacted
HB0109
Wyoming School Withdrawal Consent Law
Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM
In one sentence
This law requires parents or guardians to meet in person with a school counselor or administrator and provide written consent before withdrawing a child under eighteen from school, unless the child is enrolling in another district, private school, or home-based program.
What it does
- Requires parents, guardians, or other persons having control of a child under eighteen to meet in person with a school district counselor or administrator.
- Requires these individuals to provide the school district with written consent to the child's withdrawal from school attendance.
- Excludes the consent requirement if the parent or guardian has notified the district that the child is enrolling in a different school district, a private school, or a home-based educational program.
- Sets the effective date of the law as July 1, 2010.
Who it affects
- Parents, guardians, or other persons having control or charge of children under the age of eighteen.
- School district counselors and administrators who must meet with parents or guardians.
Limits and unknowns
- The provided text does not specify penalties for failing to meet these requirements.
- The text does not define the specific process or duration of the in-person meeting beyond the requirement to occur.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Compulsory school attendance
- The legal requirement for children to attend school, which this law amends regarding withdrawal procedures.
- Home-based educational program
- A type of education provided at home, which is listed as an exception to the withdrawal consent requirement.
- Written consent
- Formal permission given in writing, which must be provided to the school district for a child's withdrawal.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
Bill No.: <billno> Drafter: <drafterinit> Bill No.: HB0109 Drafter: DRN LSO No.: 10LSO-0338 Effective Date: 7/1/2010 Enrolled Act No.: HEA0021 Chapter No.: 25 Prime Sponsor: Representative Hammons Catch Title: Compulsory school attendance-3. Subject: Wyoming compulsory school attendance requirements. Summary/Major Elements: Expands the compulsory school attendance law which requires parents and guardians to send their children to public or private school between the ages of seven through sixteen, or through completion of the tenth grade; Parents and guardians are now required to meet with a school district representative regarding any child under the age of eighteen who is withdrawing from school attendance, and to provide the district with written consent to the child's withdrawal; Consent requirement is not applicable to any parent or guardian notifying the district that the child is enrolling in another district or in a private school or home-based educational program.
Public statements
Why lawmakers voted
Last checked Aug 8, 11:45 PM
Voted Yes
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker argues that the bill corrects an inconsistency in state statutes by requiring parental consent for minors to drop out of school, aligning it with other laws regarding tattoos and marriage. She also states her personal priority is helping children make better choices.
Public statementFloor statement at 54:55 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the measure due to concerns about government overreach into personal lives, arguing that young people should be allowed to make their own decisions.
Public statementFloor statement at 56:04 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
5 roll calls
S Passed 3rd Reading 25-5-0-0-02010-02-26 · Senate25 yes 5 no
- Yes
- 25
- No
- 5
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 25
Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Bill LandenR · S27Charles ScottR · S30Chuck TownsendS01Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Floyd EsquibelS08Gerald E GeisS20Grant C LarsonS17Henry R CoeS18James E Elliott Jr.S11Jim AndersonS02John HastertS13Kathryn L SessionsS07Marty A MartinS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Mike MassieS09Phil A NicholasS10Ray R PetersonS19Rick D HunnicuttS05Saundra MeyerS15Stan CooperS14Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
S04 Recommended Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02010-02-23 · Senate5 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H Passed 3rd Reading 49-9-2-0-02010-02-19 · House49 yes 9 no
- Yes
- 49
- No
- 9
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 49
Allen M JaggiH18Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Bryan K PedersenH07Catherine R ConnollyH13Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dn.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mary A ThroneH11Mary W HalesH36Michael A GilmoreH59Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Roy CoheeH35Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer
No 9
Excused 2
H04 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-02010-02-16 · House6 yes 3 no
- Yes
- 6
- No
- 3
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H Introduced and Referred to H04 50-7-3-0-02010-02-11 · House50 yes 7 no
- Yes
- 50
- No
- 7
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 3
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 50
Allen M JaggiH18Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Bryan K PedersenH07Catherine R ConnollyH13Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dn.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mary W HalesH36Matt TeetersH05Michael A GilmoreH59Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Roy CoheeH35Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer
No 7
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number - 25LSO
- Governor Signed HEA0021Governor
- S President Signed HEA No. 0021Senate
- H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0021House
- Assigned Number HEA0021LSO
- S Passed 3rd ReadingSenate
- S Passed 2nd ReadingSenate
- S Passed CoWSenate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S04 Recommended Do PassSenate
- S Introduced and Referred to S04Senate
- S Received for IntroductionSenate
- H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
- H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
- Amendment FailedHouse
- H Passed CoWHouse
- H Amendments AdoptedHouse
- Amendment AdoptedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H04 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
Changes
Amendments
3 stored
Failed, Corrected 2nd reading by TEETERS
Withdrawn 3rd reading by BRECHTEL
Adopted Standing Committee by H04