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HJ0012

Wyoming Constitution Amendment on Health Care Choice

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed adding a section to the Wyoming Constitution to limit federal interference in personal health care decisions and ban penalties for choosing or declining health insurance.

What it does

  • Proposes a new section, Article 7, Section 24, in the Wyoming Constitution.
  • States that the federal government cannot interfere with an individual's right to make health care decisions.
  • Prohibits laws that impose penalties, fines, or taxes for choosing or declining health insurance.
  • Protects the right to pay for or receive payment for health care services directly.
  • Clarifies that the state is not required to provide or pay for health care, except for prisoners and those in state custody.
  • Allocates $47,900 from the general fund to the Secretary of State for publication costs.

Who it affects

  • Individuals in Wyoming who make decisions about their own health care.
  • Health care providers and entities in Wyoming.
  • The Wyoming Secretary of State, who would handle the amendment process.
  • The federal government, which would be subject to the new constitutional limits.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and failed introduction in the House on February 11, 2010.
  • The text is a working draft, so final wording might have changed if it had moved forward.
  • The bill does not specify how the state would enforce these limits against the federal government.

Plain language

Terms to know

Joint Resolution
A type of legislative proposal that requires approval from both the House and Senate to propose a constitutional amendment.
Tenth Amendment
A part of the U.S. Constitution that says powers not given to the federal government are kept by the states or the people.
Penalty, fine, or tax
Money or actions imposed by law to punish or discourage specific behavior, such as not buying health insurance.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 6:25 AM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because she believes changing the constitution out of anger is not a reasoned approach and expresses faith in elected officials to find solutions.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:38:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker urges a vote against the resolution because he believes it is premature since no national health reform has been enacted yet and the state legislature can create necessary reforms.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:39:12 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the amendment because it allows individuals to make their own decisions and prevents government from impinging on health care rights.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:39:52 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 38-19-3-0-02010-02-11 · House38 yes 19 no
Yes
38
No
19
Absent
0
Excused
3
Conflict
0

Yes 38

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bryan K PedersenH07Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Del McOmieH54Dn.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Roy CoheeH35Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47Zwonitzer

No 19

Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Catherine R ConnollyH13Debbie HammonsH27George BagbyH15James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44Joseph M BarbutoH48Ken A EsquibelH41Lori A MillinH08Mary W HalesH36Michael A GilmoreH59Owen PetersenH19Pete JorgensenH16Ross DiercksH02Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Terry L KimbleH49W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Excused 3

Frank PhilpH34Mary A ThroneH11Timothy P HallinanH32

Official activity

Bill history

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