Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because she believes it removes free choice from tipped employees and is not a fair practice.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:45:54 Watch the statement
Wyoming2011Did Not Pass
HB0131
HB0131: Tip Sharing
Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM
In one sentence
This bill would have allowed employers to require employees to share tips, provided that federal law permits such sharing.
What it does
- States that tips and gratuities received by an employee or employees are their sole property.
- Prevents tips from being paid in whole or in part to the employer or any other person.
- Allows an employer to require the sharing of tips and gratuities to the extent permitted under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Sets an effective date of July 1, 2011, if the bill passes.
Who it affects
- Employees who receive tips or gratuities.
- Employers who hire employees who receive tips.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill did not pass in the 2011 session.
- The bill was indefinitely postponed in the House on February 2, 2011.
- The specific rules for how tips must be shared are not detailed in this text, only that they must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Tips and gratuities
- Money received by an employee or employees, which the bill states is their sole property.
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- A federal law (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) that determines the extent to which tip sharing is permitted.
Official record
Sources
Public statements
Why lawmakers voted
Last checked Aug 7, 8:57 PM
Matt Teeters
H05
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker expresses concern that mandatory tip sharing dilutes rewards for individual performance, noting a preference to ensure tips go directly to the person who earned them.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:46:35 Watch the statement
Del McOmie
H54
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it provides statutory clarity for employers regarding IRS reporting requirements and acknowledges the team-based nature of modern restaurant service.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:48:40 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it allows employers to manage tip reporting for the IRS effectively and ensures workers who support service but do not receive tips directly are compensated fairly.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:49:43 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it allows employers to set their own wage practices without government interference, even if he personally disagrees with such pay plans.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:50:41 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill based on testimony from restaurateurs who believe that tip sharing improves customer service and increases compensation opportunities for employees.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:52:04 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because she fears it will allow employers to classify more workers as tipped employees, enabling them to pay a subminimum wage.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:52:55 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill to ensure fair compensation for all staff members involved in food preparation and service.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:54:18 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it will allow employers to pay a subminimum wage to all employees and prefers voluntary tip sharing.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:54:42 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it helps employers comply with IRS reporting obligations by bringing tip sharing out of informal arrangements into official policy.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:04:20 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill based on personal experience where her daughter found that sharing tips with support staff was necessary to ensure timely service and overall success.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:05:24 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because his son, a detective, identified investigative subpoenas as the most important tool needed by law enforcement agencies.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:13:12 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it removes constitutional protections by allowing government access to private records without a judge's probable cause determination.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:22:23 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it allows police officers to exploit citizens and obtain information without constitutional safeguards or probable cause.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:22:50 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he sees no protection for ordinary citizens who cannot match their resources against those of the state.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:23:53 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because it acts as a shortcut that bypasses the necessary judicial filter for probable cause, endangering citizens' private information.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:24:15 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill based on her past experience as a peace officer and believes it will help Wyoming investigate crimes that cross state borders where search warrants are ineffective.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:27:56 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill arguing that it provides necessary tools for law enforcement to fight crime across borders and includes adequate protections similar to existing civil subpoenas.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:31:00 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it is too broad and fails to meet the constitutional requirement of being narrowly defined with a significant state purpose.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:34:05 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because administrative subpoenas are already successfully used to track down child exploiters, and expanding this tool is necessary for other internet-related crimes.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:34:05 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
2 roll calls
H Failed CoW; Indef Postponed 27-31-2-0-02011-02-02 · House27 yes 31 no
- Yes
- 27
- No
- 31
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 27
Carl R LoucksH59David R MillerH55Del McOmieH54Dn.Frank D PeasleyH03Glenn W MonizH46James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25Keith M GingeryH23Kendell R KroekerH35Kermit C BrownH14Matthias E GreeneH45Michael D GreearH27Nicholas BNorine A KasperikH32Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50PedersonRobert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Ruth A PetroffH16Samuel P KroneH24Steve HarshmanR · H37Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Zwonitzer
No 31
Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Catherine R ConnollyH13Clarence J VranishH49Donald E Burkhart JrH15Elaine HarveyH26Gerald GayH36Gregory R BlikreH53Hans HuntH02James A RoscoeH22John C EklundH10John L FreemanH60John W PattonH29Jonathan A BottenH30Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Ken A EsquibelH41Lisa A SheppersonH58Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Mary A ThroneH11Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Stanley L BlakeH39Sue E WallisH52William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33
Excused 2
H09 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02011-01-31 · House9 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 9
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Official activity
Bill history
- H Failed CoW; Indef PostponedHouse
- H Amendments AdoptedHouse
- Amendment AdoptedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H09 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
- H Rereferred to H09House
- H Introduced and Referred to H10House
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- Bill Number AssignedLSO
Changes
Amendments
1 stored
Adopted Standing Committee by H09