Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Wyoming
Wyoming2014Active

SF0028

Post-Conviction Actual Innocence Act

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill allows people convicted of felonies to ask for a new trial if they have new non-DNA evidence proving they did not commit the crime.

What it does

  • Creates a new legal process for people convicted of felonies to file a motion for a new trial based on actual innocence.
  • Requires the new evidence to be non-DNA evidence that was not known at the time of trial and could not have been found with due diligence within two years of the final judgment.
  • Requires the district attorney to respond to the motion within 120 days.
  • Allows the court to appoint counsel for a needy person if the motion shows a non-frivolous prima facie case of innocence.
  • Requires the district attorney to notify the victim when a motion is filed, when a hearing is scheduled, and of the final decision.
  • Provides for financial compensation for people who receive an order of actual innocence and exoneration, subject to legislative funding.

Who it affects

  • People convicted of felony offenses who believe they are actually innocent.
  • District attorneys and state prosecutors who must respond to motions and notify victims.
  • District courts that must review motions, hold hearings, and issue orders.
  • Victims of the original crimes who must be notified of the motion and hearing details.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill text provided is a working draft and may change before final passage.
  • Compensation is only available if the legislature appropriates funds for it.
  • The bill states that orders granting or denying the motion are not appealable, but earlier amendments suggested appeal rights to the Wyoming Supreme Court, creating a potential conflict in the draft text.

Plain language

Terms to know

Actually innocent
A person did not engage in the conduct for which they were convicted, nor any lesser included offense, aiding and abetting, attempt, or conspiracy related to that conduct.
Movant
The person filing the motion for a new trial based on actual innocence.
Expungement
A court order that removes or seals the records of the original conviction.
Non-frivolous prima facie
A showing that the claim has a reasonable basis and is not made without serious cause.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 6:36 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the amendment because it corrects a previous oversight by ensuring criminal records are preserved until after any potential compensation hearings, rather than being expunged immediately.

Public statementFloor statement at 22:09 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues that the House added new legal maneuvering requiring an additional hearing to a bill that was previously good, and requests a vote against concurrence to allow time for further discussion with the other chamber.

Public statementFloor statement at 55:07 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

6 roll calls

S Did Not Concur 0-30-0-0-02014-03-05 · Senate0 yes 30 no
Yes
0
No
30
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

No 30

Anderson JD S02Anderson JL S28Bernadine CraftS12Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Floyd EsquibelS08Fred M EmerichS05Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Leslie J NuttingS07Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas POgden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
H Passed 3rd Reading 54-6-0-0-02014-03-05 · House54 yes 6 no
Yes
54
No
6
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 54

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Carl R LoucksH59Catherine R ConnollyH13Dan R KirkbrideH04David E NorthrupH50David H BlevinsH25David R MillerH55Dn.Donald E Burkhart JrH15Dv.Elaine HarveyH26Eric BarlowR · H03Gerald GayH36Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Hans HuntH02James W ByrdH44Jerry D PaxtonH47John L FreemanH60John W PattonH29Katherine K ColemanH30Kathleen DavisonH18Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kendell R KroekerH35Kermit C BrownH14Lee FilerD · H12Lloyd LarsenR · H54Lynn HutchingsR · H42Mark H BakerH48Mark SemlekH01Martha D HalversonH22Mary A ThroneH11Matthias E GreeneH45Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Nicholas BNorine A KasperikH32Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Rosie M BergerH51Ruth A PetroffH16Samuel P KroneH24Stanley L BlakeH39Stephen D WattH17Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Thomas J WaltersH38Tom Lubnau IIH31Troy R MaderH52W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

No 6

Allen M JaggiH19John C EklundH10Matt TeetersH05Michael D GreearH27Robert M McKimH21Timothy M StubsonH56
H01 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-02014-02-25 · House8 yes 1 no
Yes
8
No
1
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 8

Catherine R ConnollyH13David R MillerH55Keith M GingeryH23Kendell R KroekerH35Mark H BakerH48Martha D HalversonH22Samuel P KroneH24Stephen D WattH17

No 1

Thomas J WaltersH38
S Passed 3rd Reading 28-2-0-0-02014-02-20 · Senate28 yes 2 no
Yes
28
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 28

Anderson JD S02Anderson JL S28Bernadine CraftS12Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16Eli D BeboutS26Floyd EsquibelS08Fred M EmerichS05Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Leslie J NuttingS07Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas POgden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14Wayne H JohnsonS06

No 2

Drew A PerkinsS29Tony RossS04
S01 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02014-02-14 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Bruce Burns Jr.S21Floyd EsquibelS08John C SchifferS22Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17
S Introduced and Referred to S01 29-1-0-0-02014-02-11 · Senate29 yes 1 no
Yes
29
No
1
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 29

Anderson JD S02Anderson JL S28Bernadine CraftS12Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Floyd EsquibelS08Fred M EmerichS05Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Leslie J NuttingS07Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas POgden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14Wayne H JohnsonS06

No 1

Tony RossS04

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
  2. S Indefinitely PostponedSenate
  3. S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
  4. S Did Not ConcurSenate
  5. S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
  6. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  7. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  8. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  9. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  10. Amendment FailedHouse
  11. H Passed CoWHouse
  12. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  13. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  14. H Placed on General FileHouse
  15. H01 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  16. H Introduced and Referred to H01House
  17. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  18. S Passed 3rd ReadingSenate
  19. S Passed 2nd ReadingSenate
  20. Amendment AdoptedSenate

Changes

Amendments

8 stored

SF0028H2001

Failed 2nd reading by CONNOLLY

SF0028H2002

Adopted 2nd reading by LUBNAU

SF0028H3001

Adopted 3rd reading by NICHOLAS,B

SF0028HW001

Withdrawn Committee of the Whole by LUBNAU

SF0028HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H01

SF0028S2001

Adopted 2nd reading by SCHIFFER

SF0028SW001

Adopted Committee of the Whole by PERKINS

SF0028SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by SCHIFFER