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Wyoming2016Did Not Pass

HB0014

Wyoming Asset Forfeiture Procedures

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposes changes to how the state of Wyoming seizes and takes ownership of property connected to drug crimes.

What it does

  • Requires the state to serve a notice of intent to seek forfeiture within 30 days of seizing property.
  • Stops the forfeiture process until a person is convicted and all appeals to the Wyoming Supreme Court are finished.
  • Requires the state to return property to the person from whom it was seized unless there is a finding of guilt, an admission of guilt, or a plea of nolo contendere.
  • Allows the state to sell property that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value and hold the proceeds.
  • Prevents the forfeiture of a third party's interest in property if they prove they are an innocent owner or have a perfected lien or priority interest.

Who it affects

  • People convicted of violations of the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or specific misdemeanors.
  • The Commissioner of the Wyoming Department of Revenue or their designee.
  • Courts handling criminal and property cases.
  • Third parties who claim ownership, have a lien, or have a financial interest in seized property.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2016 session, so these changes were not made into law.
  • The provided text is an excerpt and may not show every detail of the full bill, such as the complete list of property subject to forfeiture.

Plain language

Terms to know

Forfeiture
The legal process where the government takes ownership of property connected to a crime.
Innocent owner
A person who held an interest in the property and did not reasonably know of the defendant's conduct related to the violation, or a bona fide purchaser who did not know the property was subject to forfeiture.
Preponderance of evidence
A legal standard used by the court to determine if the property is subject to forfeiture, meaning it is more likely than not that the property is connected to the crime.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 12:53 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it is substantially similar to a previously passed asset forfeiture measure, with specific changes allowing forfeiture in misdemeanor cases while capping cash amounts.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:10:43 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes Senate File 46 is a better alternative that uses a higher evidence standard and requires immediate judicial hearings for seized assets.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:12:11 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill based on the principle that people's property should not be taken without a conviction, which this bill ensures.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:13:08 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

2 roll calls

H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 6-3-0-0-02016-02-11 · House6 yes 3 no
Yes
6
No
3
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 6

Charles F PelkeyH45David R MillerH55Kendell R KroekerH35Mark H BakerH48Martha D HalversonH22Nathan A WintersH28

No 3

Ken A EsquibelH41Samuel P KroneH24William H PownallH52
H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 52-6-2-0-02016-02-09 · House52 yes 6 no
Yes
52
No
6
Absent
0
Excused
2
Conflict
0

Yes 52

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Allen M JaggiH19Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Carl R LoucksH59Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clifford M JenningsH30Dan R KirkbrideH04David E NorthrupH50David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Elaine HarveyH26Eric BarlowR · H03Fred A BaldwinH18Garry C PiiparinenH49Glenn W MonizH46Hans HuntH02Harlan J EdmondsH12James R AllenH33James W ByrdH44Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10John L FreemanH60Kendell R KroekerH35LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANMark H BakerH48Mark S KinnerH29Martha D HalversonH22Mary A ThroneH11Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Norine A KasperikH32Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Roy H EdwardsH53Ruth A PetroffH16Scott M ClemH31Stanley L BlakeH39Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Timothy M StubsonH56Tyler E LindholmH01ZWONITZER, DNZWONITZER, DV

No 6

JoAnn R DaytonH17Ken A EsquibelH41Samuel P KroneH24Steve HarshmanR · H37Thomas J WaltersH38William H PownallH52

Excused 2

BROWN SPEAKERGerald GayH36

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Did Not Consider in CoWHouse
  2. H COWHouse
  3. H Placed on General FileHouse
  4. H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0House
  5. H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 52-6-2-0-0House
  6. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  7. Bill Number AssignedLSO