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HB0018

HB0018: Limiting State Help with Federal Wolf and Bear Cases

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would stop Wyoming game and fish personnel and law enforcement officers from helping the federal government investigate or prosecute people for taking or injuring gray wolves or grizzly bears if those animals are listed as experimental nonessential, endangered, or threatened species in the state.

What it does

  • Prohibits game and fish personnel and Wyoming law enforcement officers from assisting federal officials in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting people who take or cause injury to gray wolves or grizzly bears.
  • Applies this prohibition only if the animal is listed as an experimental nonessential population, endangered species, or threatened species in the state.
  • Allows state officials to continue enforcing or complying with other federal or state laws not identified in the prohibition.
  • Permits state officials to respond to civil legal processes.
  • Allows state officials to take actions to facilitate the removal of gray wolves or grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act list.
  • Allows state officials to work with federal officials to reduce the number of gray wolves or grizzly bears in any area in the state.

Who it affects

  • Wyoming game and fish personnel.
  • Wyoming law enforcement officers.
  • People who take or cause injury to gray wolves or grizzly bears in Wyoming.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2016 session, so it did not become law.
  • The bill does not define the specific criteria for 'experimental nonessential population' status, only that it must be listed as such in the state.

Plain language

Terms to know

Experimental nonessential population
A status listed in the state for a species, as defined in the bill's conditions for the prohibition.
Endangered Species Act
A federal law referenced in the bill regarding the delisting of gray wolves or grizzly bears.

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 speaker argues that if the federal government wants to manage wolf and grizzly bear populations, they should have full responsibility for enforcement rather than receiving state assistance or funding.

Public statementFloor statement at 38:48 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The speaker opposes the bill because it creates ambiguity for law enforcement regarding their roles and uncertainty about future agency cooperation on species management.

Public statementFloor statement at 39:58 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker questions whether the bill sets a long-term precedent for excluding state management whenever an action involves predator species.

Public statementFloor statement at 40:18 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker expresses concern that under this bill, state officials would not be present to investigate grizzly bear shootings before federal agents arrive.

Public statementFloor statement at 40:58 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:DO PASS FAILED in Accordance with House Rule 5-4: 4-5-0-0-02016-02-29 · House4 yes 5 no
Yes
4
No
5
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 4

Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Dan LaursenR · H25Eric BarlowR · H03Scott M ClemH31

No 5

Andrew W SchwartzH23Dan R KirkbrideH04Fred A BaldwinH18John L FreemanH60Ruth A PetroffH16
H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel 40-19-1-0-02016-02-09 · House40 yes 19 no
Yes
40
No
19
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 40

Allen M JaggiH19BROWN SPEAKERCarl R LoucksH59Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clifford M JenningsH30Dan R KirkbrideH04David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Elaine HarveyH26Eric BarlowR · H03Garry C PiiparinenH49Glenn W MonizH46Hans HuntH02Harlan J EdmondsH12James R AllenH33JoAnn R DaytonH17John C EklundH10Kendell R KroekerH35LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANMark H BakerH48Martha D HalversonH22Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Norine A KasperikH32Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Roy H EdwardsH53Scott M ClemH31Steve HarshmanR · H37Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Timothy M StubsonH56Tyler E LindholmH01William H PownallH52ZWONITZER, DNZWONITZER, DV

No 19

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45David E NorthrupH50Fred A BaldwinH18James W ByrdH44Jerry D PaxtonH47John L FreemanH60Ken A EsquibelH41Mark S KinnerH29Mary A ThroneH11Ruth A PetroffH16Samuel P KroneH24Stanley L BlakeH39Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas J WaltersH38

Excused 1

Gerald GayH36

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H:DO PASS FAILED in Accordance with House Rule 5-4: 4-5-0-0-0House
  2. H No report prior to CoW CutoffHouse
  3. H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel 40-19-1-0-0House
  4. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  5. Bill Number AssignedLSO