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HB0139

HB0139: Serving Protection Orders by Certified Mail

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill proposed allowing domestic assault protection orders to be served by certified mail if personal service could not be made after reasonable effort.

What it does

  • Amends the law regarding the service of protection orders.
  • Requires that protection orders be personally served on the respondent unless the respondent or their attorney was present when the order was issued.
  • Allows service by certified mail to the respondent's last known address if personal service cannot be made after reasonable effort.
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2016, for the act if it had passed.

Who it affects

  • Courts and clerks of court who file orders and send copies to county sheriffs.
  • County sheriffs who serve orders and notify local law enforcement agencies.
  • Petitioners who seek protection orders.
  • Respondents who are subject to protection orders.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and did not become law.
  • The bill does not define what constitutes 'reasonable effort' for personal service.
  • The bill does not specify procedures if the certified mail is returned or undeliverable.

Plain language

Terms to know

Protection order
A court order granted under the act to protect a person.
Service
The legal process of delivering a court order to the respondent.
Respondent
The person against whom the protection order is issued.
Certified mail
A method of mailing used for service when personal service is not possible.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 12:16 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because respondents who have already received notice of a hearing can actively avoid personal service, making enforcement difficult. The proposed change allows certified mail to serve as an alternative after reasonable efforts at personal service fail.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:21:56 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it represents a fundamental and monumental change in how legal process is served, which they believe goes too far.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:23:43 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because they believe extraordinary remedies require personal service to ensure individuals are notified of restricted rights. They also worry that mailing notice to a last known address may fail if family members receive it instead.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:24:09 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 6-54-0-0-02016-02-12 · House6 yes 54 no
Yes
6
No
54
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 6

Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45JoAnn R DaytonH17John L FreemanH60Ken A EsquibelH41Mary A ThroneH11

No 54

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Allen M JaggiH19Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08BROWN SPEAKERCarl R LoucksH59Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clifford M JenningsH30Dan R KirkbrideH04David E NorthrupH50David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Elaine HarveyH26Eric BarlowR · H03Fred A BaldwinH18Garry C PiiparinenH49Gerald GayH36Glenn W MonizH46Hans HuntH02Harlan J EdmondsH12James R AllenH33James W ByrdH44Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10Kendell R KroekerH35LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANMark H BakerH48Mark S KinnerH29Martha D HalversonH22Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Norine A KasperikH32Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Roy H EdwardsH53Ruth A PetroffH16Samuel P KroneH24Scott M ClemH31Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy M StubsonH56Tyler E LindholmH01William H PownallH52ZWONITZER, DNZWONITZER, DV

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed Introduction 6-54-0-0-0House
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO