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SF0003

Permissive Preference for Veterans in Private Employment

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law allows private employers in Wyoming to give hiring and promotion preferences to veterans and certain spouses without violating state equal employment opportunity laws.

What it does

  • Allows private employers to give preference to veterans in hiring and promotion.
  • Allows private employers to give preference in hiring and promotion to spouses of disabled veterans and surviving spouses of deceased veterans.
  • States that granting this preference is not considered a discriminatory or unfair employment practice under local or state equal employment opportunity law, provided it is not based on characteristics listed in state law as discriminatory.
  • Defines 'disabled veteran' as a veteran with a compensable service-connected permanent and total disability certified by the U.S. Veterans Administration or a military retirement board.
  • Defines 'veteran' as a member of the U.S. military forces whose written evidence of separation shows an honorable discharge or honorable military service.

Who it affects

  • Private employers in Wyoming.
  • Veterans seeking employment or promotion.
  • Spouses of disabled veterans.
  • Surviving spouses of deceased veterans.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not require private employers to grant the preference; it only allows them to do so.
  • The preference cannot be based on any characteristic, attribute, or category that state law lists as a discriminatory or unfair employment practice.
  • The law applies to private employment and does not change existing rules for public employers.

Plain language

Terms to know

Permissive preference
A choice given to an employer to favor certain candidates, rather than a requirement to do so.
Disabled veteran
A veteran with a compensable service-connected permanent and total disability certified by the U.S. Veterans Administration or a military retirement board.
Veteran
A member of the U.S. military forces whose written evidence of separation shows an honorable discharge or honorable military service.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

Summary for LSO115 Bill No.: SF0003 Effective : 7/1/2016 LSO No.: 16LSO-0022 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0063 Chapter No.: 107 Prime Sponsor: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee Catch Title: Permissive preference for veterans in private employment. Subject: P ermissive private employment preference for veterans and spouse s Summary/Major Elements: Under current Wyoming law, public employers are authorized to grant employment preference to veterans, subject to conditions specified by statute. This act specifies private employer s may grant employment preference to a veteran or to the spouse of a disabled or dec eased veteran. The act specifies granting an employment preference does not violate local or state equal employment opportunity laws. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill .

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 12:39 AM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

Senator Meyer explains that an amendment clarifies employers must consider non-veterans' qualifications and employment status, addressing concerns about the bill being too broad while maintaining veteran preferences.

Public statementFloor statement at 5:54 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker states that the bill aligns with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Public statementFloor statement at 36:14 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

8 roll calls

H Adopted SF0003JC002: 58-0-2-0-02016-03-04 · House58 yes 0 no
S Adopted SF0003JC002: 20-7-3-0-02016-03-04 · Senate20 yes 7 no
S Concur:Failed 15-14-1-0-02016-02-29 · Senate15 yes 14 no
H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-0-2-0-02016-02-29 · House58 yes 0 no
H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02016-02-24 · House9 yes 0 no
S 3rd Reading:Passed 22-8-0-0-02016-02-16 · Senate22 yes 8 no
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02016-02-12 · Senate5 yes 0 no
S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary 23-7-0-0-02016-02-10 · Senate23 yes 7 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter NumberLSO
  2. Governor Signed SEA No. 0063Governor
  3. H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0063House
  4. S President Signed SEA No. 0063Senate
  5. Assigned Number SEA No. 0063LSO
  6. H Adopted SF0003JC002: 58-0-2-0-0House
  7. S Adopted SF0003JC002: 20-7-3-0-0Senate
  8. Pursuant to JR 2-1(c): H Appointed JCC02 MembersSenate
  9. Pursuant to JR 2-1(c):S Appointed JCC02 Members
  10. JCC Requested a New Committee to be Appointed
  11. H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
  12. S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
  13. S Concur:Failed 15-14-1-0-0Senate
  14. S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
  15. H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-0-2-0-0House
  16. H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
  17. H COW:PassedHouse
  18. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  19. H Placed on General FileHouse
  20. H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0House

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

SF0003HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by HTransportation

SF0003JC001

Filed Conference Committee

SF0003JC002

S Adopted, H Adopted Conference Committee