Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because they believe it improves the bill.
Public statementFloor statement at 10:06 Watch the statement
Wyoming2018Did Not Pass
HB0163
HB0163: Physician Noncompete Clause
Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM
In one sentence
This bill would make noncompete clauses in physician employment and business agreements void, while allowing other contract terms to remain valid and requiring physicians to continue treating patients during acute illnesses.
What it does
- Makes noncompete clauses void in employment, partnership, or other business agreements for physicians required to be licensed to practice medicine.
- Allows other enforceable provisions of the agreement to remain in full force and effect, including provisions requiring payment of damages reasonably related to injury or reasonable damages upon termination.
- Requires that covenants not to compete provide that a physician is not prohibited from providing continuing care and treatment to any patient during the course of an acute illness even after the contract or employment has been terminated.
- Excludes a physician's business ownership interest in a licensed hospital or licensed ambulatory surgical center from the prohibition on noncompete clauses.
- States that the act does not apply to any employment, partnership, or other business agreement originally entered into prior to the effective date of the act.
Who it affects
- Physicians required to be licensed to practice medicine.
- Employers, partners, or business entities that have agreements with physicians.
- Patients who may receive continuing care from a physician during an acute illness after a contract ends.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill did not pass and was postponed indefinitely, so it did not become law.
- The bill text does not define what constitutes an 'acute illness' for the purpose of continuing patient care.
- The bill text does not specify how 'reasonable damages' are calculated, only that they must be reasonably related to the injury suffered.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Noncompete clause
- A covenant not to compete in an agreement that restricts a physician's right to practice medicine upon termination of the agreement.
- Void
- Legally invalid or unenforceable.
- Ambulatory surgical center
- A licensed facility where surgery is performed, distinct from a hospital.
Official record
Sources
Public statements
Why lawmakers voted
Last checked Aug 7, 7:09 AM
Tara Nethercott
R · S04
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment and the bill because they believe it violates free market principles and conflates tort litigation with contract law, specifically by requiring courts to consider a physician's income when analyzing damages.
Public statementFloor statement at 10:17 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because they believe current negotiations are not fair due to monopolistic control, and the bill helps create a better free market by allowing for damages while preventing non-competes from diminishing competition.
Public statementFloor statement at 15:48 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports Division 3 because they believe patients have a right to continue care with their doctor and hospitals should be compensated if a doctor leaves, which helps keep doctors in the community.
Public statementFloor statement at 21:14 Watch the statement
Chris Rothfuss
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because they believe it ensures hospitals are compensated for recruitment expenses and lost money when a doctor leaves, while also allowing patients to continue care locally.
Public statementFloor statement at 22:12 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill and amendment because they believe it creates a special standard of law for physicians compared to other professionals, unnecessarily inserting government into business relationships.
Public statementFloor statement at 26:53 Watch the statement
Charles Scott
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because physicians face unique challenges regarding student debt and recruitment, and non-compete clauses have caused young doctors to leave the state.
Public statementFloor statement at 28:57 Watch the statement
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
5 roll calls
S COW:Failed 5-24-1-0-02018-03-07 · Senate5 yes 24 no
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 24
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 5
No 24
Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06BEBOUT PRESBill LandenR · S27Brian BonerR · S02Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Fred M EmerichS05Henry R CoeS18Jim AndersonR · S28John HastertS13Larry HicksR · S11Liisa L Anselmi-DaltonS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Ogden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Wyatt AgarS20
Excused 1
S10 - Labor:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02018-03-06 · Senate5 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H 3rd Reading:Passed 43-14-3-0-02018-02-27 · House43 yes 14 no
- Yes
- 43
- No
- 14
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 3
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 43
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Bob NicholasR · H08Carl R LoucksH59Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Charles J GrayH57Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Dan FurphyH14Danny EyreH19Dan R KirkbrideH04David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Evan J SimpsonH21Hans HuntH02James R AllenH33Jared OlsenR · H11Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47JoAnn R DaytonH17John C EklundH10Joseph E MacGuireH35Landon BrownR · H09LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANMark S KinnerH29Martha D HalversonH22Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Robert A ClausenH06Roy H EdwardsH53Scott CourtH24Scott M ClemH31Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Thomas D CrankH18Thomas J WaltersH38Tim SalazarR · H34Tyler E LindholmH01William D HendersonH41William H PownallH52
No 14
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-02018-02-16 · House7 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 7
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 58-1-1-0-02018-02-15 · House58 yes 1 no
- Yes
- 58
- No
- 1
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 58
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrew W SchwartzH23Bo BitemanR · H51Bob NicholasR · H08Carl R LoucksH59Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Charles J GrayH57Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Dan FurphyH14Danny EyreH19Dan R KirkbrideH04Dan ZwonitzerH43David E NorthrupH50David R MillerH55Debbie BoveeH36Donald E Burkhart JrH15Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21Garry C PiiparinenH49Hans HuntH02James R AllenH33James W ByrdH44Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47JoAnn R DaytonH17John C EklundH10John L FreemanH60Joseph E MacGuireH35Landon BrownR · H09LARSEN LLOYDLars O LoneH12LAURSEN DANMark S KinnerH29Martha D HalversonH22Michael K MaddenH40Mike GierauD · H16Nathan A WintersH28Patrick SweeneyH58Robert A ClausenH06Roy H EdwardsH53Scott CourtH24Scott M ClemH31Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas D CrankH18Thomas J WaltersH38Tim SalazarR · H34Tyler E LindholmH01William D HendersonH41William H Mr. HaleyH46William H PownallH52
Excused 1
Official activity
Bill history
- S postponed indefinitelySenate
- S COW:Failed 5-24-1-0-0Senate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S10 - Labor:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
- S Introduced and Referred to S10 - LaborSenate
- S Received for IntroductionSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 43-14-3-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0House
- :Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsHouse
- H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 58-1-1-0-0House
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- Bill Number AssignedLSO
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
Adopted 3rd reading by Gierau
Adopted Standing Committee by HAppropriations
Divided Standing Committee by SLabor
Corrected, Adopted Standing Committee by SLabor
Corrected, Failed Standing Committee by SLabor