The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Wyoming2021Enacted
HB1002
Wyoming Act Against Federal Vaccine Mandates
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM
In one sentence
This act stops federal agencies from making employers in Wyoming require their workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine and lets the state's Attorney General sue if they try.
What it does
- It says that no public entity in Wyoming can make an employer force their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, except for entities receiving federal funding that would lose it by not complying with a mandate.
- It tells the Wyoming Attorney General to fight any federal rules about vaccine mandates in court.
- It gives $4 million to help pay for lawsuits against these federal rules.
Who it affects
- Employers with more than 100 employees in Wyoming
- The Wyoming Attorney General
Limits and unknowns
- This act does not apply if a public entity would lose federal funding by not following vaccine mandates.
- The effectiveness depends on the courts agreeing with Wyoming's interpretation of constitutional rights.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Public entity
- A government agency or organization run by the state.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Bill Summary - 21LSO-1008 Bill No.: HB1002 Effective: Immediately LSO No.: 21LSO-1008 Enrolled Act No.: HEA No. 0001 Chapter No.: 1 Prime Sponsor: Sommers Catch Title: Federal COVID vaccine mandates-prohibition and remedies-2. Subject: COVID-19 vaccine mandate prohibition, litigation authorization, resolution to federal government. Summary/Major Elements: This act provides findings and statements concerning the federal government's actions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, divided into two parts: The first part contains findings and assertions regarding the onset of COVID-19, the development of vaccines for COVID-19, the announcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, opposition to the federal mandates based on personal choice and rights found in the United States and the Wyoming Constitutions, and Wyoming's rejection of the federal power to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations. The second part condemns the promulgation of any federal COVID-19 vaccination requirement as an infringement on the rights of Wyoming citizens to make their own healthcare decisions without governmental coercion, intrusion, or dictate. The Legislature also resolves that no state or local public entity should be coerced into enforcing federal vaccine mandates, that public entities should not be required to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to provide public benefits, and that the Wyoming Attorney General is empowered to litigate against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The act creates a statute that prohibits state or local public entities from enforcing any federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate that requires an employer to ensure that an employee receives a COVID-19 vaccination. The act doesn't apply to public entities that receive federal funding and that would lose federal funding by not complying with a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The prohibition in this act is enforceable until a conflicting federal law takes effect and is enforceable if a conflicting federal law is declared invalid and during any time that a federal court has stayed any conflicting federal law. The act authorizes the Wyoming Attorney General, with the Governor's direction and consent, to initiate or participate in litigation to resist all federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates that are contrary to the law and the rights of Wyoming citizens. The act appropriates $4,000,000 to fund these litigation efforts. The act requires the Wyoming Secretary of State to transmit copies of this act to specified federal officials, including congressional leadership, the President of the United States, and Wyoming's congressional delegation. 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
We are still checking public recordings for this bill.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
8 roll calls
S Adopted HB1002JC001: 20-7-3-0-02021-11-03 · Senate20 yes 7 no
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 7
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 3
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 20
Affie EllisS08Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Wendy SchulerR · S15
No 7
H Adopted HB1002JC001: 40-17-3-0-02021-11-03 · House40 yes 17 no
- Yes
- 40
- No
- 17
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 3
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 40
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Art WashutR · H36Barry CragoR · H40Bill FortnerH52Charles J GrayH57Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Cyrus WesternH51Dan LaursenR · H25Danny EyreH19Donald E Burkhart JrH15Ember OakleyH55Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21JD WilliamsR · H02Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Jerry D PaxtonH47John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John Romero-MartinezH44John WinterR · H28Kevin O'HearnH59Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark H BakerH60Michael D GreearH27Ocean AndrewR · H46Pepper OttmanR · H34RODRIG-WILLIAMSRobert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Timothy P HallinanH32
No 17
Andrea LeBeauH33Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Chad BanksH17Dan ZwonitzerH43James A RoscoeH22Jerry A ObermuellerH56Joseph E MacGuireH35Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Landon BrownR · H09Marshall BurtH39Mike YinD · H16Patrick SweeneyH58Thomas J WaltersH38Trey SherwoodD · H14William D HendersonH41
H Concur:Failed 11-47-2-0-02021-11-03 · House11 yes 47 no
- Yes
- 11
- No
- 47
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 11
No 47
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrea LeBeauH33Andrew W SchwartzH23Art WashutR · H36Barry CragoR · H40Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Chad BanksH17Chip NeimanR · H01Clark D StithH48Cyrus WesternH51Dan ZwonitzerH43Danny EyreH19Donald E Burkhart JrH15Ember OakleyH55Evan J SimpsonH21JD WilliamsR · H02James A RoscoeH22Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John Romero-MartinezH44John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark S KinnerH29Marshall BurtH39Michael D GreearH27Mike YinD · H16Ocean AndrewR · H46Robert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy P HallinanH32Trey SherwoodD · H14William D HendersonH41
S 3rd Reading:Passed 20-6-4-0-02021-11-03 · Senate20 yes 6 no
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 6
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 4
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 20
Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24Wendy SchulerR · S15
No 6
S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02021-11-01 · Senate5 yes 0 no
H 3rd Reading:Passed 41-14-5-0-02021-10-29 · House41 yes 14 no
- Yes
- 41
- No
- 14
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 5
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 41
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Art WashutR · H36Barry CragoR · H40Bill FortnerH52Bob NicholasR · H08Charles J GrayH57Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Dan LaursenR · H25Donald E Burkhart JrH15Ember OakleyH55Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21JD WilliamsR · H02Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Jerry D PaxtonH47John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John Romero-MartinezH44John WinterR · H28Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark H BakerH60Michael D GreearH27Ocean AndrewR · H46Pepper OttmanR · H34RODRIG-WILLIAMSRobert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy P HallinanH32William D HendersonH41
No 14
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-1-0-0-02021-10-27 · House6 yes 1 no
- Yes
- 6
- No
- 1
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-02021-10-27 · House6 yes 3 no
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number 1LSO
- Governor Signed HEA No. 0001 Governor
- S President Signed HEA No. 0001Senate
- H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0001House
- Assigned Number HEA No. 0001LSO
- S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
- H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
- H Concur:Failed 11-47-2-0-0House
- H Received for ConcurrenceHouse
- S 3rd Reading:Passed 20-6-4-0-0Senate
- S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
- S COW:PassedSenate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
- S Introduced and Referred to S02 - AppropriationsSenate
- S Received for IntroductionSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 41-14-5-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
Changes
Amendments
25 stored
Amendment HB1002H2002, proposed by Representative Burt, aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
This amendment aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming and provides for legal actions to protect individual rights.
HB1002H2004 amends HB1002 to add specific protections against federal enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
Amendment HB1002H2005, proposed by Representative Heiner, was withdrawn and does not provide specific details about its content or changes.
The amendment aims to add specific protections against federal enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Amendment HB1002H3003, proposed by Representative Connolly, was withdrawn and does not provide specific details about its content or changes.
This amendment aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming and provides for legal actions to protect individual rights.
Amendment HB1002H3005 aims to add specific protections against federal enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
The amendment to HB1002 adds specific language about the state's authority and individual rights regarding federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming and provides for legal actions to protect individual rights.
The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming and allows for legal action against such mandates.
This amendment aims to prohibit federal agencies from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
Amendment HB1002HW002 aims to prohibit federal agencies from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
Amendment HB1002HW003 adds language to prohibit federal agencies from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming.
The amendment adds language to clarify that certain federal actions related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates are prohibited in Wyoming.
The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment to HB1002 adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment aims to prohibit the enforcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming and provides for legal actions to protect individual rights.
The amendment adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The amendment adds a provision that allows Wyoming citizens and the state to sue for damages if their rights are violated by federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.