Marlene Brady
R · H60
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because they believe parents need more time and opportunity to reunite with their children.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:07:40 Watch the statement
Wyoming2025Enacted
SF0022
Grounds for Terminating Parental Rights
Last scannedOct 23, 2026, 2:19 AM
In one sentence
This law allows courts to terminate parental rights if a child has been under guardianship with a relative for at least twenty-four consecutive months and there is clear-and-convincing evidence that the parent is unfit.
What it does
- Adds a new reason for terminating parental rights: when a child has lived with a guardian who is a relative of the child for at least twenty-four consecutive months, and there is clear-and-convincing evidence that the parent is unfit to have custody and control of the child.
- Defines 'relative' as including grandparents, stepparents, great-grandparents, siblings, stepsiblings, half-siblings, uncles, or aunts.
Who it affects
- Children who have been under guardianship with relatives for at least twenty-four consecutive months
- Parents whose rights may be terminated if they are found unfit
Limits and unknowns
- The law only applies if the child has been under guardianship for at least twenty-four consecutive months.
- It does not specify what constitutes 'unfitness' of a parent.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Relative
- Includes grandparents, stepparents, great-grandparents, siblings, stepsiblings, half-siblings, uncles, or aunts.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
Bill Summary - 25LSO-0378 Bill No.: SF0022 Effective: 7/1/2025 LSO No.: 25LSO-0378 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0083 Chapter No.: 138 Prime Sponsor: Schuler Catch Title: Ground for termination of parental rights-guardianship. Has Report: No Subject: Providing for termination of parental rights for a guardianship and parental unfitness. Summary/Major Elements: Current law provides that a parent's rights may be terminated upon a court finding one (1) or more facts specified in statute by clear-and-convincing evidence. This act adds a new criteria allowing a parent's rights to be terminated if there is clear-and-convincing evidence that the child has been appointed a guardian who is a relative of the child, the child has been under the guardian's care for at least twenty‑four (24) consecutive months, and the parent is unfit to have the custody and control of the child. For purposes of this act, a relative includes a grandparent, stepparent, great-grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, half-sibling, uncle, or aunt. 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 5, 1:51 AM
Voted No
Karlee Provenza
D · H45
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes making timelines equitable because private guardianship arrangements differ from state-ordered foster care removals, warranting a longer timeframe for termination in the former.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:15:06 Watch the statement
Lloyd Larsen
R · H54
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because state agencies have specific reunification responsibilities that family guardians do not, making the two scenarios different.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:18:03 Watch the statement
Tom Kelly
R · H30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports maintaining the current bill without the amendment because if there is an inconsistency, standards for foster care should be raised rather than lowering them for families.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:21:42 Watch the statement
Reuben Tarver
R · H52
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because state involvement and court determination of unfitness occur in both scenarios, making them comparable.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:22:25 Watch the statement
Ken Chestek
D · H13
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because they agree with the arguments made by its sponsor regarding the need for equitable timelines.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:24:51 Watch the statement
J.R. Riggins
R · H59
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports a new amendment to set a middle ground timeline that avoids the long wait for family members while not matching the short timeframe used for strangers.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:25:51 Watch the statement
Wendy Schuler
R · S15
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports concurrence because the amendment was minimal, changing only one word from 'child' to 'relative'.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:26:02 Watch the statement
Julie Jarvis
R · H57
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because it lacks the data collection mechanisms of state agencies to properly prove parental unfitness, potentially leading to family disputes.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:30:14 Watch the statement
Laura Pearson
R · S14
Why they voted this way
The speaker opposes the bill because it dismantles privacy protections without funding necessary security infrastructure, creating risks for vulnerable populations and violating federal requirements.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:49:03 Watch the statement
Cale Case
R · S25
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports allowing agencies to share information within federal law limits, arguing it improves service continuity and helps children by enabling better communication between case workers.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:55:37 Watch the statement
Jared Olsen
R · S08
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the bill as common sense legislation necessary to allow the Department of Family Services to share information with providers so families can receive essential services.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:58:35 Watch the statement
Tara Nethercott
R · S04
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the resolution as a request for Congress to consider policy changes regarding campaign funding, noting that current freedoms allow unlimited spending by both rich liberals and conservatives.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:10:30 Watch the statement
Charles Scott
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the resolution because while Citizens United was rightly decided, it may have gone too far regarding unknown sources of political money.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:11:52 Watch the statement
Dan Laursen
R · S19
Why they voted this way
The speaker opposes the resolution because limiting political spending would infringe on freedom of speech and association for individuals and organizations.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:12:32 Watch the statement
Ed Cooper
R · S20
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the resolution to investigate dark money and overseas sources influencing elections, noting that small donors are already declared while large anonymous ones are not.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:13:32 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
6 roll calls
S Concur:Passed 16-15-0-0-02025-03-04 · Senate16 yes 15 no
- Yes
- 16
- No
- 15
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 16
H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-17-1-0-02025-03-04 · House44 yes 17 no
- Yes
- 44
- No
- 17
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 44
Abby AngelosR · H03Andrew ByronR · H22Art WashutR · H36Bill AllemandR · H58Bob DavisR · H47Bob NicholasR · H07Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Cody WylieR · H39Dalton BanksR · H26Daniel SinghR · H61Darin McCannR · H48Elissa CampbellR · H56Ivan PoseyD · H33Jacob WasserburgerR · H11JD WilliamsR · H02Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Joe WebbR · H19John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John WinterR · H28J.R. RigginsR · H59J.T. LarsonR · H17Ken ChestekD · H13Ken CloustonR · H32Kevin CampbellR · H62Landon BrownR · H09Lee FilerR · H44Lloyd LarsenR · H54Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Mike SchmidR · H20Nina WebberR · H24Ocean AndrewR · H46Pam ThayerR · H15Paul HoeftR · H25Pepper OttmanR · H34Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsR · H50Reuben TarverR · H52Robert WharffR · H49Rob GeringerR · H42Steve HarshmanR · H37Tom KellyR · H30
No 17
Gary BrownR · H41Jayme LienR · H38Joel GuggenmosR · H55Julie JarvisR · H57Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Ken PendergraftR · H29Laurie BrattenR · H51Liz StorerD · H23Marilyn ConnollyR · H40Marlene BradyR · H60Mike YinD · H16Scott HeinerR · H18Scott SmithR · H05Steve JohnsonR · H08Tomi StrockR · H06Tony LockeR · H35Trey SherwoodD · H14
Excused 1
Amendment adopted 55-5-2-0-02025-03-03 · House55 yes 5 no
- Yes
- 55
- No
- 5
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 55
Abby AngelosR · H03Andrew ByronR · H22Ann LucasR · H43Art WashutR · H36Bill AllemandR · H58Bob DavisR · H47Bob NicholasR · H07Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Cody WylieR · H39Dalton BanksR · H26Daniel SinghR · H61Darin McCannR · H48Elissa CampbellR · H56Ivan PoseyD · H33Jayme LienR · H38JD WilliamsR · H02Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Joel GuggenmosR · H55Joe WebbR · H19John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John WinterR · H28J.T. LarsonR · H17Julie JarvisR · H57Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Ken ChestekD · H13Ken CloustonR · H32Ken PendergraftR · H29Kevin CampbellR · H62Laurie BrattenR · H51Lee FilerR · H44Liz StorerD · H23Lloyd LarsenR · H54Marilyn ConnollyR · H40Marlene BradyR · H60Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Mike SchmidR · H20Mike YinD · H16Nina WebberR · H24Ocean AndrewR · H46Pam ThayerR · H15Paul HoeftR · H25Pepper OttmanR · H34Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsR · H50Reuben TarverR · H52Robert WharffR · H49Rob GeringerR · H42Scott HeinerR · H18Steve HarshmanR · H37Steve JohnsonR · H08Tom KellyR · H30Tony LockeR · H35Trey SherwoodD · H14
No 5
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-02025-02-21 · House8 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 8
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
S 3rd Reading:Passed 19-11-1-0-02025-02-11 · Senate19 yes 11 no
- Yes
- 19
- No
- 11
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 19
Barry CragoR · S22Bill LandenR · S27Brian BonerR · S02Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan LaursenR · S19Darin SmithS06Ed CooperR · S20Eric BarlowR · S23Evie BrennanR · S31Gary CrumR · S10Jared OlsenR · S08Jim AndersonR · S28Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Ogden DriskillR · S01Stacy JonesR · S13Wendy SchulerR · S15
No 11
Excused 1
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-02025-02-03 · Senate4 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 4
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number 138LSO
- Governor Signed SEA No. 0083 Governor
- H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0083House
- S President Signed SEA No. 0083Senate
- Assigned Number SEA No. 0083LSO
- S Concur:Passed 16-15-0-0-0Senate
- S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-17-1-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H 2nd Reading:Laid BackHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0House
- H Introduced and Referred to H01 - JudiciaryHouse
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- S 3rd Reading:Passed 19-11-1-0-0Senate
- S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
- S COW:PassedSenate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0Senate
Changes
Amendments
9 stored
The amendment adds a new section to the bill that appropriates money for Medicaid behavioral health rate rebasing.
The amendment removes a previous committee's amendment from the bill.
The amendment changes the number of months from twenty-four to thirty-six for a specific condition related to terminating parental rights.
The amendment changes the definition of 'unfit' to include a parent's ability to meet their child's ongoing needs, and it reduces the time period for certain actions from 24 consecutive months to 15 out of the most recent 22 months.
The amendment removes previous changes made to SF0022 by deleting amendments from Representative Bratten and Representative Filer.
The amendment adds a definition for the term 'relative' when discussing guardianship and parental rights termination.
The amendment adds funding for preschool children with disabilities and Medicaid behavioral health rate rebasing.
The amendment adds a new section to the bill that appropriates money from the general fund to increase room and board reimbursement rates for youth facilities.
The amendment changes the requirement for terminating parental rights by specifying a minimum period of guardianship with a relative and fitness findings.