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Wyoming2026Did Not Pass

HB0157

Protection of Parental Rights

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM

In one sentence

The bill aims to provide parents with a legal cause of action against the government for infringing on their parental rights, waiving certain procedural requirements.

What it does

  • Creates a civil cause of action allowing parents to sue the government if it violates their parental rights under W.S. 14-2-206.
  • Exempts such cases from governmental immunity and notice requirements typically needed before filing a lawsuit against the government.

Who it affects

  • Parents whose rights are violated by government actions
  • Government agencies involved in child welfare or education

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and is no longer being considered.
  • It does not specify what kind of actions by the government would be considered violations of parental rights.

Plain language

Terms to know

Civil cause of action
The right to sue someone for a legal wrong, like when the government violates parental rights.
Governmental immunity
Protection that usually stops people from suing the government unless there are specific exceptions.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 6, 12:53 AM

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because they believe it will create a chilling effect that discourages people from intervening in cases of child abuse.

Public statementFloor statement at 3:00:13 Watch the statement

Darin McCann

R · H48

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill by asserting that a right cannot be enforced without legal recourse, and this legislation provides families with a clear way to seek relief when existing rights are violated.

Public statementFloor statement at 3:00:36 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

5 roll calls

S Motion to Suspend Rules to Resolve into COW & Place at the Top of GF Failed 12-19-0-0-02026-03-04 · Senate12 yes 19 no
Yes
12
No
19
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 12

Bo BitemanR · S21Bob IdeR · S29Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan LaursenR · S19John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Laura PearsonR · S14Lynn HutchingsR · S05Stacy JonesR · S13Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Troy McKeownR · S24

No 19

Barry CragoR · S22Bill LandenR · S27Brian BonerR · S02Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Ed CooperR · S20Eric BarlowR · S23Evie BrennanR · S31Gary CrumR · S10Jared OlsenR · S08Jim AndersonR · S28Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01Stephan PappasR · S07Taft LoveR · S06Tara NethercottR · S04Wendy SchulerR · S15
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02026-03-02 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Barry CragoR · S22Gary CrumR · S10Jared OlsenR · S08John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11
H 3rd Reading:Passed 55-6-1-0-02026-02-21 · House55 yes 6 no
Yes
55
No
6
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 55

Abby AngelosR · H03Andrew ByronR · H22Ann LucasR · H43Art WashutR · H36Bill AllemandR · H58Bob DavisR · H47Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Cody WylieR · H39Dalton BanksR · H26Daniel SinghR · H61Darin McCannR · H48Elissa CampbellR · H56Gary BrownR · H41Ivan PoseyD · H33J.R. RigginsR · H59J.T. LarsonR · H17JD WilliamsR · H02Jacob WasserburgerR · H11Jayme LienR · H38Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Joe WebbR · H19Joel GuggenmosR · H55John BearR · H31John WinterR · H28Julie JarvisR · H57Justin FornstromR · H10Ken CloustonR · H32Ken PendergraftR · H29Kevin CampbellR · H62Landon BrownR · H09Laurie BrattenR · H51Lee FilerR · H44Lloyd LarsenR · H54Marilyn ConnollyR · H40Marlene BradyR · H60Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Mike SchmidR · H20Nina WebberR · H24Ocean AndrewR · H46Pam ThayerR · H15Paul HoeftR · H25Pepper OttmanR · H34Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsR · H50Reuben TarverR · H52Rob GeringerR · H42Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Scott SmithR · H05Steve HarshmanR · H37Steve JohnsonR · H08Tomi StrockR · H06Tony LockeR · H35

No 6

Bob NicholasR · H07Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Ken ChestekD · H13Liz StorerD · H23Mike YinD · H16Trey SherwoodD · H14

Excused 1

Tom KellyR · H30
H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-02026-02-19 · House8 yes 0 no
Yes
8
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 8

Daniel SinghR · H61JD WilliamsR · H02Joel GuggenmosR · H55Laurie BrattenR · H51Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Ocean AndrewR · H46Tomi StrockR · H06

Excused 1

Tom KellyR · H30
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 51-10-1-0-02026-02-13 · House51 yes 10 no
Yes
51
No
10
Absent
0
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 51

Abby AngelosR · H03Andrew ByronR · H22Ann LucasR · H43Art WashutR · H36Bill AllemandR · H58Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Cody WylieR · H39Dalton BanksR · H26Daniel SinghR · H61Darin McCannR · H48Elissa CampbellR · H56Gary BrownR · H41J.R. RigginsR · H59J.T. LarsonR · H17JD WilliamsR · H02Jacob WasserburgerR · H11Jayme LienR · H38Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Joe WebbR · H19Joel GuggenmosR · H55John BearR · H31John WinterR · H28Julie JarvisR · H57Justin FornstromR · H10Ken CloustonR · H32Ken PendergraftR · H29Kevin CampbellR · H62Laurie BrattenR · H51Lee FilerR · H44Marilyn ConnollyR · H40Marlene BradyR · H60Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Mike SchmidR · H20Nina WebberR · H24Ocean AndrewR · H46Pam ThayerR · H15Paul HoeftR · H25Pepper OttmanR · H34Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsR · H50Reuben TarverR · H52Rob GeringerR · H42Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Scott SmithR · H05Steve HarshmanR · H37Steve JohnsonR · H08Tomi StrockR · H06Tony LockeR · H35

No 10

Bob DavisR · H47Bob NicholasR · H07Ivan PoseyD · H33Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Ken ChestekD · H13Landon BrownR · H09Liz StorerD · H23Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mike YinD · H16Trey SherwoodD · H14

Excused 1

Tom KellyR · H30

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Motion to Suspend Rules to Resolve into COW & Place at the Top of GF Failed 12-19-0-0-0Senate
  2. S COW:S Did not consider for COWSenate
  3. S Placed on General FileSenate
  4. S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
  5. S Introduced and Referred to S01 - JudiciarySenate
  6. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  7. H 3rd Reading:Passed 55-6-1-0-0House
  8. H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
  9. H COW:PassedHouse
  10. H Placed on General FileHouse
  11. H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0House
  12. H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 51-10-1-0-0House
  13. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  14. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

HB0157SS001

Filed Standing Committee by Senate Judiciary Committee