SF0079 • 2022

Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

AN ACT relating to elections; prohibiting the state or any political subdivision or governmental entity in the state from accepting and expending private funds to conduct elections as specified; specifying exceptions; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Education Elections

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Senator Steinmetz
Last action: 2022-02-28
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is 'Did Not Pass', which means it did not become law during the session.

Ban on Private Money for Elections

The bill stops the state and local governments from using private money to run elections, with some exceptions.

What This Bill Does

It says that the state and each political subdivision or governmental entity in Wyoming cannot accept or spend private donations or funds to register voters or conduct elections.
It allows the Secretary of State to accept and spend private funds for election training and education purposes.
It permits the acceptance and spending of federal funds for election activities as allowed by law.

Who It Names or Affects

State government
Local governments
Political subdivisions

Terms To Know

Private funds: Money or donations from individuals, groups, or companies that are not part of the official budget.
Election training and education: Activities aimed at educating people about how to run elections properly.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its session.
It does not specify what happens if the state or local governments need extra money for elections beyond their budget.

Bill History

2022-02-28 Senate
S COW:S Did not consider for COW
2022-02-24 Senate
S Placed on General File
2022-02-24 Senate
S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2022-02-22 Senate
:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations
2022-02-17 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations 30-0-0-0-0
2022-02-14 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2022-02-11 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

22LSO-0366
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0366
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0079

Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Steinmetz, Biteman, Boner, Driskill, Hicks and Kolb and Representative(s) Bear, Duncan, Haroldson and Neiman

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; prohibiting the state or any political subdivision or governmental entity in the state from accepting and expending private funds to conduct elections as specified; specifying exceptions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 22
‑
2
‑
123 is created to read:

22
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2
‑
123.

Private funds in elections prohibited.

(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state and each political subdivision or governmental entity that conducts or oversees elections in this state shall not accept or expend private, donated funds for registering voters or for preparing for, conducting or overseeing an election. This subsection shall not apply to the secretary of state when accepting or expending private funds for the express purpose of election training or education nor shall this subsection apply to meals or food provided or donated in support of election training or education or provided on election day to poll workers and other election staff.

(b)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the acceptance and expenditure of federal funds for elections as provided by law.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2022
.

(END)

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SF0079