AN ACT relating to game and fish; amending the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife; prohibiting acts that restrict access to or use of state or federal land as specified; providing an exception; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.
CrimeLand
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Representative Provenza
Last action
2023-02-18
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2023
Plain English Breakdown
The summary provided does not specify the exact wording or context of what constitutes prior notice from a peace officer.
Unlawful Trespass Signage for Wildlife
This law makes it illegal to put up signs on state or federal land that restrict access for hunting wildlife, unless a peace officer has warned you about the sign.
What This Bill Does
Makes it against the law to post signs without permission on state or federal land where hunting is allowed.
Defines 'knowingly' as having received prior notice from a peace officer that the sign is posted on state or federal land.
Allows private landowners to put up signs that restrict access to their own property.
Who It Names or Affects
People who hunt wildlife on state or federal lands
Landowners with private property near hunting areas
Terms To Know
lawful taking of wildlife
Hunting and other legal ways to catch animals that are allowed by the government.
peace officer
A police officer or someone with similar authority to enforce laws.
Limits and Unknowns
The law does not apply to fences already in place before July 1, 2023.
It only applies to state and federal land, not private property.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: The amendment changes the language of a bill about unlawful trespassing signs related to wildlife, adding requirements for when someone is considered to have 'knowingly' placed or maintained such signs on state or federal land.
Adds that a person must have received prior notice from a peace officer to be considered as having 'knowingly' posted or maintained a sign on state or federal land.
Removes previous amendments related to this section of the bill.
The exact impact and enforcement details are not fully explained in the amendment text.
Standing Committee • House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Re
Adopted
Plain English: The amendment changes how and when certain wildlife protection laws take effect, adding specific conditions for landowners' actions before these new rules start.
Adds a section specifying applicability of the law.
Changes 'an effective date' to 'effective dates', indicating multiple effective times are now part of the bill.
Modifies language about landowner's rights, changing 'landowners' to 'landowner's'.
Inserts new sections detailing when parts of the act become active and exceptions for fences placed by a landowner before the law takes effect.
The amendment text does not provide full details on how these changes will impact existing laws or enforcement procedures, which may require further clarification.
Bill History
2023-02-18LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 40
2023-02-18Governor
Governor Signed HEA No. 0018
2023-02-15Senate
S President Signed HEA No. 0018
2023-02-14House
H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0018
2023-02-14LSO
Assigned Number HEA No. 0018
2023-02-14Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-6-0-0-0
2023-02-13Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-02-09Senate
S COW:Passed
2023-02-09Senate
S Placed on General File
2023-02-09Senate
S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2023-02-03Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel
2023-02-02Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-02-02House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-1-0-0-0
2023-02-01House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-01-31House
H COW:Passed
2023-01-27House
H Placed on General File
2023-01-27House
H06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0
2023-01-18House
H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel
2023-01-17House
H Received for Introduction
2023-01-16LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Official Summary Text
Bill Summary - 23LSO-0572
Bill No.:
HB0147
Effective:
7/1/2023
LSO No.:
23LSO-0572
Enrolled Act No.:
HEA No. 0018
Chapter No.:
40
Prime Sponsor:
Provenza
Catch Title:
Unlawful trespass signage-taking of wildlife.
Subject:
Amends the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife
Summary/Major Elements:
This act amends the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife by prohibiting a person from knowingly and without authorization posting or maintaining in place signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal land on which the lawful taking of or the process of lawfully taking wildlife is permitted.
This act defines "knowingly" as having received prior notice from a peace officer that the sign is posted on state or federal land.
This act provides an exception to the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife. The exception allows a landowner to post or maintain in place signs that restrict access to the landowner's private property.
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.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0572
ORIGINAL House
Bill No
.
HB0147
ENROLLED ACT NO. 18,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session
AN ACT relating to game and fish; amending the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife; prohibiting acts that restrict access to or use of state or federal land as specified; providing an exception; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 23
‑
3
‑
405(a) by creating a new paragraph (iii) and (g) by creating a new paragraph (iii) is amended to read:
23
‑
3
‑
405.
Interference with lawful taking of wildlife prohibited; penalties; damages; injunction.
(a)
No person shall with the intent to prevent or hinder the lawful taking of any wildlife:
(iii)
Knowingly and without authorization post or maintain in place signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal land on which the lawful taking of or the process of lawfully taking any wildlife is permitted. For purposes of this subsection, "knowingly" means the person has received prior notice from a peace officer that the sign is located on state or federal land.
(g)
This section shall:
(iii)
Not interfere with any landowner's right to prevent trespass on the landowner's private property.
Section 2
.
This act is effective July 1, 2023
.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
Chief Clerk
1