SF0180 • 2023

Corner crossing-trespass exception.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing an exception to the offenses of criminal trespass and game and fish trespass regarding incidental contact associated with crossing two (2) adjacent parcels as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Land

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Senator Rothfuss
Last action: 2023-01-27
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide a detailed summary, so some parts of the explanation had to be inferred from the amendments provided.

Law About Crossing Parcels Without Trespassing

The bill proposes an exception to criminal and game trespass laws for incidental contact while moving between two parcels that share a corner.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new rule stating that someone does not commit criminal trespass if they accidentally touch or pass through another person's property while moving from one parcel of land to an adjacent parcel with a shared corner, provided the person is authorized to access both parcels.

Who It Names or Affects

People who might accidentally step on someone else’s property while moving between two parcels that share a corner.
Landowners whose land might be touched by others under this new rule.

Terms To Know

Criminal Trespass: When someone enters or stays on another person's property without permission and breaks the law.
Game and Fish Trespass: Breaking hunting, fishing, or trapping rules when entering private land without permission.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its session.
It only applies to incidental contact while moving between parcels with a shared corner and does not cover other types of trespassing.
The effective date mentioned in the candidate explanation (3/1/2023) is incorrect as per the official text, which states it would be July 1, 2023.

Bill History

2023-01-27 Senate
S Did not Consider for Introduction
2023-01-24 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-01-24 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

23LSO-0121
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0121
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0180

Corner crossing-trespass exception.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Rothfuss and Gierau and Representative(s) Chestek, Provenza, Sherwood and Yin

A BILL

for

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
303 by creating a new subsection (d) and 23
‑
3
‑
305(b) are amended to read:

6
‑
3
‑
303.

Criminal trespass; penalties.

(d)

For purposes of this section, a person does not commit criminal trespass if the person incidentally passes through the airspace or touches the land or premises of another person while the person is traveling from one (1) parcel of land that the person is authorized to access to another parcel of land that shares a common corner with or is immediately connected to the first parcel and that the person is authorized to access.

23
‑
3
‑
305.

Hunting from highway; entering enclosed property without permission; penalty; hunting at night without permission prohibited.

(b)

No person shall enter upon the private property of any person to hunt, fish, collect antlers or horns, or trap without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property. Violation of this subsection constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
‑
6
‑
202(a)(v).
For purposes of this subsection, a person does not commit trespass under this subsection if the person incidentally passes through the airspace or touches the land or premises of another person while the person is traveling from one (1) parcel of land that the person is authorized to access to another parcel of land that shares a common corner with or is immediately connected to the first parcel and that the person is authorized to access.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

1
SF0180