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25LSO-0384
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0384
Introduced
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0108
Firearm purchase protections.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Allemand, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Brown, G, Campbell, K, Haroldson, Heiner, Locke, Neiman and Pendergraft and Senator(s) Ide
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to trade and commerce; prohibiting the categorization of firearms and ammunition merchants separately from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers as specified; creating a penalty; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 40
‑
32
‑
101 is created to read:
CHAPTER 32
MERCHANT CODES
40
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32
‑
101.
Purchase of firearms and ammunition protections; merchant code limitations; enforcement.
(a)
As used in this section:
(i)
"Acquirer" means a financial institution that acts as an intermediary between merchants and card payment networks;
(ii)
"Merchant acquiring entity" means the bank or other organization that has the contractual obligation to make payment to participating payees in settlement of payment card transactions;
(iii)
"Payment settlement entity" means:
(A)
In the case of a payment card transaction, the merchant acquiring entity; and
(B)
In the case of a third party network transaction, the third party settlement organization.
(iv)
"Third party settlement organization" means an organization that has the contractual obligation to make payment to participating payees of third party network transactions.
(b)
A payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring entity or third party settlement organization shall not assign a merchant category code to or otherwise classify a merchant that is a seller of firearms or ammunition in a way that is different from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers, except as otherwise required by federal law.
(c)
An entity involved in facilitating or processing a payment card transaction, including a financial institution, an acquirer, a payment card network or a payment card issuer, shall not assign to or require a merchant to use a merchant category code that classifies the merchant as a firearms or ammunition retailer or places the merchant in a similar classification. A merchant of firearms or ammunition may be assigned or may use a merchant category code used for general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers.
(d)
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for every one (1) merchant category code assigned to a merchant in violation of this section or for each instance that a person is classified as a firearms, ammunition or similar retailer in violation of this section.
Section 2.
W.S. 13
‑
10
‑
302(a) is amended to read:
13
‑
10
‑
302.
Unlawful discrimination against a firearm entity; exception.
(a)
A financial institution shall not discriminate against a firearm entity
:
(i)
B
ecause the firearm entity supports or is engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition products
;
.
(ii)
By declining a lawful payment card transaction based solely on the assignment or nonassignment of a firearms or ammunition code pursuant to W.S. 40
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32
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101.
Section 3.
Nothing in this act shall amend, alter or impair any contract entered into before July 1, 2025 and this act shall apply to any contract entered into before July 1, 2025 only upon the renewal, extension or modification of those contractual provisions to which this act would apply.
Section 4.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
1
HB0108