Back to Wyoming

HB0172 • 2025

Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments.

AN ACT relating to concealed weapons; repealing gun free zones; providing for the carrying of concealed weapons as specified; creating a criminal offense for prohibiting entry to a person carrying a concealed weapon as specified; clarifying that only the state legislature may regulate firearms, weapons and ammunition; providing for exceptions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Education Firearms Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Haroldson
Last action
2025-02-27
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the implementation of rulemaking requirements for government entities.

Repeal Gun Free Zones and Preemption Amendments

This law allows concealed weapons in certain places, clarifies state control over firearm regulations, and creates penalties for preventing people from entering with a concealed weapon.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the carrying of concealed weapons in meetings of government groups, schools, universities, public airports (except where federal rules apply), and public buildings unless otherwise prohibited by law.
  • Makes it illegal to prohibit entry to someone legally carrying a concealed weapon into places where they are allowed to do so.
  • Clarifies that only the state legislature can regulate firearms, weapons, and ammunition.
  • Provides exceptions for private property owners, certain school events with alcohol, health and human services facilities, areas with explosive or volatile materials, and elementary or secondary schools.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who carry concealed weapons
  • School districts

Terms To Know

Concealed weapon
A hidden firearm or other dangerous object that is not visible to others.
Preemption
The power of a higher authority (like the state legislature) to override local laws and regulations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not apply where federal law or other specific prohibitions are in place.
  • Details about rulemaking by school districts may vary based on their decisions.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0172H2001

2nd reading • Representative Campbell, E

Corrected, Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that designates early childhood education centers on college campuses as 'gun-free zones', meaning these areas would prohibit concealed weapons.

  • Adds a new subsection (j) to the bill, which specifies that early childhood education centers located on college campuses are gun-free zones.
  • The amendment does not provide details about enforcement or penalties for violating this new designation.
HB0172H3001

3rd reading • Representative Sherwood

Failed

Plain English: The amendment would allow early childhood education centers that have a prevention and protection plan to permit the carrying of both open and concealed weapons inside their premises.

  • Adds a new provision allowing early childhood education centers with specific safety plans to not prohibit the carrying of weapons, whether openly or concealed.
  • The amendment does not specify what constitutes an 'early childhood education center' or details about the required prevention and protection plan.
  • It is unclear how this change would be implemented or enforced in practice.
HB0172H3002

3rd reading • Representative Harshman

Failed

Plain English: The amendment allows individuals between 18 and 21 years old to carry concealed weapons on public school grounds with a specific permit.

  • Adds permission for people aged 18 to 21, who have the required permit, to carry concealed weapons in public schools.
  • The amendment does not specify if there are additional requirements or restrictions beyond obtaining the permit mentioned.
HB0172H3003

3rd reading • Representative Haroldson

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes certain restrictions on how employees and students can store firearms at their workplace or school, allowing them to keep firearms without needing to use specific types of containers.

  • Removes the requirement for governmental entities to mandate that employees or students must store firearms in biometric or locking containers when not being carried on their person.
  • Allows employees and students who are authorized to carry concealed firearms to store firearms and ammunition together, without requiring them to be unloaded or separate.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens if an employee or student chooses to use a biometric or locking container for storage.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing policies at specific institutions regarding firearm storage.
HB0172H3004

3rd reading • Representative Campbell, E

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds an exception that allows a governmental entity to prohibit concealed weapons at meetings if it determines such carrying places the public at risk.

  • Adds language allowing a governmental entity to determine whether concealing weapons at meetings poses a risk to the public.
  • The amendment does not specify what constitutes 'a risk to the public,' leaving this determination up to each governmental entity's discretion.
HB0172HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement for people who want to carry concealed weapons into school facilities to register at the front office and notify school district personnel about their presence and the type of weapon they have.

  • People wishing to bring concealed weapons into school buildings must now register with the front office and provide information such as their name, contact details, and the kind of weapon they are carrying.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens if someone fails to comply with this registration requirement or how schools should handle the registered information.
HB0172HW002

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment allows the University of Wyoming's board of trustees to designate the Early Childhood Education Center as a gun-free zone, exempting it from certain parts of the bill.

  • Adds an exemption for the University of Wyoming's Early Childhood Education Center to be declared a gun-free zone by the university's board of trustees.
  • The amendment only applies to one specific building and does not provide details on how or when this exemption would be implemented beyond allowing the board of trustees to declare it.
HB0172HW003

Committee of the Whole • Representative Campbell, E

Failed

Plain English: The amendment changes references to 'governmental' in the bill to 'state', modifies conditions for carrying concealed weapons on state-owned property, removes certain sections of the original bill related to public places, and deletes specific pages from the bill.

  • Changes all instances of 'governmental' to 'state' throughout the bill.
  • Adds a condition that meetings held on state-owned property are subject to restrictions when prohibiting entry to persons carrying concealed weapons.
  • Removes sections detailing public places where concealed weapons are restricted and deletes entire pages from the original bill.
  • The amendment text does not provide clear explanations for all changes, making some parts difficult to fully understand without additional context.
HB0172HS001

Standing Committee • House Judiciary Committee

Divided

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules that prevent governmental entities from making certain firearm regulations while allowing them to create rules for safe storage and handling of firearms.

  • Adds a new section (vii) which prohibits governmental entities from enacting reasonable rules about the safe storage of firearms when not carried on a person, but allows rules for safe handling by employees, students, or visitors.
  • Modifies language to specify that prohibitions apply to carrying firearms rather than just allowing carry.
  • The amendment's text is somewhat technical and does not fully clarify all aspects of the changes it intends to make.
HB0172HS001.01

Standing Committee • House Judiciary Committee

Corrected, Corrected, Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules about firearm storage and handling by governmental entities and makes changes to the language regarding carrying concealed weapons.

  • Adds a new clause that prohibits governmental entities from enacting reasonable rules for safe storage of firearms when not carried on an individual's person, as well as rules for safe handling of firearms by employees, students, or visitors.
  • Modifies the text to clarify that prohibitions apply specifically to carrying concealed weapons rather than just allowing entry.
  • Changes 'approval by' to 'in consultation with' in a section related to rulemaking.
  • The amendment's text is somewhat technical and may require additional context for full understanding of its implications.
HB0172HS001.02

Standing Committee • House Judiciary Committee

Corrected, Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new clause to the bill that prevents governmental entities from making rules that stop people from bringing firearms to certain meetings like disciplinary proceedings and expulsion hearings.

  • Adds a provision prohibiting governmental entities from enacting policies that restrict individuals from carrying firearms into specific types of meetings, such as disciplinary proceedings or expulsion hearings.
  • The amendment does not specify the consequences for governmental entities if they violate this new prohibition.
  • It is unclear how this change will be enforced and what exceptions might apply.
HB0172S3001

3rd reading • Senator Boner

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement that schools must approve, through their board of trustees, any exceptions to allowing concealed weapons on school property.

  • Adds an exception clause for school facilities, stating that they can prohibit concealed weapons only if approved by the school district's board of trustees.
  • The amendment text is brief and does not provide details about how this approval process would work or what criteria the board might use to make decisions.
  • It is unclear how this change will interact with existing laws regarding concealed weapons in schools.
HB0172S3002

3rd reading • Senator Gierau

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds an exemption for school districts that have existing rules about weapons before a certain date from having to follow new weapon carrying requirements.

  • School districts with pre-existing rules adopted under Wyoming Statute 21-3-132 before July 1, 2025, will be exempt from the new subsection's requirements.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens to school districts that adopt rules after July 1, 2025.
  • It is unclear how this exemption interacts with other parts of HB0172.
HB0172S3003

3rd reading • Senator Steinmetz

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new definition for 'governmental entity' in the bill, which includes the state of Wyoming, the University of Wyoming, and local governments as defined by a specific law.

  • Adds a new section (h) that defines 'governmental entity' to include the state, the University of Wyoming, and any local government as defined by W.S. 1-39-103(a)(ii).
  • Reorganizes the bill's sections by changing existing section (j) to another letter.
  • The amendment does not provide details on how this new definition will affect other parts of the bill or its implementation.
HB0172SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new clause to allow concealed weapon carriers in certain areas of public airports where federal laws do not prohibit it.

  • Adds a new clause (iii) that allows carrying concealed weapons in parts of public airports where federal law does not restrict or ban them.
  • The amendment only specifies changes to the text and does not provide details on how this will be implemented or enforced.
HB0172SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Judiciary Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds restrictions on carrying concealed weapons into elementary and secondary school facilities, except for enrolled students as allowed by another law.

  • Adds a new subsection to prohibit people authorized to carry concealed weapons from bringing firearms into elementary or secondary schools, with an exception for enrolled students under specific conditions.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on the penalties or enforcement mechanisms for violating this restriction.
  • It is unclear how this new subsection interacts with existing laws regarding school safety and security measures.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-27 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 61

  2. 2025-02-27 Wyoming Legislature

    Became Law without Signature

  3. 2025-02-24 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0024

  4. 2025-02-24 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0024

  5. 2025-02-21 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0024

  6. 2025-02-21 House

    H Concur:Passed 47-7-8-0-0

  7. 2025-02-21 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2025-02-21 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-6-0-0-0

  9. 2025-02-20 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2025-02-19 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2025-02-19 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2025-02-19 Senate

    S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  13. 2025-02-10 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary

  14. 2025-01-24 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  15. 2025-01-23 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 50-10-2-0-0

  16. 2025-01-22 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2025-01-21 House

    H COW:Passed

  18. 2025-01-20 House

    H Placed on General File

  19. 2025-01-20 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  20. 2025-01-14 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary

  21. 2025-01-14 House

    H Received for Introduction

  22. 2025-01-13 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0414

Bill No.:

HB0172

Effective:

7/1/2025

LSO No.:

25LSO-0414

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0024

Chapter No.:

61

Prime Sponsor:

Haroldson

Catch Title:

Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Gun free zones and concealed carry.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill allows the concealed carry of a gun in any meeting of a governmental entity and the Legislature or at a legislative committee meeting, public school and university, certain areas of public airports and any public building if not otherwise prohibited by law. It clarifies that the Legislature preempts the regulation of firearms and amends the existing preemption to generally prohibit state agencies and other political subdivisions from regulating firearms. It provides exceptions for private property, public school events where alcohol is served, certain health and human services facilities, facilities where explosive or volatile materials are present, facilities where carrying a gun is otherwise prohibited by law, and for students of an elementary or secondary school.

This bill creates a misdemeanor offense for any person who knowingly prohibits entry to a person lawfully carrying a concealed weapon into a place where concealed carry is authorized.

The bill allows school districts to regulate concealed carry of employees and volunteers, including requiring training, and provides requirements for the allowance of concealed carry by employees and volunteers if the school district does not adopt related rules and regulations.

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
25LSO-0414

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0172

ENROLLED ACT NO. 24,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session

AN ACT relating to concealed weapons; repealing gun free zones; providing for the carrying of concealed weapons as specified; creating a criminal offense for prohibiting entry to a person carrying a concealed weapon as specified; clarifying that only the state legislature may regulate firearms, weapons and ammunition; providing for exceptions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
105 is created to read:

6
‑
8
‑
105.

Exceptions for state issued concealed carry permits; penalty.

(a)

This section shall be known as and may be cited as the "Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act."

(b)

Persons lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(a)(ii) through (iv) may carry a concealed weapon in the following places:

(i)

Any meeting of a governmental entity;

(ii)

Any meeting of the legislature or a committee thereof;

(iii)

Any public airport in areas of the airport where the carrying of concealed weapons is not prohibited or restricted under federal law or federal regulation;

(iv)

Any public building not otherwise prohibited under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(t) or regulated under this section.

(c)

Subject to W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(t)(ix) and subsection (f) of this section, persons lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming with a permit issued under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(a)(ii) may carry a concealed weapon in the following places:

(i)

Any public school, public college or university athletic event taking place on public property that does not sell alcoholic beverages;

(ii)

Any public elementary or secondary school facility;

(iii)

Any public college or university facility.

(d)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

(i)

Allow the carrying of a concealed weapon where otherwise prohibited under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(t);

(ii)

Prohibit a private property owner from restricting firearms on his private property;

(iii)

Prohibit a governmental entity from prohibiting the open carry, display or wearing of a firearm in its facilities or on its campus;

(iv)

Allow the carrying of a concealed weapon into facilities where otherwise prohibited by law;

(v)

Allow the carrying of a concealed weapon within state agency operated health and human services settings, health and human services facilities that are exempt from licensure or licensed by the department of family services or department of corrections or health and human services facilities that are certified by the behavioral health division of the department of health to provide residential services;

(vi)

Allow the carrying of a concealed weapon within any facility where explosive or volatile materials are present.

For purposes of this paragraph "explosive or volatile materials" shall not include materials that are either in an insufficient amount or in a form such that the material could not reasonably cause serious bodily injury due to the materials explosive or volatile nature;

(vii)

Prohibit a governmental entity from requiring any employee or student to store firearms within a concealed biometric container or a lock box within the employee's or student's direct control at all times when the firearms are not being carried on the employee's or student's person, except said rules shall not:

(A)

Prohibit the storage of firearms and ammunition in public campus housing by any employee or student authorized to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to this section; or

(B)

Require that a firearm be stored unloaded or separate from its ammunition.

(e)

Any person who knowingly prohibits entry to another person for lawfully carrying a concealed weapon into a place authorized pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section, unless otherwise prohibited under subsection (d) of this section, when the person would otherwise be permitted entry is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or both.

(f)

The board of trustees in each school district may adopt rules and regulations to govern employees and volunteers lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104 on or in any property or facility owned or leased by the school district. If no rules and regulations are adopted under this subsection, an employee or a volunteer with a permit to conceal carry under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(a)(ii) may carry a concealed weapon under W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
105(c)(ii) or (iii) onto school property. Any rules and regulations adopted under this subsection shall only apply to persons who are volunteers or employees, as defined by subsection (g) of this section. The rules under this subsection shall:

(i)

Require any person carrying a firearm pursuant to this section to maintain the firearm on his person at all times or in a concealed biometric container or lock box within the direct control of the person at all times;

(ii)

Establish ongoing training requirements, curricula and instructor qualifications, in consultation with local law enforcement, including:

(A)

An initial course of training comprised of not less than sixteen (16) hours of live fire handgun training, and eight (8) hours of scenario based training using nonlethal training, firearms and ammunition; and

(B)

Annual firearm qualification and documented recurrent training of not less than twelve (12) hours with an approved instructor.

(g)

For purposes of subsection (f) of this section, "employee" means any person employed by a school district, including but not limited to, superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, teacher's aids, coaches, business managers, secretaries or administrative assistants, janitors, bus drivers or other employees of a school district.

(h)

For purposes of this section, "governmental entity" means the state, the university of Wyoming and any local government as defined by W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
103(a)(ii).

(j)

The board of trustees in any school district may waive all or part of the training requirements of paragraph (f)(ii) of this section for isolated rural schools and employees in those schools.

Section 2.

W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(t)(ix) and 6
‑
8
‑
401(c) are amended to read:

6
‑
8
‑
104.

Wearing or carrying concealed weapons; penalties; exceptions; permits.

(t)

No person authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to paragraphs (a)(ii) through (iv) of this section shall carry a concealed firearm into:

(ix)

Any elementary or secondary school facility
, except as provided in W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
132

if the person is enrolled as a student at any elementary or secondary school
;

6
‑
8
‑
401.

Firearm, weapon and ammunition regulation and prohibition by state.

(c)

The sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use and possession of firearms, weapons and ammunition shall be authorized, regulated and prohibited by the state, and regulation thereof is preempted by the
legislature of the
state
of Wyoming
. Except as authorized by W.S. 15
‑
1
‑
103(a)(xviii) and
21
‑
3
‑
132
23
‑
1
‑
302
, no
state agency,
city, town, county, political subdivision or any other entity shall authorize, regulate or prohibit the sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use, carrying or possession of firearms, weapons, accessories, components or ammunition except as specifically provided by this chapter. This section shall not affect zoning or other ordinances which encompass firearms businesses along with other businesses. Zoning and other ordinances which are designed for the purpose of restricting or prohibiting the sale, purchase, transfer or manufacture of firearms or ammunition as a method of regulating firearms or ammunition are in conflict with this section and are prohibited.

Section 3.

W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
104(t)(iv) through (vi) and (x) and 21
‑
3
‑
132 are repealed.

Section 4
.

The state building commission shall begin promulgating any rules necessary to administer this act not later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act.

Section 5.

This act is effective July 1, 2025.

(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