Ballot initiatives-duplicate laws passed.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore has no effective date.

Ballot Initiatives - Duplicate Laws Passed

The bill removes a rule that allows ballot initiatives to be canceled if similar laws are passed by the legislature after the initiative petition is filed.

What This Bill Does

• Removes a part of Wyoming law that lets the attorney general decide if an initiative should not go on the ballot because the legislature has already passed a similar law.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to put initiatives on ballots in Wyoming
• The attorney general

Terms To Know

ballot proposition

A proposal or question that voters can vote on during an election.

initiative

A process where citizens can propose new laws directly to the government by collecting signatures and voting.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass, so it does not change any current rules.
• It only affects initiatives that are similar to laws passed after a petition is filed.
• The exact impact on future elections is unclear since the bill was not enacted.

Current Bill Text

25LSO-0695
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0695
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0196

Ballot initiatives-duplicate laws passed.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lien, Brady, Johnson and Lucas

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; removing a provision allowing for ballot proposition initiatives to be deemed void and not placed on the election ballot as specified; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 22
‑
24
‑
319(a)(iii) is amended to read:

22
‑
24
‑
319.

Ballot proposition; when placed on ballot.

(a)

The ballot proposition for an initiative shall be placed on the election ballot of the first statewide general election that is held after:

(iii)

A period of one hundred twenty (120) days has expired since the adjournment of the legislative session.
If the attorney general determines that an act of the legislature enacted after the petition is filed is substantially the same as the proposed law, the petition shall be void and the ballot proposition shall not be placed on the election ballot, and the secretary of state shall so notify the committee of applicants.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2025
.

(END)

1
HB0196