Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Ban on Private Funds for Elections

This law stops government and election officials from using private money to run elections, except for federal funds and certain donations of property.

What This Bill Does

• Forbids county clerks and other election workers from getting or using private money to pay for voter education, outreach, and registration programs.
• Does not allow individuals or groups to give private money to help with these election activities.
• Allows federal funds to be used for elections as long as it follows the law.
• Permits the use of private property for polling places during elections.

Who It Names or Affects

• County clerks and other government officials who run elections
• Individuals or groups trying to fund election activities

Terms To Know

Election administration

The process of organizing, managing, and conducting an election.

Nongovernmental entity

An organization that is not part of the government, such as a private company or nonprofit group.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not apply to elections run by special districts under specific state laws.
• The law only applies starting July 1, 2025.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0618

Bill No.:

HB0228

Effective:

7/1/2025

LSO No.:

25LSO-0618

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0065

Chapter No.:

153

Prime Sponsor:

Knapp

Catch Title:

Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Prohibition on private funds for conducting elections.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill requires all costs and expenses of elections to be paid with public funds.

The bill prohibits county clerks and any other agency or county official responsible for conducting elections from soliciting, accepting or using any donation in the form of money, grants, property or personal services from an individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding any expenses related to election administration, including voter education, voter outreach and voter registration programs.

The bill prohibits individuals and nongovernmental entities from providing or offering any donation in the form of money, grants, property or personal services for the purpose of funding election administration in violation of the bill.

The bill provides exemptions for federal funds provided for conducting elections, for the donation of certain meals provided in support of elections and for the use of private real property for purposes of use as a polling place.

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

25LSO-0618

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0228

ENROLLED ACT NO. 65,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

AN ACT relating to elections; prohibiting government officials and election officials from accepting private funds to conduct elections as specified; prohibiting any person from providing or offering private funds for purposes of conducting an election; providing exceptions; creating new misdemeanor offenses; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 22
‑
2
‑
123 is created to read:

22
‑
2
‑
123.

Private funds in elections prohibited.

(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no agency or any state or county official responsible for conducting elections, including, but not limited to, a county clerk, shall solicit, accept, use or dispose of any donation in the form of money, grants, property or personal services from an individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding any type of expenses related to election administration, including, but not limited to, voter education, voter outreach or voter registration programs. All costs and expenses relating to elections shall be paid with public funds. This subsection shall not apply to meals or food provided or donated in support of election training or education, or to meals or food provided on election day to poll workers and other election staff. This section shall not apply to elections that are conducted by a special district in accordance with W.S. 22
‑
29
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113.

(b)

No individual or nongovernmental entity shall provide or offer to provide any donation in the form of money, grants, property or personal services in violation of subsection (a) of this section.

(c)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit:

(i)

The acceptance and expenditure of federal funds for purposes of conducting elections as provided by law;

(ii)

The use of private real property for purposes of use as a polling place as provided by this Election Code.

Section 2
.

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