KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Wyoming

HB0276 • 2025

State agreements to perform immigration functions.

AN ACT relating to county sheriffs; requiring each county sheriff to enter into an agreement with the United States attorney general for the performance of immigration officer functions as specified; specifying penalties for noncompliance; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Representative Lawley
Last action
2025-03-03
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the penalties or recommendations for consultation, which were removed from the explanation.

County Sheriffs and Immigration Agreements

This act requires county sheriffs in Wyoming to enter into agreements with the U.S. attorney general for immigration enforcement, report on these efforts annually, and face penalties if they do not comply.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each county sheriff to negotiate and sign an agreement with the U.S. attorney general or Department of Justice for enforcing federal immigration laws in Wyoming.
  • Requires county sheriffs to report annually on negotiations, any agreements made, and reasons if the U.S. attorney general declines an agreement.
  • Requires the state's attorney general to compile and submit reports based on information from county sheriffs about immigration enforcement efforts.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County sheriffs in Wyoming
  • The board of county commissioners in each county
  • The U.S. attorney general or Department of Justice

Terms To Know

Immigration officer functions
Activities related to enforcing federal immigration laws, such as detaining and removing individuals who are not legally allowed to be in the country.
8 U.S.C. § 1357(g)
A section of United States Code that allows local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with federal authorities for immigration enforcement purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the U.S. attorney general declines an agreement.
  • It is unclear how many counties in Wyoming will be able or willing to enter such agreements.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-03 House

    H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4

  2. 2025-02-10 House

    H No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2025-01-24 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Do Pass Failed 3-4-0-0-0

  4. 2025-01-23 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations

  5. 2025-01-22 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2025-01-21 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
25LSO-0691
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0691
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0276

State agreements to perform immigration functions.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lawley, Clouston, Connolly, Geringer, Larson, JT, Neiman, Williams and Wylie and Senator(s) Nethercott

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to county sheriffs; requiring each county sheriff to enter into an agreement with the United States attorney general for the performance of immigration officer functions as specified; specifying penalties for noncompliance; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 18
‑
3
‑
612 is created to read:

18
‑
3
‑
612.

Agreements with the United States to enforce immigration laws; reporting requirements.

(a)

Each county sheriff, in consultation with the board of county commissioners, shall negotiate the terms of and enter into a written agreement between the county and the United States attorney general or department of justice, as provided by 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g), for the enforcement of federal immigration and customs laws, detentions, removals and investigations in Wyoming. The agreement shall be signed by the sheriff and the board of county commissioners or as otherwise required by the appropriate federal agency.

(b)

Not later than October 1, 2025 and each October 1 thereafter, each county sheriff shall report to the Wyoming attorney general on:

(i)

The status of negotiations with the United States attorney general and the status of any agreement entered into under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g);

(ii)

Whether the United States attorney general has declined to enter into an agreement with the county under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) and the reasons for declining;

(iii)

If the United States attorney general has declined to enter into an agreement with the county, the county's communication and cooperation with the United States attorney general under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g).

(c)

Not later than November 1, 2025 and each November 1 thereafter, the attorney general shall report to the joint judiciary interim committee on the information that each county sheriff communicated to the Wyoming attorney general under subsection (b) of this section.

(d)

A county that fails to enter or fails to attempt to enter into an agreement required by subsection (a) of this section shall not be eligible to receive any state administered federal funds associated with law enforcement and law enforcement training for each fiscal year in which the county is not in compliance with subsection (a) of this section. A county that has reported to the Wyoming attorney general that the United States attorney general has declined to enter into an agreement under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) shall not be subject to this subsection.

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0276