SF0035 • 2025

Governmental claims-maximum liability amounts.

AN ACT relating to governmental claims; amending the maximum liability amounts for claims authorized under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Judiciary
Last action: 2025-02-10
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the Committee of the Whole (COW), so it will not become law. Therefore, there are no official details about its effects or applicability beyond this point.

Amending Maximum Liability for Governmental Claims

The bill amends the maximum liability amounts for claims against Wyoming's government under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act.

What This Bill Does

Raises the limit on how much money a single person can get from the government due to one event or mistake from $250,000 to $500,000.
Increases the total amount that all people can receive together for claims related to one event or mistake from $1 million to $2 million.
Updates rules about local governments' insurance programs to match these new limits.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have legal cases against Wyoming's government.
Local governments that are part of the self-insurance program for claims.

Terms To Know

Governmental Claims Act: A law that sets rules about when and how people can sue the government in Wyoming.
Self-Insurance Program: An arrangement where local governments pay into a fund to cover claims against them, rather than buying insurance from an outside company.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the Committee of the Whole (COW), so it will not become law.
It only applies to events or mistakes that happen on or after July 1, 2025.

Amendments

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

SF0035SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Judiciary Committee

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the maximum liability amounts for claims authorized under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act.

Reduces the previous $500,000 limit to a new $375,000 limit in two places.
Decreases the former $1,000,000 limit to a new $750,000 limit in three instances.

The amendment only specifies changes to specific dollar amounts and does not provide context on why these changes are being made or their broader implications.

Bill History

2025-02-10 Senate
S COW:S Did not consider for COW
2025-02-07 Senate
S Placed on General File
2025-02-07 Senate
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0
2025-01-15 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary
2024-12-19 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2024-12-09 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

25LSO-0130
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0130
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0035

Governmental claims-maximum liability amounts.

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to governmental claims; amending the maximum liability amounts for claims authorized under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; 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. 1
‑
39
‑
118(a)(i) and (ii) and 1
‑
42
‑
202(e)(ii) are amended to read:

1
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39
‑
118.

Maximum liability; insurance authorized.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in any action under this act, the liability of the governmental entity, including a public employee while acting within the scope of his duties, shall not exceed:

(i)

The sum of
two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00)
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
to any claimant for any number of claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence; or

(ii)

The sum of
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)
for all claims of all claimants arising out of a single transaction or occurrence.

1
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42
‑
202.

Local government self
‑
insurance program; creation; authorized payments.

(e)

For any claim brought under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act the program shall be limited in liability to payment of no more than the amounts specified in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection. Participating local governments shall be responsible for the amount of any adjudicated claims and expenses in excess of:

(ii)

Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
One million dollars ($1,000,000.00)
for any other claim brought under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act for any one (1) occurrence plus loss adjustment expenses.

Section 2
.

This act applies to all claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act that are based upon a transaction or occurrence that occurs on and after July 1, 2025. For purposes of this section, a "transaction" or "occurrence" includes an act, error or omission.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2025
.

(END)

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SF0035