HB0010 • 2026

Sexually explicit materials in libraries-requirements.

AN ACT relating to libraries and education; specifying requirements for county libraries and school libraries to govern access to sexually explicit materials by minors; providing definitions; providing a cause of action for violations; specifying penalties; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Children Education Parental Rights

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Judiciary
Last action: 2026-03-04
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.

Rules for Libraries About Sexually Explicit Materials

The bill sets rules for county and school libraries to control access to sexually explicit materials by minors under age 18.

What This Bill Does

Requires public libraries to ensure that no sexually explicit materials are accessible in the children's section of the library at any time, and store them in areas meant for adults only.
Creates a process where residents can challenge the presence of sexually explicit material in library children’s sections, with decisions made within 60 days.
Imposes fines on county libraries that do not develop and implement this challenge process by August 1, 2026.
Allows people to sue libraries if they break these rules after going through a specific complaint process.

Who It Names or Affects

County and school libraries in Wyoming
Minors under age 18 who use library services

Terms To Know

Sexually explicit material: Any depiction or description, in any written, pictorial or electronic form, of sexual contact.
Children's section: A part of the library devoted primarily to materials aimed toward persons younger than age 18.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
It does not specify what happens to online content in libraries.
Details about how challenges are handled after August 1, 2026, are unclear.

Amendments

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

HB0010H2001

2nd reading • Representative Yin

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment adds requirements for public bookstores to restrict access to sexually explicit materials from minors, similar to the existing rules for libraries.

Adds 'bookstores' after 'libraries' in the bill's title and catch title.
Inserts new language requiring public bookstores to ensure that no sexually explicit materials are accessible in children's sections and must be stored separately in areas aimed at adults aged eighteen or older.
Specifies a civil penalty of $500 per day for each day after August 1, 2026, if a bookstore fails to comply with the new requirements.

The amendment text does not specify what constitutes 'public bookstores' or how they differ from other types of bookstores.
It is unclear whether existing laws will apply to bookstores in addition to libraries, or if this amendment creates entirely new regulations for bookstores.

HB0010H2002

2nd reading • Representative Jarvis

Failed

Plain English: 1 HB0010H2002 1 Page 3-line 3 After "one (1) person" insert ", animal or 2 extraterrestrial being"; after "another 3 person" insert ", animal or extraterrestrial 4 being".

1 HB0010H2002 1 Page 3-line 3 After "one (1) person" insert ", animal or 2 extraterrestrial being"; after "another 3 person" insert ", animal or extraterrestrial 4 being".
5 6 Page 3-line 6 After "person" insert ", animal or 7 extraterrestrial being".
8 9 Page 3-line 7 After "person" insert ", animal or 10 extraterrestrial being".
11 12 Page 3-line 11 After "person" insert ", animal or 13 extraterrestrial being".

HB0010H2003

2nd reading • Representative Connolly

Failed

Plain English: 1 HB0010H2003 1 Delete the Jarvis second reading amendment (HB0010H2002/A) 2 entirely and further amend as follows: 3 4 Page 1-line 4 After "definitions;" delete balance of line.

1 HB0010H2003 1 Delete the Jarvis second reading amendment (HB0010H2002/A) 2 entirely and further amend as follows: 3 4 Page 1-line 4 After "definitions;" delete balance of line.
5 6 Page 1-line 5 Delete entirely.
7 8 Page 1-line 6 Delete "amendments;".
9 10 Page 1-line 10 Delete "1-39-125,".

HB0010H2004

2nd reading • Representative Larsen, L

Withdrawn

Plain English: 1 HB0010H2004 1 Delete the Connolly second reading amendment (HB0010H2003/A) 2 entirely and further amend as follows: 3 4 Page 4-line 14 After "library" insert "or the exclusion of 5 any material that is not sexually explicit 6 from the children's section of the library".

1 HB0010H2004 1 Delete the Connolly second reading amendment (HB0010H2003/A) 2 entirely and further amend as follows: 3 4 Page 4-line 14 After "library" insert "or the exclusion of 5 any material that is not sexually explicit 6 from the children's section of the library".
7 8 Page 4-line 21 After "library" insert "or a material that is 9 not sexually explicit being excluded from the 10 children's section of the library".
11 12 Page 5-line 7 After "explicit material" insert "or material 13 that is not sexually explicit".
14 15 Page 6-line 11 After "library" insert "or a material that is 16 not sexually explicit is moved to the 17 children's section of the library".

HB0010H3001

3rd reading • Representative Jarvis

Withdrawn

Plain English: 1 HB0010H3001 1 Page 1-line 8 Delete entirely.

1 HB0010H3001 1 Page 1-line 8 Delete entirely.
JARVIS

HB0010HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Davis

Failed

Plain English: 1 HB0010HW001 1 Page 1-line 2 Delete "and school libraries".

1 HB0010HW001 1 Page 1-line 2 Delete "and school libraries".
2 3 Page 1-line 3 Delete "minors" and insert "persons under age 4 sixteen (16); specifying requirements for 5 school libraries to govern access to sexually 6 explicit materials by minors".
7 8 Page 2-line 12 Delete "eighteen (18)" and insert "sixteen 9 (16)".
10 11 Page 4-line 8 Delete "eighteen (18)" and insert "sixteen 12 (16)".

HB0010HW002

Committee of the Whole • Representative Bratten

Adopted

Plain English: 1 HB0010HW002 1 Page 7-line 4 After "student" insert "younger than age 2 eighteen (18)".

1 HB0010HW002 1 Page 7-line 4 After "student" insert "younger than age 2 eighteen (18)".
BRATTEN, CHESTEK

HB0010HS001

Standing Committee • House Judiciary Committee

Adopted

Plain English: 1 HB0010HS001 1 Page 2-line 11 After "or that" insert "primarily".

1 HB0010HS001 1 Page 2-line 11 After "or that" insert "primarily".
2 3 Page 4-line 7 After "or that" insert "primarily".
WASHUT, 4 CHAIRMAN

HB0010SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Olsen

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SW001 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 4-line 11 Delete "resident" and insert "qualified 2 elector".

1 HB0010SW001 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 4-line 11 Delete "resident" and insert "qualified 2 elector".
3 4 Page 4-line 18 Delete "resident" and insert "qualified 5 elector".
6 7 Page 7-line 9 Delete "person" and insert "qualified 8 elector".
9 10 Page 7-line 16 Delete "person" and insert "qualified 11 elector".

HB0010SW002

Committee of the Whole • Senator Cooper

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SW002 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 2 In the Senate standing committee 2 amendment (HB0010SS001/A) to this line, after 3 "of county commissioners." insert "If a 4 library is utilized by both a county library 5 and a library of a school district for the 6 purposes of providing library services, then 7 the board of county commissioners and school 8 district board of trustees may opt out of the 9 requirements of this section pursuant to this 10 subsection."; after "(f) of this section" 11 insert "and, if applicable, a school district 12 shall not be subject to a lawsuit under W.S.

1 HB0010SW002 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 2 In the Senate standing committee 2 amendment (HB0010SS001/A) to this line, after 3 "of county commissioners." insert "If a 4 library is utilized by both a county library 5 and a library of a school district for the 6 purposes of providing library services, then 7 the board of county commissioners and school 8 district board of trustees may opt out of the 9 requirements of this section pursuant to this 10 subsection."; after "(f) of this section" 11 insert "and, if applicable, a school district 12 shall not be subject to a lawsuit under W.S.
13 21-3-138(e)".
COOPER

HB0010SW003

Committee of the Whole • Senator Brennan

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SW003 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 17 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(g) If a challenge made under subsection (c) of this section 4 to any online material or content is sustained or upheld, the 5 county library shall adopt a policy that requires a parent or 6 guardian to give written permission for the minor to access any 7 materials provided online by the county library.".

1 HB0010SW003 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 17 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(g) If a challenge made under subsection (c) of this section 4 to any online material or content is sustained or upheld, the 5 county library shall adopt a policy that requires a parent or 6 guardian to give written permission for the minor to access any 7 materials provided online by the county library.".
BRENNAN

HB0010SW004

Committee of the Whole • Senator Love

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SW004 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 8-after line 14 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(d) This section shall not apply to classroom libraries 4 accessible only to students who attend class in the classroom where 5 the classroom library is located.".

1 HB0010SW004 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 8-after line 14 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(d) This section shall not apply to classroom libraries 4 accessible only to students who attend class in the classroom where 5 the classroom library is located.".
6 7 Page 8-line 16 Delete "(d)" and insert "(e)".
8 9 Page 9-line 2 Delete "(e)" and insert "(f)".
LOVE

HB0010SW005

Committee of the Whole • Senator Love

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SW005 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 2-line 15 After "material"" insert ": (A)".

1 HB0010SW005 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 2-line 15 After "material"" insert ": (A)".
2 3 Page 2-line 20 Delete "(A)" and insert "(I)".
4 5 Page 3-line 1 Delete "(B)" and insert "(II)".
6 7 Page 3-line 5 Delete "(C)" and insert "(III)".

HB0010SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Judiciary Committee

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0010SS001 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 2 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(e) Any board of county commissioners may opt out of the 4 requirements of this section, on behalf of a county library board, 5 upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board 6 of county commissioners.

1 HB0010SS001 (TO ENGROSSED COPY) 1 Page 6-after line 2 Insert and renumber as necessary: 2 3 "(e) Any board of county commissioners may opt out of the 4 requirements of this section, on behalf of a county library board, 5 upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board 6 of county commissioners.
Upon opting out under this subsection, a 7 county library board shall not be subject to a lawsuit under 8 subsection (f) of this section.".
9 10 Page 6-line 4 Delete "(e)" and insert "(f)"; delete 11 "resident" and insert "qualified elector".
12 13 Page 6-line 15 Delete "shall" and insert "may".

Bill History

2026-03-04 Senate
S Motion to Suspend Rules to Resolve into COW & Place at the Top of GF Failed 13-18-0-0-0
2026-03-03 Senate
S COW:S Did not consider for COW
2026-02-26 Senate
S Placed on General File
2026-02-26 Senate
S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0
2026-02-23 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary
2026-02-20 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2026-02-20 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 48-13-1-0-0
2026-02-19 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-18 House
H 2nd Reading:Laid Back
2026-02-17 House
H 2nd Reading:Laid Back
2026-02-16 House
H COW:Passed
2026-02-13 House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-13 House
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-1-2-0-0
2026-02-09 House
H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 46-16-0-0-0
2026-01-09 House
H Received for Introduction
2025-12-01 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0080
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0080
ENGROSSED
3.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0010

Sexually explicit materials in libraries-requirements.

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to libraries and education; specifying requirements for county libraries and school libraries to govern access to sexually explicit materials by minors; providing definitions; providing a cause of action for violations; specifying penalties; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
125, 18
‑
7
‑
107 and 21
‑
3
‑
138 are created to read:

1
‑
39
‑
125.

Liability; sexually explicit materials in children's sections of libraries.

A governmental entity is liable for damages resulting from a violation of W.S. 18
‑
7
‑
107 or 21
‑
3
‑
138 in accordance with W.S. 18
‑
7
‑
107 or 21
‑
3
‑
138.

18
‑
7
‑
107.

Sexually explicit materials available to children; requirements; penalties; cause of action.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Children's section" means any portion of a library devoted primarily to or that primarily provides materials aimed toward persons younger than age eighteen (18);

(ii)

"Sexually explicit material" means any depiction or description, in any written, pictorial or electronic form, of sexual contact by any one (1) or more of the following:

(A)

Penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus;

(B)

Contact between the mouth and genitalia or mouth and anus or by contact between the genitalia of one (1) person and the genitalia or anus of another person;

(C)

Contact between the finger, hand or other body part of one (1) person and the genitalia or anus of another person, except in the course of an examination or treatment by a person licensed to provide care or treatment under title 33 of the Wyoming statutes;

(D)

Ejaculation onto the person of another;

(E)

The use of artificial sexual organs or substitutes to contact with the genitalia or anus;

(F)

The touching of a person's own genitals or anus with a finger, hand, artificial sexual organ or other similar device.

(b)

Each public library and employee and contractor of a public library shall ensure that:

(i)

No sexually explicit materials are accessible in the children's section of the library at any time;

(ii)

Sexually explicit materials are cataloged, located and stored in a section of the library devoted primarily to or that primarily provides materials aimed toward persons age eighteen (18) and older.

(c)

Each county library board of directors shall establish a process by which any resident of the county in which the library is located may challenge the inclusion, placement or presence of any sexually explicit material in the children's section of the library, in accordance with all of the following:

(i)

Each county library board shall establish a form by which any resident of the county in which the library is located may challenge a sexually explicit material being located in the children's section of the library;

(ii)

The form established under paragraph (i) of this subsection shall be made available at each physical location of the county library and on the website of the county library;

(iii)

Each county library shall accept challenges to sexually explicit material under this subsection at any time;

(iv)

A county library receiving a challenge under this subsection shall review the challenged material to determine whether it is sexually explicit material and whether the material is located in the children's section of the library and render a written decision on the challenge not later than sixty (60) days after written or electronic receipt of the challenge.

(d)

Not later than August 1, 2026, each county library board of directors shall develop the challenge process specified in and in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. A county library that fails to develop and implement the challenge process in accordance with subsection (c) of this section by August 1, 2026 shall pay a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500.00) each day until the library develops the process.

(e)

Any resident of the county in which the public library is located shall have a cause of action against a library violating this section. No person shall initiate a lawsuit against a library under this subsection without first completing the challenge process specified in subsection (c) of this section. No lawsuit shall be brought under this subsection if sexually explicit material is moved or removed from the children's section of the library after a challenge is brought under subsection (c) of this section. A court may order any injunctive or equitable relief, award damages, costs or fees or order any other legal remedy permitted by law. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a person prevailing in an action brought under this subsection.

21
‑
3
‑
138.

Sexually explicit materials in school libraries; penalties; cause of action.

(a)

As used in this section, "sexually explicit material" means as defined by W.S. 18
‑
7
‑
107(a)(ii).

(b)

Each school district, and each employee and contractor of the school district, shall ensure that no sexually explicit materials are accessible by any student younger than age eighteen (18) in any library of the school district.

(c)

Each school district board of trustees shall establish a process by which any person who resides within the geographical boundaries of the school district may challenge the inclusion, placement or presence of any sexually explicit material in a school district library, in accordance with all of the following:

(i)

Each school district board of trustees shall establish a form by which any person who resides within the geographical boundaries of the school district may challenge a sexually explicit material being located in a school district library;

(ii)

The form established under paragraph (i) of this subsection shall be made available at each physical location of the school district where a library is located and on the website of the school district;

(iii)

Each school district board of trustees shall accept challenges to sexually explicit material under this subsection at any time;

(iv)

A school district board of trustees receiving a challenge under this subsection shall review the challenged material to determine whether it is sexually explicit material and whether the material is located in the library of the school district and render a written decision on the challenge not later than sixty (60) days after written or electronic receipt of the challenge.

(d)

Not later than August 1, 2026, each school district board of trustees shall develop the challenge process specified in and in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. A school district that fails to develop and implement the challenge process in accordance with subsection (c) of this section by August 1, 2026 shall pay a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500.00) each day until the school district develops the process.

(e)

Any person who resides within the geographical boundaries of the school district shall have a cause of action against a school district violating this section. No person shall initiate a lawsuit against a school district under this subsection without first completing the challenge process specified in subsection (c) of this section. No lawsuit shall be brought under this subsection if sexually explicit material is moved or removed from the school district library after a challenge is brought under subsection (c) of this section. A court may order any injunctive or equitable relief, award damages, costs or fees or order any other legal remedy permitted by law. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a person prevailing in an action brought under this subsection.

Section 2.

W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
103(a)(ix) and 1
‑
39
‑
104(a) are amended to read:

1
‑
39
‑
103.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(ix)

"This act" means W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
101 through
1
‑
39
‑
123
1
‑
39
‑
125
.

1
‑
39
‑
104.

Granting immunity from tort liability; liability on contracts; exceptions.

(a)

A governmental entity and its public employees while acting within the scope of duties are granted immunity from liability for any tort except as provided by W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
105 through 1
‑
39
‑
112 and 1
‑
39
‑
122 through
1
‑
39
‑
124
1
‑
39
‑
125
. Any immunity in actions based on a contract entered into by a governmental entity is waived except to the extent provided by the contract if the contract was within the powers granted to the entity and was properly executed and except as provided in W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
120(b). The claims procedures of W.S. 1
‑
39
‑
113 apply to contractual claims against governmental entities.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

1
HB0010