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HB0014 • 2026

Protecting self-defense-reimbursement and amendments.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; clarifying the use of self-defense to prevent injury or loss to other persons and property; requiring the expungement of records for cases dismissed for use of self-defense; authorizing reimbursement of costs incurred in defending a criminal prosecution after successfully asserting self-defense; providing definitions; 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
Representative Brown, G
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so its provisions are not currently law.

Protecting Self-Defense and Reimbursement

This act clarifies when self-defense can be used to prevent injury or loss, requires expungement for cases dismissed due to self-defense, and allows reimbursement of costs if someone successfully defends themselves in court.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies the use of force in self-defense to protect oneself, others, or property from injury or loss.
  • Requires courts to remove records when charges are dropped because a person used self-defense.
  • Allows people who win their case by using self-defense to get money back for legal costs and other expenses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are charged with crimes but win their case by using self-defense.
  • Courts that handle criminal cases involving self-defense claims.

Terms To Know

Expungement
The process of permanently destroying or deleting records related to an arrest, charge, prosecution, or disposition so that the record is no longer retrievable.
Criminal Prosecution
Includes being arrested, charged with a crime, or going through a criminal trial.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was introduced but failed to move forward.
  • It does not specify how much money will be reimbursed for legal costs.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 House

    H Failed Introduction 29-32-1-0-0

  2. 2026-01-09 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2025-12-08 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
26LSO-0001
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0001
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0014

Protecting self-defense-reimbursement and amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Brown, G, Allemand, Banks, Brady, Campbell, K, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Heiner, Hoeft, Knapp, Locke, Lucas, Ottman, Riggins, Schmid, Smith, S, Strock, Styvar, Wasserburger, Webb, Webber, Wharff and Winter and Senator(s) French, Ide, Laursen, D and Pearson

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; clarifying the use of self-defense to prevent injury or loss to other persons and property; requiring the expungement of records for cases dismissed for use of self-defense; authorizing reimbursement of costs incurred in defending a criminal prosecution after successfully asserting self-defense; providing definitions; 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. 6
‑
2
‑
604 and 6
‑
2
‑
605 are created to read:

6
‑
2
‑
604.

Use of force in self
‑
defense; reimbursement of costs and fees.

(a)

If a person who is subject to criminal prosecution is found not guilty, has had the charges dismissed or is otherwise released from custody or further prosecution because the person reasonably used defensive force in accordance with W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602, the county where the person was charged or subject to criminal prosecution shall reimburse the person for all reasonable costs, including loss of time, bail costs, attorney fees and other costs and expenses involved in the person's defense, including the costs of seeking or receiving an expungement under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
605.

(b)

Reimbursement for a person subject to criminal prosecution who is found not guilty because the person reasonably used defensive force under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602 shall not be an independent cause of action. If the trier of fact in the underlying criminal action determines that a person is eligible for reimbursement under this section, the court shall determine the amount of the reimbursement award.

(c)

A person subject to criminal prosecution who has had the charges dismissed or is otherwise released from custody or further prosecution, because the person reasonably used defensive force in accordance with W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602, may file a petition for reimbursement in the court in the county in which the person was subject to criminal prosecution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be no filing fee for a petition filed under this subsection. If the court determines that a person is eligible for reimbursement under this section, the court shall then determine the amount of the reimbursement award.

(d)

Nothing in this section shall prohibit an action under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to seek a reimbursement award where none was granted or to seek a higher award than the one (1) award granted under this section.

6
‑
2
‑
605.

Use of force in self
‑
defense; expungement.

(a)

A person subject to criminal prosecution who is found not guilty, has had the charges dismissed or is otherwise released from custody or further prosecution because the person reasonably used defensive force in accordance with W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602 may file a petition for expungement in the court in the county where the person was subject to criminal prosecution.

A person subject to criminal prosecution who is found not guilty because the person reasonably used defensive force under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602 shall be advised by the court upon acquittal that the person has the right to immediately file a petition for expungement under this section.

(b)

Any petition for expungement filed under subsection (a) of this section shall:

(i)

Identify the person, the case number and court in which any criminal prosecution resulting in acquittal or dismissal occurred, the date and place of arrest and the law enforcement agency that arrested the person;

(ii)

Include a short, plain statement made under penalty of perjury of the facts that demonstrate that the person is entitled to relief under this section;

(iii)

Include a request for an order to expunge all records taken or created in connection with the criminal prosecution of the person.

(c)

If a petition filed under this section concerns a criminal prosecution that resulted in a dismissal, the person shall serve a copy of the petition on the district attorney who prosecuted the criminal prosecution. If the petition concerns an arrest that did not result in a prosecution, the person shall serve a copy of the petition on the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. No order granting expungement under this section shall be made less than twenty (20) days after service is made under this subsection.

(d)

The district attorney or law enforcement agency may file an objection to the petition not later than twenty (20) days after receipt of service under subsection (c) of this section. If an objection is filed, the court shall set the matter for a hearing. If no objection is filed, the court may summarily enter an order of expungement if the court finds that the person is otherwise eligible for expungement under this section.

(e)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be no filing fee required for any petition for expungement filed under this section.

(f)

If a petition filed under this section concerns a criminal prosecution that resulted in a finding of not guilty because the person reasonably used defensive force under W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
602, the court shall summarily enter an order of expungement if the court finds that the person is eligible for expungement under this section.

(g)

If the court enters an order of expungement under this section, the person shall be deemed to have never been arrested, charged or prosecuted with respect to the matters and charges that are subject to the order of expungement, and the person may so swear under oath.

Section 2
.

W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
601 and 6
‑
2
‑
602(a) and by creating new subsections (h) and (j) are amended to read:

6
‑
2
‑
601.

Applicability of article; definitions.

(a)

The common law shall govern in all cases not governed by this article.

(b)

_As used in this article:

(i)

"Criminal prosecution" includes the arrest, charging or prosecution of a person for a criminal offense;

(ii)

"Expungement" or "expunge" means to permanently destroy, delete or erase all records, as appropriate for the record's physical or electronic form, so that the record is permanently irretrievable;

(iii)

"Record" means any notation of the arrest, charge, prosecution or disposition maintained in the state central repository at the division of criminal investigation, or by any state agency, entity or political subdivision, whether in paper or electronic format, including investigatory files of any local, state or federal criminal justice agency.

6
‑
2
‑
602.

Use of force in self
‑
defense; no duty to retreat; decision of questions.

(a)

The use of defensive force
,
whether actual or threatened, is reasonable when it is the defensive force that a reasonable person in like circumstances would judge necessary to prevent an injury or loss
to oneself, another person or to the person's real or personal property
, and no more, including deadly force if necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the person employing the deadly force or to another person. As used in this subsection, "necessary to prevent" includes a necessity that arises from an honest belief that the danger exists whether the danger is real or apparent.

(h)

When the issue of the reasonable use of defensive force in self
‑
defense is decided by a judge, the judge shall consider the same questions as must be answered under subsection (j) of this section.

(j)

When the issue of the reasonable use of defensive force in self
‑
defense is submitted to a jury and the jury has found the defendant not guilty, the court shall instruct the jury to return a special verdict using the following form:

1.

Was the finding of not guilty based on the reasonable use of defensive force in self
‑
defense?

Yes

___

No

___

2.

If your answer to question 1 is "no," do not answer any remaining questions.

3.

If your answer to question 1 is "yes," continue answering the following questions. Was the defendant:

a.

Protecting himself or herself?

Yes

___

No

___

b.

Protecting his or her family?

Yes

___

No

___

c.

Protecting his or her real or personal property?

Yes

___

No

___

d.

Coming to the aid of another who was in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury?

Yes

___

No

___

e.

Coming to the aid of another who was the victim of a violent felony?

Yes

___

No

___

Section 3
.

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)

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HB0014