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HB0019 • 2026

Corner crossing clarification.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a clarifying exception to the offenses of trespass and game-and-fish trespass regarding incidental contact associated with crossing two (2) adjacent parcels as specified; 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
Travel
Last action
2026-03-02
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included claims about government-owned land that were too broad. The official text specifies local, state, or federal governments but does not limit it to only one type.

Clarifying Rules About Crossing Parcels

This act clarifies that people do not commit trespassing when they walk from one parcel of government-owned land to another at a corner, even if they touch private property accidentally.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds an exception to the law about criminal trespass for walking between two parcels of government-owned land without permission.
  • Specifies that this exception applies only if there is no damage or physical contact with privately owned land during the crossing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who cross between parcels of government-owned land
  • Landowners whose property is adjacent to government-owned land

Terms To Know

Trespassing
Entering or staying on someone else's property without permission.
Government-owned parcels
Land owned by local, state, or federal governments.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and is no longer active.
  • It only applies to walking between government-owned land parcels and does not cover other types of property crossings.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-02 Senate

    S COW:Failed 4-27-0-0-0

  2. 2026-02-26 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  3. 2026-02-26 Senate

    S06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0

  4. 2026-02-23 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel

  5. 2026-02-19 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  6. 2026-02-19 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 32-28-2-0-0

  7. 2026-02-18 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2026-02-17 House

    H 2nd Reading:Laid Back

  9. 2026-02-16 House

    H COW:Passed

  10. 2026-02-12 House

    H Placed on General File

  11. 2026-02-12 House

    H06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-1-1-0-0

  12. 2026-02-09 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel 47-15-0-0-0

  13. 2026-01-09 House

    H Received for Introduction

  14. 2025-12-16 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
26LSO-0118
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0118
ENGROSSED
3.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0019

Corner crossing clarification.

Sponsored by: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing a clarifying exception to the offenses of trespass and game-and-fish trespass regarding incidental contact associated with crossing two (2) adjacent parcels as specified; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
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3
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303 by creating a new subsection (d) and 23
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3
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305(b) are amended to read:

6
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3
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303.

Criminal trespass; penalties.

(d)

For purposes of this section, a person does not commit criminal trespass if the person travels by foot from one (1) parcel of land owned by a local government, the state of Wyoming or the federal government that the person is authorized to access to another parcel of land owned by a local government, the state of Wyoming or federal government that the person is authorized to access at the corner where the two (2) parcels meet and without physically contacting or causing damage to any privately owned land or property adjacent to the two (2) parcels.

23
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3
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305.

Hunting from highway; entering or traveling through private property without permission; penalty; hunting at night without permission prohibited.

(b)

No person shall enter upon, travel through or return across the private property of any person to take wildlife, hunt, fish, collect antlers or horns, or trap without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property. Violation of this subsection constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
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6
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202(a)(v). For purposes of this subsection
:

(i)

"T
ravel through or return across" requires physically touching or driving on the surface of the private property
;

(ii)

A person does not commit trespass under this subsection if the person travels by foot from one (1) parcel of land owned by a local government, the state of Wyoming or the federal government that the person is authorized to access to another parcel of land owned by a local government, the state of Wyoming or federal government that the person is authorized to access at the corner where the two (2) parcels meet and without physically contacting or causing damage to any privately owned land or property adjacent to the two (2) parcels
.

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)

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HB0019