HB0042 • 2026

Duty to stop vehicle during accidents-amendments.

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; amending the elements and penalty for the failure to comply with the duty to stop vehicle where an accident involves death or personal injuries; making the penalty for failure to stop vehicle where an accident involves death or personal injuries a felony; increasing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Crime

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Representative Smith
Last action: 2026-02-23
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about penalties for minor injury cases.

Amending the Law on Stopping After a Car Accident

The bill changes penalties for not stopping after an accident causing death or serious injury by making it a felony and increasing fines.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law to make it a felony if someone does not stop their vehicle after an accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Increases the fine from $5,000 to $10,000 for failing to stop in cases of death or serious injury.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers who are involved in car accidents causing death or serious injury

Terms To Know

Felony: A serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence of more than one year.
Misdemeanor: A less serious crime that usually results in a shorter jail time or fines.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not considered for further action.
It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, but since it did not pass, this date is no longer relevant.

Amendments

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

HB0042HS001

Standing Committee • House Transportation, Highways and Military Affair

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0042HS001 1 Page 2-line 11 Reinsert stricken ", upon conviction,".

1 HB0042HS001 1 Page 2-line 11 Reinsert stricken ", upon conviction,".
BROWN, 2 L, CHAIRMAN

Bill History

2026-02-23 House
H COW:H Did not consider for COW
2026-02-13 House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-13 House
H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0
2026-02-10 House
H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation 59-2-1-0-0
2026-01-14 House
H Received for Introduction
2026-01-13 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0268
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0268
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0042

Duty to stop vehicle during accidents-amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Smith and Senator(s) Steinmetz

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; amending the elements and penalty for the failure to comply with the duty to stop vehicle where an accident involves death or personal injuries; making the penalty for failure to stop vehicle where an accident involves death or personal injuries a felony; increasing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1101 is amended to read:

31
‑
5
‑
1101.

Duty to stop vehicle where accident involves death or personal injuries; penalties.

(a)

The driver of any vehicle
knowingly
involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of W.S. 31
‑
5
‑
1103. Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b)

Any person failing to stop or to comply with subsection (a) of this section shall
, upon conviction,
be
:
imprisoned

(i)

Guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for
not more than one (1) year,
fined
a fine
not
more than
to exceed
five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both
, if the accident resulted in bodily injury as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(i);

(ii)

Guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if the accident resulted in death or serious bodily injury as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(x)
.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

1
HB0042