HB0062 The Christian Smith Safety Act. | Wyoming Bill

The Christian Smith Safety Act.

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the Committee of the Whole (COW), so it is uncertain how many people or organizations will be affected.

The Christian Smith Safety Act

This bill changes the maximum amount that Wyoming's government can be held responsible for in lawsuits and adjusts these limits based on inflation.

What This Bill Does

Changes the highest amount of money the state government must pay if someone sues them to $1 million per person or $2 million total for all people involved in a single event.

Adjusts these amounts each year to account for changes in prices (inflation).

Requires local governments that are part of a self-insurance program to also follow the new limits and adjust their payments based on inflation.

Who It Names or Affects

People who might sue Wyoming's government or local governments for damages.

The state of Wyoming and its local governments when they are sued.

Local governments that participate in a self-insurance program.

Terms To Know

Inflation

When prices go up over time, making things more expensive to buy.

Self-Insurance Program

A plan where local governments pay for their own insurance instead of buying it from an outside company.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the Committee of the Whole (COW).

It is unclear how many people or organizations will be affected since the bill did not become law.

The specific details about how inflation adjustments are calculated were provided in the bill text.

Amendments

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

HB0062HS001

Standing Committee • House Revenue Committee

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0062HS001 1 Page 2-line 5 Delete "one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)" 2 and insert "three hundred seventy-five 3 thousand dollars ($375,000.00)".

1 HB0062HS001 1 Page 2-line 5 Delete "one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)" 2 and insert "three hundred seventy-five 3 thousand dollars ($375,000.00)".
4 5 Page 2-line 16 Delete "two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)" 6 and insert "seven hundred fifty thousand 7 dollars ($750,000.00)".
8 9 Page 3-line 18 Delete "one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)" 10 and insert "three hundred seventy-five 11 thousand dollars ($375,000.00)".
12 13 Page 3-line 20 Delete "two million".

Bill History

2026-02-23 House

H COW:H Did not consider for COW

2026-02-19 House

H Placed on General File

2026-02-19 House

H03 - Revenue:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-2-0-0-0

2026-02-10 House

H Introduced and Referred to H03 - Revenue 48-12-1-0-1

2026-02-05 House

H Received for Introduction

2026-01-28 LSO

Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0327
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0327
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0062

The Christian Smith Safety Act.

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

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to governmental claims; amending the maximum liability amounts for claims authorized under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act; providing for an adjustment to maximum liability amounts based on inflation; 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
‑
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)
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)
to any claimant for any number of claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence
. The maximum liability under this paragraph shall be adjusted for inflation annually by the general services division of the department of administration and information, using the consumer price index or its successor index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or three percent (3%), whichever is less
; or

(ii)

The sum of
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)
for all claims of all claimants arising out of a single transaction or occurrence.
The maximum liability under this paragraph shall be adjusted for inflation annually by the general services division of the department of administration and information, using the consumer price index or its successor index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or three percent (3%), whichever is less.

1
‑
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)
F
or any other claim brought under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act
,

for any one (1) occurrence plus loss adjustment expenses
the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to any claimant for any number of claims arising out of a single transaction or occurrence and the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) for all claims of all claimants arising out of a single transaction or occurrence
.
The maximum liability amounts specified under this paragraph shall be adjusted for inflation annually by the general services division of the department of administration and information, using the consumer price index or its successor index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or three percent (3%), whichever is less.

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, 2026. For purposes of this section, a "transaction" or "occurrence" includes an act, error or omission.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

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HB0062