Registered sex offenders prohibited from public office.

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text and summary do not specify the consequences for individuals who were already in office before July 1, 2026, but become registered sex offenders later.

Registered Sex Offenders Can't Hold Public Office

This law stops people who are on a list of sex offenders from getting certain jobs in government.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it so that registered sex offenders cannot run for or be given specific public offices.
• Lists the types of positions where sex offenders can't work, like being a mayor or school board member.
• Requires election officials to not put on voting ballots anyone who is a registered sex offender and wants one of these jobs.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who are registered as sex offenders
• Election officials who run elections

Terms To Know

Sex Offender

A person who is currently registered on the central registry of offenders under W.S. 7-19-301 through 7-19-310.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only affects people elected or appointed to office after July 1, 2026.
• It does not change how current officials in these positions are treated if they become registered sex offenders later.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0260

Bill No.:

HB0092

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0260

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0037

Chapter No.:

96

Prime Sponsor:

Lucas

Catch Title:

Registered sex offenders prohibited from public office.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Registered sex offenders prohibited from specified public offices.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill establishes qualifications for specified public offices, specifically disqualifying individuals registered as sex offenders from holding these positions.

The bill defines "sex offender" as a person currently registered on the central registry of offenders under W.S. 7-19-301 through 7-19-310.

Specifies that election officials must refuse to certify ineligible candidates, and offices held by disqualified individuals will be deemed vacant.

Applies to individuals elected or appointed to public office on or after July 1, 2026.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

26LSO-0260

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0092

ENROLLED ACT NO. 37,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to administration of the government; establishing qualifications for specified public offices; specifying that sex offenders are ineligible to hold those public offices; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
104 is created to read:

9
‑
1
‑
104.

Qualifications for office; ineligibility of candidates convicted of certain sex offenses.

(a)

In addition to any other qualifications to hold public office, no sex offender shall be eligible to be a candidate for, or be appointed to, any of the following offices:

(i)

Trustee of a school district;

(ii)

Community college district board member;

(iii)

County attorney or district attorney;

(iv)

County commissioner;

(v)

Member of the governing body of a city or town;

(vi)

Mayor of a city or town;

(vii)

County sheriff;

(viii)

Any office of an elected statewide official;

(ix)

Member of the legislature;

(x)

Member of the board of trustees of the University of Wyoming;

(xi)

Clerk of district court;

(xii)

Member of the state board of education;

(xiii)

County clerk;

(xiv)

County treasurer;

(xv)

County coroner;

(xvi)

City attorney.

(b)

The secretary of state, county clerk or other appropriate election official shall refuse to certify a candidate's name if the candidate is ineligible to hold public office under this section. If a person in office is disqualified from office under this section, the office shall be deemed vacant as provided in W.S. 22
‑
18
‑
101(a)(iv).

(c)

As used in this section, "sex offender" means a person who is currently registered on the central registry of offenders under W.S. 7
‑
19
‑
301 through 7
‑
19
‑
310.

Section 2
.

This act shall apply to any person elected or appointed to public office on or after July 1, 2026.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1