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SF0067 • 2026

Wyoming state guard-amendments.

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming state guard; removing activation of the national guard of Wyoming into service of the United States as a prerequisite for the organization of the Wyoming state guard; removing federal involvement in the Wyoming state guard; allowing the governor to organize and maintain the Wyoming state guard; making conforming amendments; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Laursen, D
Last action
2026-03-06
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information on the effectiveness of the Wyoming State Guard without federal oversight.

Amendments to Wyoming State Guard

This law changes how the Wyoming State Guard is organized and maintained, allowing the governor more control over it without federal involvement.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that the Wyoming National Guard must be activated by the U.S. before organizing the Wyoming State Guard.
  • Gives the governor full authority to organize and maintain the Wyoming State Guard as needed.
  • Requires laws governing the Wyoming National Guard to serve as a model for controlling and managing the Wyoming State Guard.
  • Provides $25,000 from the general fund to establish and equip the Wyoming State Guard.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Governor of Wyoming
  • Members of the Wyoming State Guard

Terms To Know

Wyoming National Guard
A part of the U.S. military that serves both federal and state needs.
Governor
The chief executive officer of a state, responsible for enforcing laws and managing state agencies.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies to the Wyoming State Guard.
  • It does not specify how much funding will be needed beyond June 30, 2028.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-06 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 47

  2. 2026-03-06 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0028

  3. 2026-03-03 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0028

  4. 2026-03-02 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0028

  5. 2026-03-02 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0028

  6. 2026-03-02 Senate

    S Concur:Passed 31-0-0-0-0

  7. 2026-03-02 Senate

    S Received for Concurrence

  8. 2026-03-02 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 54-6-2-0-0

  9. 2026-02-27 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2026-02-26 House

    H COW:Passed

  11. 2026-02-25 House

    H Placed on General File

  12. 2026-02-25 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-2-0-0-0

  13. 2026-02-24 House

    :Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  14. 2026-02-24 House

    H08 - Transportation:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0

  15. 2026-02-23 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation

  16. 2026-02-20 House

    H Received for Introduction

  17. 2026-02-20 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-2-0-0-0

  18. 2026-02-19 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  19. 2026-02-18 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  20. 2026-02-16 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  21. 2026-02-16 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  22. 2026-02-13 Senate

    :Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations

  23. 2026-02-13 Senate

    S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0

  24. 2026-02-10 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary 21-9-1-0-0

  25. 2026-02-05 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  26. 2026-02-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0156

Bill No.:

SF0067

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0156

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0028

Chapter No.:

47

Prime Sponsor:

Laursen, D

Catch Title:

Wyoming state guard-amendments.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Wyoming state guard amendments.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act removes the requirement that the Wyoming National Guard must be activated into the service of the United States before the Wyoming State Guard may be organized and removes federal involvement in the Wyoming State Guard.

This act allows the Governor to establish and maintain the Wyoming State Guard as necessary to preserve the public peace, execute the laws of the state, suppress tumult, riot, mob or invasion, respond to emergencies within the state, support national wildland fire response or perform other duties as the Governor may require.

This act authorizes the Governor to have authority over the Wyoming State Guard including its organization, strength, training, and equipment but requires the laws governing the Wyoming National Guard to be used as a model for the control and governance of the Wyoming State Guard.

This act provides an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the Governor for purposes of appointing and convening a Wyoming State Council of Defense and for establishing and equipping the Wyoming State Guard as the Governor deems necessary.

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

Read the full stored bill text
26LSO-0156

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0067

ENROLLED ACT NO. 28,

SENATE

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

AN ACT relating to the Wyoming state guard; removing activation of the national guard of Wyoming into service of the United States as a prerequisite for the organization of the Wyoming state guard; removing federal involvement in the Wyoming state guard; allowing the governor to organize and maintain the Wyoming state guard; making conforming amendments; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 19
‑
10
‑
101(a) and (b) is amended to read:

19
‑
10
‑
101.

Organization by governor; appointment of council; removal; control.

(a)

If the national guard of Wyoming is ordered into the service of the United States,
T
he governor may organize and maintain within this state
during that period, under such regulations as the secretary of defense may prescribe,
such military forces
as may be authorized by the secretary of defense or
as the governor deems necessary
for the defense
to preserve the public peace, to execute the laws
of the state
, to suppress tumult, riot, mob or invasion, to respond to either natural or manmade emergencies within the state, to support national wildland fire response or to perform other duties as the governor may require
. The forces shall be known as the Wyoming state guard. Insofar as practicable, the existing laws, rules and regulations governing the national guard shall be
applied to
used as a model for
the control
and governance
of the Wyoming state guard.
The force shall be of such strength as directed by the secretary of defense, with such expansion in the future as may be authorized.
The Wyoming state guard
shall be of such strength and
shall be armed, trained and equipped in such manner as may be prescribed by
the secretary of defense or
the governor of Wyoming.

(b)

For the purpose of coordinating desirable
national
state
defense activities, the governor shall appoint a Wyoming state council of defense. The council, subject to the approval of the governor, may organize necessary subordinate branches and establish rules and regulations for the operation of the council and subordinate branches, and assist in all matters pertaining to the Wyoming state guard and other state or national

defense activities not otherwise covered by law. Appointment to the council of defense is not limited by any requirements as to prior military or naval service. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9
‑
1
‑
202.

Section 2
.

There is appropriated twenty
‑
five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the governor for purposes of appointing and convening a Wyoming state council of defense and for establishing and equipping the Wyoming state guard as the governor deems necessary. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2028. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the office of the governor's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

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 Senate.

Chief Clerk

1