WyomingMeasure would bar registered sex offenders from listed public offices
Beginning July 1, 2026, the measure would bar people currently listed on Wyoming's sex-offender registry from seeking or accepting many public offices.
What it does
People currently listed on Wyoming's sex-offender registry would not be allowed to run for or accept appointment to a wide range of state and local offices.
Election officials would have to reject certification for an ineligible candidate, and a covered office would be treated as vacant if its holder later becomes disqualified.
Argument forVoters may feel more assured that people currently listed on the sex-offender registry cannot hold the covered public offices.
Argument againstThe rule could remove elected or appointed officials from office and leave vacancies when their registry status makes them ineligible.
More detail
A person currently registered as a sex offender would be ineligible to run for or be appointed to the listed public offices. The offices include school and college boards, county and city offices, mayors, sheriffs, prosecutors, legislators, statewide elected offices, and several state and local administrative offices. The person must be currently listed on Wyoming's central registry of offenders. This rule would apply in addition to other qualifications for public office. The rule would apply to people elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2026.
Election officials would refuse to certify an ineligible candidate, and an office would become vacant if its holder becomes disqualified under this rule. The requirement applies to the secretary of state, county clerks, and other appropriate election officials handling candidates for the listed offices. The candidate must be ineligible under the registry-based rule. A vacancy would be handled under the cited state vacancy law. The rules would apply to elections and appointments covered by the act on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 8Assigned Chapter Number 96Latest
- Mar 8Governor Mark Gordon Signed HEA No. 0037Became Law
- Mar 6S President Signed HEA No. 0037
- Vote recorded H Concur:Passed 60-0-2-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0037
- Mar 6Assigned Number HEA No. 0037
- Mar 6H Concur:Passed 60-0-2-0-0
- Mar 6H Received for Concurrence
- Mar 5S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-13-0-0-0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-13-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4S 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Mar 4S COW:PassedMinor
- Mar 3S Placed on General File
- Vote recorded S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 23S Introduced and Referred to S01 - JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 23S Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 22H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0Passed House
- Vote recorded H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20H 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 20H COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 14H Placed on General File
- Vote recorded H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 14H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 11H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 61-0-1-0-0Minor
- Vote recorded H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 61-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5H Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 4Bill Number AssignedIntroduced
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