2023 Legislative Session

The 2023 session of the Wyoming Legislature was held January 10-March 3.  These are some of the noteworthy bills:

  • House Bill No. HB0152 “Life is a Human Right Act.”  This sweeping, near-total abortion ban passed and then went into effect in mid-March 2023.  The law was challenged in court, and a judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of the law for the time being.
  • Senate File No. SF0109 “Prohibiting chemical abortions.”  This bill outlaws medication abortion.  The Senate and House both passed SF0109, it was signed by the Governor, and the effective date is July 1, 2023.
  • House Bill No. HB0117 “Abortion amendments.”  This bill sought to repeal Wyoming’s abortion ban enacted in 2022 (temporarily enjoined by the court and the subject of ongoing litigation).  HB0117 was not heard by a key deadline and therefore will not move forward during this legislative session.
  • Senate Joint Resolution No. SJ0009 “Right of individual privacy-constitutional amendment.”  This resolution proposed putting a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot for a vote by the electors:  “The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed.”  The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SJ0009, but it was not taken up by the full Senate by a key deadline and therefore will not receive further consideration this legislative session.
  • Senate Joint Resolution No. SJ0010 “Right of health care access-constitutional amendment.”  This resolution proposed putting a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot for a vote by the electors — to eliminate current constitutional language that allows the Legislature to impose restrictions on a person’s right to make health care decisions.  SJ0010 was defeated in a vote by the Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee and will not receive further consideration during the legislative session.
  • House Bill No. HB0034 “School finance-mental health services.” This bill was amended to include anti-abortion language.  HB0034 passed in the Wyoming House but was defeated in the Senate Education Committee and therefore will not receive further consideration during the legislative session.
  • Senate File No. SF0009 “Medicaid coverage-licensed pharmacists.”  This bill was amended in the House to include anti-abortion language.  The bill was sent to a Joint Conference Committee to work out differences between the original Senate bill and the amended House bill.   The JCC voted to remove the House amendments and restore the bill’s original language.  The Senate and House concurred with the JCC, and the bill in its original form will go to the Governor for consideration.