The 2024 session of the Wyoming Legislature started February 12 and ended March 8.
House Bill No. HB0148/House Enrolled Act No. HEA0037 restricted and regulated surgical and medication abortions. The bill required that ultrasounds be performed before patients could receive abortions, imposed a 48-hour waiting period, required that a surgical abortion facility be licensed as an ambulatory surgical center, and required physicians working at a surgical abortion facility to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 10 miles of the. The bill passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by the Governor. Pro-Choice Wyoming opposed this bill.
House Bill No. HB0137 “Chemical abortions-ultrasound requirement” required that ultrasounds be performed before patients can receive medication abortions. The bill imposed a 48-hour waiting period. Anyone violating the law could have been jailed up to five years and fined up to $20,000. The bill was not considered for introduction by the deadline, but its provisions were subsequently inserted into HB0148. Pro-Choice Wyoming opposes the ultrasound and waiting period requirements.
The House and Senate passed budget amendments prohibiting the Department of Health from using appropriated funds for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion on any person. This language was eventually removed from the final budget during budget negotiations. Pro-Choice Wyoming opposes abortion funding restrictions.
Second Reading Amendment HB0001H2017 to the House Budget would have provided funding to increase Medicaid coverage of family planning services (long-acting reversible contraceptives and vasectomies). The amendment was defeated during discussion and voting in the House. Pro-Choice Wyoming supported this budget amendment.
Senate File No. SF0108 “Protecting water from chemical abortion waste” banned the use of telemedicine for medication abortions. The bill specified environmental and disposal requirements for abortion drugs. Anyone violating the telemed ban could have been jailed for up to three years and fined up to $10,000. The bill did not receive the necessary two-thirds vote to be introduced and therefore did not receive further consideration. Pro-Choice Wyoming opposed this bill.
House Bill No. HB0076 “Reproductive Freedom Act” repealed the current abortion restrictions in the Wyoming Statutes and created new sections that prohibited the State from denying or interfering with a person’s right to have an abortion prior to viability of the fetus or to protect the person’s life or health. The bill was not considered for introduction by the deadline and therefore did not receive further consideration. Pro-Choice Wyoming supported this bill.
House Joint Resolution No. HJ0004 “Right of health care access-constitutional amendment” would have put a constitutional amendment on the general election 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. The resolution did not receive the necessary two-thirds vote to be introduced and therefore did not receive further consideration. Pro-Choice Wyoming supported this resolution.
House Joint Resolution No. HJ0007 “Individual right to privacy-constitutional amendment” would have put a constitutional amendment on the general election 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 resolution was not considered for introduction by the deadline and therefore did not receive further consideration. Pro-Choice Wyoming supported this resolution.
