SF 71 — Wyoming department of homeland security.
Last action — Governor Signed SEA No. 0023
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 04, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Mark Gordon (Republican) on March 04, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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6 sponsors
1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
This act creates the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. Under current law, that office is housed within the Office of the Governor. This act transfers the Office of Homeland Security from the Office of the Governor into a separate department, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, on July 1, 2026. The act specifies requirements for the transfer of functions, assets, liabilities and funds from the current office into the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security. The act requires the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security to report to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by October 1, 2026 on the transfer of functions. The act makes numerous conforming amendments to effectuate the transfer to the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security. Comments: This act creates a new state department, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, from the current Office of Homeland Security within the Office of the Governor. This act requires a report from the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by October 1, 2026. This act has a split effective date. Provisions related to the reorganization and transfer of functions to the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security are effective immediately; the remainder of the act is effective on July 1, 2026.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
688 added · 658 removedPlain-language change summary
The bill has been updated to formally create a dedicated Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, shifting responsibilities from the current office under the governor. This change involves transferring all associated assets and budgets to the new department starting July 1, 2026. This reorganization aims to streamline operations and clarify the department's role in enhancing public safety and disaster response in Wyoming. Overall, it is about improving efficiency and accountability in homeland security efforts within the state.
SORIGINAL TATE OF W YOMING 26LSO-0228 SENATE FILE NO.
SF0071 WyomingENROLLED departmentACT ofNO. homeland security.
Sponsored23, by:SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION AN ACT relating to the administration of the government;
Senator(s) Olsen, Crago and Kolb and Representative(s) Filer, Singh and Washut A BILL for AN ACT relating to the administration of the government;
(a) The Wyoming office of homeland security created in the Wyoming Homeland Security Act is hereby transferred SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 from the office of the governor to the Wyoming department of homeland security, as created in this act, on July 1, 2026.
8 (b) The following shall apply to the reorganization specified in subsection (a) of this section:
Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the governor from appointing the directorORIGINAL whoSENATE wasFILE appointedNO. under W.S.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION director who was appointed under W.S.
2 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (iii) Upon the transfer of the office of homeland security under this section, the department of homeland security shall assume all duties and authorities granted under Wyoming law.
6 (c) Nothing in this act shall be construed to impair any existing contracts, agreements or other obligations of the Wyoming office of homeland security executed before the effective date of this act.
SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 2 (i) Any unexpended, unobligated funds appropriated to the office of homeland security or to the office of the governor, homeland security division (department 001, division 1100) during the 2026 budget session;
8 (ii) Any full-time or part-time positions provided or granted to the office of homeland security or toORIGINAL theSENATE officeFILE ofNO. the governor, homeland security division (department 001, division 1100) during the 2026 budget session;
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION to the office of the governor, homeland security division (department 001, division 1100) during the 2026 budget session;
4 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 9-2-2022.
4 As part of the reorganization of Wyoming state government, there is created the Wyoming department of homeland security consisting of the Wyoming office of homeland security created in the Wyoming Homeland Security Act.
5-11-101(a)(intro), 7-19-106(a)(xiv), 7-19-201(e), 9-2-1102(a)(xix), 18-3-402(a)(xxvi), 19-13-102(a)(v), 19-13-103(a)(i), 19-13-104(a), (d)(intro), (i) and by creating a new paragraph (vii), 19-13-105(a), (b), (c)(intro), (i), (d) and (e), 19-13-113(c), 19-13-117(a) through (c), (e)(intro), (ii) and (g), 19-13-301(b) and (c)(intro), 19-13-302(a) and (b), 19-13-303(a)(intro), 19-13-501(a)(iii) and (v), 24-12-102(c)(intro) and (i)(A), 31-2-234(b), 35-9-152(a)(viii), (x) and (xii), 35-9-153(a)(intro), (c), (e)ORIGINAL andSENATE (g),FILE 35-9-154(a)(intro),NO. 35-9-155(d)(intro), 35-9-156(a) and 35-9-157(c)(iii) are amended to read:
SF0071 STATEENROLLED OFACT WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0228 2 5-11-101.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (e) and (g), 35-9-154(a)(intro), 35-9-155(d)(intro), 35-9-156(a) and 35-9-157(c)(iii) are amended to read:
5-11-101.
6 (a) The Wyoming court security commission is created under the supervision of the Wyoming supreme court.
(xiv) The office department of homeland security for purposes of obtaining background information on SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 prospective homeland security workers and regional emergency response team participants;
4 7-19-201.
7 (e) The Wyoming military department, any public fire department, ambulance service or regional emergency response team may as a condition of employment or other participation with the entity require all applicants for employeeORIGINAL orSENATE volunteerFILE positionsNO. with the entity to submit to fingerprinting in order to obtain state and national criminal history record information.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION employee or volunteer positions with the entity to submit to fingerprinting in order to obtain state and national criminal history record information.
7 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (a) The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) voting members to be appointed by the governor and who may be removed by the governor as provided in W.S.
7 (xix) The Wyoming office department of homeland security.
SF0071ORIGINAL STATESENATE OFFILE WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0228 2 (a) As used in this act:
4SF0071 (v)ENROLLED "Director"ACT meansNO. the director, office of the department of homeland security appointed pursuant to W.S.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (a) As used in this act:
(v) "Director" means the director, office of the department of homeland security appointed pursuant to W.S.
8 19-13-103.
9 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (i) To create a Wyoming office department of homeland security, within the governor's office, and to authorize the creation of local homeland security programs in the political subdivisions of the state;
6 19-13-104.
9 (a) The governor has general direction and control of the office of homeland security, and is and, if delegated under this subsection, the director are responsible for the carrying out of the provisions of this act, and in the event of disaster beyond local control, the governor may assumeORIGINAL directSENATE operationalFILE controlNO. over all or any part of the homeland security functions within Wyoming.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION assume direct operational control over all or any part of the homeland security functions within Wyoming.
SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 He shall be responsible to the governor and The director may be removed by the governor as provided in W.S.
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5 (i) Supervise the Wyoming office department of homeland security;
8 (vii) Prepare and submit a budget for the department of homeland security in accordance with W.S.
The deputy director shall SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 serve at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed as provided in W.S.
4ORIGINAL (b)SENATE TheFILE directorNO. may employ technical, clerical, stenographic and other personnel and make such expenditures within the appropriations or from other funds made available to him the director for purposes of homeland security as necessary to carry out this act.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (b) The director may employ technical, clerical, stenographic and other personnel and make such expenditures within the appropriations or from other funds made available to him the director for purposes of homeland security as necessary to carry out this act.
12 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (d) The deputy director shall perform duties as assigned by the director and, in the absence of the director, he is the administrative head of the Wyoming office department of homeland security.
6 (e) The office department of homeland security may receive and share criminal identification, intelligence and criminal history information available to law enforcement agencies for the purposes provided by W.S.
(c)ORIGINAL AsSENATE usedFILE inNO. this section, "homeland security worker" includes any full or part-time paid, volunteer or auxiliary employee of any state, territories or possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, any neighboring country, any political subdivision thereof, or any agency or program performing homeland security services at any place in this state subject to the order or control SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 of or pursuant to a request of the state government or any political subdivision thereof and includes instructors and students in recognized educational programs where homeland security services are taught.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (c) As used in this section, "homeland security worker" includes any full or part-time paid, volunteer or auxiliary employee of any state, territories or possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia, any neighboring country, any political subdivision thereof, or any agency or program performing homeland security services at any place in this state subject to the order or control of or pursuant to a request of the state government or any political subdivision thereof and includes instructors and students in recognized educational programs where homeland security services are taught.
14 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (b) The office department of homeland security shall establish by rule and regulation an application procedure and calendar for grants under this section and adopt other rules as necessary to implement this section.
6ORIGINAL (c)SENATE InFILE administeringNO. this program, the office department of homeland security and counties shall establish a policy of including private sector participants to the fullest extent possible unless a viable private sector solution does not exist.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (c) In administering this program, the office department of homeland security and counties shall establish a policy of including private sector participants to the fullest extent possible unless a viable private sector solution does not exist.
The account shall consist of those funds appropriated to the account by the legislature and all monies received from SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations to the account.
9 19-13-301.
19-13-302 and rules and regulations adopted by the Wyoming search and rescue council.ORIGINAL SENATE FILE NO.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION council.
16 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (c) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Wyoming office department of homeland security may expend revenues available within the search and rescue account for other search and rescue program purposes including:
6 19-13-302.
8 (a) Any county sheriff's office in this state may make a claim on the search and rescue account for reimbursement of costs directly incurred in the performance of search and rescue activities.
If there are insufficient funds to pay all SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 approved claims, the Wyoming office department of homeland security shall prorate reimbursement among all approved claims.
Payments authorized through the Wyoming office department of homeland security pursuant to this section shall be paid by the state treasurer by warrant issued by the state auditor upon vouchers signed by the director, of theORIGINAL WyomingSENATE officeFILE departmentNO. of homeland security or his the director's designee.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION the Wyoming office department of homeland security or his the director's designee.
18 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (a) As used in this article:
3 (iii) "Critical infrastructure zone" means an area of property, whether covering the surface estate, mineral estate, pore space estate or nonphysical property, designated by the governor in consultation with the director of the office department of homeland security as property encompassing critical infrastructure;
(c) The state highway patrol shall coordinate with local, tribal, state and federal law enforcement agencies, theORIGINAL WyomingSENATE officeFILE departmentNO. of homeland security and any other appropriate entity to operate an alert system under the integrated public alert and warning system or successor system, adhering to the United States department of justice criteria.
The state highway patrol shall operate and SF0071 STATEENROLLED OFACT WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0228 integrate additional missing persons alert communications networks that enable and help facilitate search efforts for an adult at risk or other missing person of an age, needs or circumstances that may fall outside the scope of the America's missing:
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION the Wyoming office department of homeland security and any other appropriate entity to operate an alert system under the integrated public alert and warning system or successor system, adhering to the United States department of justice criteria.
The state highway patrol shall operate and integrate additional missing persons alert communications networks that enable and help facilitate search efforts for an adult at risk or other missing person of an age, needs or circumstances that may fall outside the scope of the America's missing:
(A) Operate or seek to operate an alert system under the integrated public alert and warning system or successor system on the Wind River Indian Reservation, adhering to the United States department of justice criteria, or operate or seek to operate an additional missing persons alert communications network also operated by the state, the Wyoming office department of homeland security and state highway patrol shall assist and SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 coordinate with any tribal agency in establishing, integrating or operating that system;
4 31-2-234.
6 (b) The fees collected under subsection (a) of this section shall be payable to the department or county treasurerORIGINAL andSENATE shallFILE beNO. accounted for separately.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION treasurer and shall be accounted for separately.
21 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (ii) The office department of homeland security may establish methods to accept voluntary contributions in support of search and rescue activities for deposit into the search and rescue account.
8 (iii) The department, in consultation with the Wyoming office department of homeland security, is authorized to receive and credit to the search and rescue account, any money or property of any kind or character donated, granted or bequeathed to Wyoming search and rescue activities.
35-9-152.ORIGINAL SENATE FILE NO.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION 35-9-152.
SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 2 (viii) "Regional emergency response team" means any group of local government emergency responders brought together and supported by the state and confirmed by the director, office department of homeland security to assist an affected jurisdiction within the different regions of the state with the intent to protect life and property against the dangers of incidents and emergencies involving hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction;
(a) There is created a state emergency response commission that shall consist of members appointed by the SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 governor to advise the director, office department of homeland security and the department of homeland security with respect to activities under this act.
The commission shall consist of not less than four (4) members representing the mining, trucking, manufacturing, energy and railroad industries, one (1) member each from the legislature, local government, local law enforcement, fire services, the Eastern Shoshone tribe, the Northern Arapaho tribe, homeland security, the media, the medical field, emergencyORIGINAL medicalSENATE servicesFILE andNO. the general public, and one (1) representative from each of the following state agencies:
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION emergency medical services and the general public, and one (1) representative from each of the following state agencies:
24 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 (e) The commission shall review collection and disbursement of funds and advise the director, office department of homeland security on activities and responsibilities under this act.
6 (g) The commission shall perform all duties and acts prescribed by 42 U.S.C.
(d)ORIGINAL TheSENATE director,FILE officeNO. department of homeland security, in consultation with the state fire marshal and SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 subject to approval by the state emergency response commission, shall:
4SF0071 35-9-156.ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (d) The director, office department of homeland security, in consultation with the state fire marshal and subject to approval by the state emergency response commission, shall:
35-9-156.
6 (a) Every political subdivision of the state shall designate a local emergency response authority for responding to and reporting of hazardous material or weapons of mass destruction incidents that occur within its jurisdiction.
(c) Local emergency response authorities and regional emergency response teams shall be entitled to recover their reasonable and necessary costs incurred as a result of their response to a hazardous material or weapons of mass SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 destruction incident.
4 (iii) A reasonable fee, as established through rules and regulations of the director, office department of homeland security, for the use of equipment, including rolling stock, in responding to a hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction incident outside the responders' normal jurisdiction;
SectionORIGINAL 4.SENATE FILE NO.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 4.
2009 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 92, provides this section is effective on and after July 1, 2009 only upon certification of the governor to the secretary of state that the United States department of homeland security has published final federal rules under H.R.
SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 2 (a) Any person who possesses ammonium nitrate or regulated ammonium nitrate materials shall be registered with the department.
Nothing in this section shall require the registration of any person who produces, sells or purchases ammonium nitrate exclusively for use in the production of an explosive under a license or permit issued under chapter 40 of title 18, U.S.C.
The director in consultation with or upon the recommendation of the directorORIGINAL ofSENATE theFILE officeNO. department of homeland security, may SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 recommend other security measures.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION director of the office department of homeland security, may recommend other security measures.
7 (d) Registrants shall comply with all federal and state requirements regarding the dissemination of any information, providing the director and the director of the office department of homeland security access to the records.
29 SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 Section 5.
5 31-1-202.
7 (d) The department shall maintain records of vehicle registrations from all counties indexed by distinctive vehicle numbers assigned by the department, the name of the registered owner and vehicle identification numbers.
The department shall maintain a record of all vehicle certificatesORIGINAL ofSENATE titleFILE fromNO. all counties in the electronic lien and title system established under W.S.
SF0071 ENROLLED ACT NO.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION certificates of title from all counties in the electronic lien and title system established under W.S.
The department may annually compile and publish a list of all registered SF0071 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0228 vehicles and supplements thereto which shall be furnished to Wyoming peace officers and the Wyoming office department of homeland security without charge.
5ORIGINAL SectionSENATE 6.FILE NO.
7SF0071 (a)ENROLLED ExceptACT asNO. provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026.
23, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 6.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026.
(END) SF0071Speaker of the House President of the Senate Governor TIME APPROVED:
_________ DATE APPROVED:
_________ I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
Chief Clerk 21
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Action History
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Governor Signed SEA No. 0023
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Assigned Chapter Number 26
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S President Signed SEA No. 0023
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H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0023
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H 3rd Reading:Passed 37-22-3-0-0
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Assigned Number SEA No. 0023
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H 2nd Reading:Passed
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H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-2-0-0
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H Placed on General File
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H COW:Passed
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H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary
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S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-2-0-0-0
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H Received for Introduction
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S 2nd Reading:Passed
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S COW:Passed
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S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0
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S Placed on General File
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S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary 22-8-1-0-0
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S Received for Introduction
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Bill Number Assigned
Sponsors
- Jared Olsen · Primary
- John Kolb · Cosponsor
- Barry Crago · Cosponsor
- Art Washut · Cosponsor
- Daniel Singh · Cosponsor
- Lee Filer · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 87 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Jared Olsen Republican
Co-sponsors (5)
- John Kolb Republican
- Barry Crago Republican
- Art Washut Republican
- Daniel Singh Republican
- Lee Filer Republican
Not signed on (87)
87 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 87 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SF 71 do?
- This act creates the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. Under current law, that office is housed within the Office of the Governor. This act transfers the Office of Homeland Security from the Office of the Governor into a separate department, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, on July 1, 2026. The act specifies requirements for the transfer of functions, assets, liabilities and funds from the current office into the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security. The act requires the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security to report to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by October 1, 2026 on the transfer of functions. The act makes numerous conforming amendments to effectuate the transfer to the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security. Comments: This act creates a new state department, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, from the current Office of Homeland Security within the Office of the Governor. This act requires a report from the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by October 1, 2026. This act has a split effective date. Provisions related to the reorganization and transfer of functions to the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security are effective immediately; the remainder of the act is effective on July 1, 2026.
- Who sponsors SF 71?
- SF 71 is sponsored by Jared Olsen (Republican), John Kolb (Republican), Barry Crago (Republican), Art Washut (Republican), Daniel Singh (Republican), and Lee Filer (Republican).
- What is the current status of SF 71?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 04, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track SF 71?
- Track SF 71 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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