[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6667972,"mediaKeyId","2248955-2e533d279ddc538a6d073754d8b61e9f","parentId",2248955,"title","Committee tightens public testing, notice and retest rules for voting machines (House Bill 278)","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2672000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248955-2e533d279ddc538a6d073754d8b61e9f&start=2672&end=2672","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248955-2e533d279ddc538a6d073754d8b61e9f/thumbnail_2672000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667972/Wyoming/Committee-tightens-public-testing-notice-and-retest-rules-for-voting-machines-House-Bill-278","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667972-a9b3a25216e61850e0b63150abb0b57f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774857942&Signature=kyKnf1JwuO5nlg8nYYJ7YmdnFke1xrmk-JJZqLPincSpjRwptCuuAgEAGV3yf-Vugw3ytAWPMHfkQZn4xO~W94wY8GS9chRMmEgWhIVjAJV3c-GNnecKgN-fQ7BEuppqzubUw9R3JcCTVmRXjZeUQj-Hj9RASHnf5aLjJEn7GbdT88KrwVa1XVfeVIJN3iKNj2zF1K94Qw410MHpo0Ge0xG3u5rU8kstSrcE6bpyY6nlkuQTip-zecBhPtKBAUltM9IaIVkG3VkOYgwmlLm7dJGMF2NXEZOO0Yl-9CC6si7VGIaqLkoHCsmotQTrkphZ9W8M230rBBUerXMN7dEa2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee","date","2025-02-07T21:06:51.497Z","article","The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee passed House Bill 278, a measure that tightens public testing, notice and retest procedures for voting machines and tabulators used in Wyoming elections.

Sponsor Representative Locke presented the bill as a set of clarifications and added rigor to existing testing procedures, including minimum notice periods, an explicit requirement that machines to be used in an election be tested, and filing of test certifications with the secretary of state. The bill was prompted by questions raised after the 2024 elections about whether tests had consistently met statutory requirements.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray told the committee the bill’s “impetus . . . is really about ensuring clarity and rigor in the public testing of our voting equipment prior to elections. I'm fully in support of House Bill 278.” County clerks and election officials testified about current practices: Mary Lankford, representing county clerks, said “every voting machine was tested in this last election” and described common practices such as running ballot styles through machines, public test decks and logging seals. Fremont County Clerk Julie Fries asked for clear authority to retest if an error is found in the days before an election.

Key provisions and committee amendments adopted during the hearing include:
- Public notice requirements for logic and accuracy testing: the bill sets minimum notice timing (sponsor language inserted 5 days before an initial test and 24 hours before a retest for some tests) and requires testing to be open to the public rather than limited to party representatives.
- A requirement that a copy of the testing certification be filed with the secretary of state and that the county retain a copy; the county clerk retains the original certificate.
- Clarification that seals on machines may be broken to perform a retest or to produce requested logs or printouts and then resealed; clerks testified seals are numbered and logged.
- Stronger test content requirements: tests must include assignments for write‑in candidates and must exercise undervote and overvote conditions; the committee added language that such vote testing be done for each precinct and for each ballot style where appropriate, and for each machine type capable of producing an overvote.
- Requirements that the county post detailed reports, precinct‑level results, complete audit logs and proof of testing and make those materials available on request.

County clerks sought modest drafting changes; clerks’ representatives preferred that the original certificate remain with the county and a copy be sent to the secretary of state. The secretary supported that change. Clerks and election‑integrity advocates also emphasized testing both the ballot‑marking stage and the tabulation stage of ‘‘express vote’’ or ballot‑marking devices: one speaker explained those devices require testing of the human‑readable printout and the underlying barcode used by tabulators.

Committee members also inserted an authorization allowing the secretary of state to permit retests or deviations when the two‑week notice period would otherwise prevent necessary corrections, and they changed a previously vague phrase (“if possible”) to a more precise formulation tied to the machine types that can record overvotes.

The committee adopted these amendments and then approved the bill on a roll‑call vote, 9–0. The vote record lists Representatives Brown, Locke, Heft, Johnson, Lucas, Webb, Weber, Yin and Chairman Knapp as voting aye. With that result, House Bill 278 passed the committee as amended.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee passed House Bill 278 to clarify and strengthen requirements for pre‑election testing of voting machines and tabulators, adding public‑notice, retest and reporting requirements and several technical amendments requested by clerks and the secretary of state.","taxTitle","Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61352,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6667973,"Committee advances anti‑SLAPP bill to protect First Amendment participation",2540,117000,2657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248955-2e533d279ddc538a6d073754d8b61e9f&start=117&end=2657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248955-2e533d279ddc538a6d073754d8b61e9f/thumbnail_117000.jpg","/articles/6667973/Wyoming/Committee-advances-antiSLAPP-bill-to-protect-First-Amendment-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667973-18b3699e83ab2c9d02080a86dc4d0f5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774857942&Signature=dtQGmpb8l53i82zMRa3nwpM09djZIq6u8OPLB8zLPNqrjDFgqjSI1--fQutqQkcfIvnobq6RHxA4i1R5qNldkVs3fvbsWYdf~MkciilYNMkNuubxYzgOS3QvUPy2IFGIhjO-dx1MzgsbZ7MyFZRM9kuU7oeRyLiXsYhbJ-PyI2RFMDWe7oWGbycPAL6KSiP0QHaoVosqgHjnG691aZnBteXrOOuxheRB8plqgMWXL0Ul3he~tL-NuqIjGrFb4ZiCxHxwr3Yz3tPLZ2dKTkhFhmBZZTKWgQ6~wYPBfor24brGl3sQqmCeGwcEacsVCNakdrswavwGGmhhOg-rGnK2vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee voted to pass House Bill 223, “preventing strategic lawsuits against public participation,” advancing the measure out of committee after sponsor and public testimony and several amendments.

The bill would create a qualified‑immunity procedure for defendants sued over exercise of rights protected by the First Amendment, allow an immediate appeal of denials of immunity motions, permit limited discovery to support immunity motions, require payment of costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing defendant, and provide statutory damages “of no less than 10,000” to a successful movant. The bill as introduced also included a provision allowing a Wyoming resident sued in another state to recover attorney fees in Wyoming if the SLAPP protections would have applied at home; the sponsor and witnesses discussed that portability feature as a deterrent to forum shopping.

Sponsor Representative Pepper Ottman told the committee, “The acronym SLAPP, s l a p p, stands for strategic lawsuits against public participation. This bill would protect First Amendment rights of Wyomingites.” Colin Crossman, who presented with the sponsor, said the measure was intended to apply to both natural persons and entities and described an amendment to make that explicit: “We’ve discussed an amendment . . . to make absolutely and abundantly clear that this anti SLAPP statute applies to, natural persons and entities.”

Supporters and opponents both testified. The transcript includes a letter from an organization identified as the First Amendment Lawyers Association (FALA) urging passage as a protection for free expression and for potential economic development benefits. Jessie Rubino of the State Freedom Caucus Network testified in strong support, urging the committee not to narrow the bill’s coverage. Attorney Mark John Randaza, who said he has litigated anti‑SLAPP cases nationally, argued the bill’s broader language — including application to pending actions and a portability remedy — was appropriate and would make Wyoming’s protections attractive to businesses and residents.

Several witnesses raised drafting concerns. Beth Lance, appearing for the Wyoming Bridal Lawyers Association, said language in the draft that would apply the statute to “all actions” and to foreign jurisdictions was “very broad” and could lead to constitutional challenges in some states; she recommended narrowing or clarifying that language. Committee members and witnesses discussed examples of how the statute would operate, the burden for a defendant invoking immunity, and the bill’s interaction with federal courts.

Committee amendments altered the bill’s applicability and clarified definitions. Minority Leader Yin moved — and the committee adopted — an amendment striking the words ‘‘pending’’ and the specified date and making the act effective immediately. Representative Lucas offered, and the committee adopted, a definition change to ensure the term “person” covers entities; the committee ultimately cross‑referenced the Title 8 statutory definition rather than restating it.

After debate and amendments, the committee took a roll‑call vote. The record shows the committee approved the bill 9–0: Representatives Brown, Locke, Heft, Johnson, Lucas, Webb, Weber, Yin and Chairman Knapp voted aye. With that tally, House Bill 223 passed the committee as amended.

The transcript records the matters discussed and the amendments adopted; the measure will move forward from committee under the legislature’s schedule.","The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee voted to pass House Bill 223, a measure creating qualified immunity and expedited procedures to dismiss lawsuits filed to limit participation in matters of public importance.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee tightens public testing, notice and retest rules for voting machines (House Bill 278)

Committee advances anti‑SLAPP bill to protect First Amendment participation