Senate committee advances bill to prohibit sanctuary policies; members trim penalties and defer some funding language

Summary

House Bill 133, which would ban sanctuary policies by local governments and require cooperation with federal immigration authorities, moved from the Agriculture committee with amendments that lower criminal penalties and leave disputed funding‑redistribution language for later action; public testimony included both support and opposition.

The Senate Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee voted to advance House Bill 133, a measure that would prohibit sanctuary policies at state and local levels and require cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Sponsor Joel Guggenmoss, representing House District 55, told the committee the bill “ensures uniform enforcement of federal immigration laws across Wyoming by prohibiting sanctuary policies at the state and local levels.” He described the bill as promoting cooperation between local governments, state employees and federal authorities and said it includes penalties for noncompliance and an immediate effective date.

Guggenmoss walked committee members through the bill sections as printed in the draft: definitions, prohibitions on local governing bodies (cities, towns, counties), penalties for noncompliance, protections for state employees from being hindered when they communicate with federal authorities, a prohibition on an executive order declaring Wyoming a…

Senate committee advances bill to prohibit sanctuary policies; members trim penalties and defer some funding language

Summary

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