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Senate passes House Bill 72, "Protecting Women's Privacy in Public Spaces," after extensive floor debate
Summary
After extended debate and multiple floor amendments, the Wyoming Senate passed House Bill 72 (Protecting Women's Privacy in Public Spaces) with K–12 provisions removed on third reading; sponsors and opponents disputed the bill's scope and liability provisions.
House Bill 72, titled the "Protecting Women's Privacy in Public Spaces Act," passed the Wyoming Senate on Feb. 25 after a lengthy and at times contentious floor debate. Senators debated the bill's drafting, liability language, and the decision to remove K–12 schools and local jails from the bill during a third‑reading amendment.
Senator Larson introduced third reading amendment number 1, which the body adopted. Larson said the amendment removed K–12 schools and city and county jails from the bill while leaving correctional facilities within the bill's scope: "It takes out K‑12 from the bill and also takes out city and county jails out of the bill. It leaves in the correctional facilities."
Debate on final passage covered several themes: whether additional statewide legal rules were necessary, whether the bill was sufficiently well drafted, and the potential for increased litigation against public entities. Senator Nethercott warned that the bill's private‑cause‑of‑action and fee‑shifting provisions could expose local governments and schools to liability: "A person who is aggrieved under this action can recover attorney fees... the whole litigation strategy changes in order to maximize those fees. ... That accountability is on the government." He cautioned that the bill creates incentives for litigation and said local entities would face direct exposure to costs.
Supporters said current practices in some places had produced harms to women and girls and argued the measure was needed to protect privacy and safety. Senator Smith recounted a swimmer's experience and said: "We gotta protect women... this is a good bill, and we need to... fix it." Other supporters emphasized the bill's alignment with the sponsors' intent to protect women and children.
After extended debate, the clerk announced the final tally. The clerk's closing announcement on the floor read: "Vote closed. House Bill 72, 25I, 6 no." The Senate President then announced that House Bill 72 had received the affirmative vote of the majority and had passed the Senate.
The Senate debated whether the state's actions would replace local decisions and whether the bill's civil remedies struck the correct balance between protecting victims and exposing public entities to litigation. Supporters argued the measure responds to documented incidents and provides a route for relief; opponents urged additional drafting work to limit unintended consequences and to focus responsibility on individuals rather than taxing local governments through litigation.
The bill will proceed through the next steps required for final enactment; the House and Governor's actions will determine the bill's final form.
