Wyoming committee advances bill to protect pregnancy centers from government requirements

Representative Rodriguez Williams, sponsor of House Bill 273, told the Judiciary Committee that the measure protects pregnancy centers from being singled out by state or local governments for refusing to provide or refer for abortion, abortion-inducing drugs or contraception.

"The Wyoming Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act protects Wyoming pregnancy centers from discrimination simply because they do not offer, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortion, abortion inducing drugs, or contraception," Representative Rodriguez Williams said in opening remarks. She said the bill provides a legal remedy when a center's speech or associational rights are violated and that the effective date is July 1, 2025.

The measure would bar state and local officials from, among other things, requiring a pregnancy center to perform or refer for abortion, or to prohibit a center from providing pregnancy, perinatal or postpartum care because it does not counsel in favor of abortion. The bill also contains legislative findings, definitions, civil remedies and a grant of certain immunities.

The committee debated drafting details and made three floor-oriented changes. First, lawmakers amended the bill to replace the bill's stand-alone definition of "abortion" with a cross-reference to state statute 35-6-122. Senator Kolb offered the amendment and the committee carried it.

A second amendment updated an "ectopic pregnancy" definition to point to the same statute provision identified in the Life Is a Human Right Act. A third amendment broadened the defined term "pregnancy center" by replacing the word "nonprofit" with "private organization" (the committee carried that change), after members asked whether the protection should be limited to nonprofit entities.

Public testimony split along advocacy lines. Denise Burke, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, told the committee the bill is intended to prevent pregnancy centers from being "singled out because of their pro life ethic." Burke said the act "does not . . . insulate pregnancy centers or their employees from appropriate regulation and oversight," and that it protects centers' First Amendment rights.

Opponents urged caution and said the bill may be unnecessary. Sharon Brightweiser of Wyoming Right to Choose testified in opposition, saying these organizations already have free-speech protections and that exempting a single type of nonprofit could prompt other groups to seek similar carve-outs. "We respectfully request your no vote on this bill," Brightweiser said.

Liz Youngman, president of Students for Reproductive Rights at the University of Wyoming, told the committee she had not seen evidence a local pregnancy center in Laramie had been restricted and said she was unsure why statutory protections beyond existing law were needed. "If the pregnancy centers are providing accurate medical information, I think it is strange then that these protections would be needed," Youngman said.

Committee members discussed whether legislative findings in the bill were necessary. Representative Rodriguez Williams said she favored keeping concise findings to describe services offered by centers and to limit the chance that an entity could call itself a pregnancy center to obtain protections. Other members expressed skepticism about lengthy findings, noting courts only consult findings when statutory language is ambiguous.

The committee voted to move House Bill 273 as amended. Roll call recorded Senators Crago, Cole and Chairman Olsen voting aye; two members were excused. The committee's action sends the amended bill forward for further consideration.

Representative Rodriguez Williams told the committee she will coordinate presenters when the bill reaches the next chamber.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 273 (as amended) — Motion to pass amended bill: outcome carried (ayes: Senator Crago; Senator Cole; Chairman Olsen; excused: Senator Crump, Senator Hicks).