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Select Committee advances bill to remove sunset on Wyoming's Indian Child Welfare Act

Select Committee on Tribal Relations · January 28, 2026
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Summary

Tribal leaders, court officials and tribal child welfare workers urged the Select Committee to repeal the sunset on Wyoming's ICWA backup statute so the state retains protections for Native children if federal provisions are later struck down; the committee voted to introduce the bill for session consideration.

The Select Committee on Tribal Relations voted to recommend introduction of a bill that removes a statutory sunset on Wyoming's Indian Child Welfare Act backup law.

Scotty Shaw, who presented the draft remotely, said the Wyoming provision (enacted as a state backstop) was written to preserve state procedures in case federal ICWA provisions are declared unconstitutional. "This bill simply repeals Wyoming statute 14-6-715(b), which is the sunset date for the Wyoming ICWA," Shaw said.

Local tribal leaders, child welfare directors and Wind River juvenile court officials urged the committee to keep the state backup in place. Interim Wind River chief judge Maria Muslem told lawmakers that Wyoming courts have upheld ICWA and that removing the sunset would provide stability and reduce litigation risk: "It is important for our children to have a connection to tribal court and the tribes." Several tribal speakers described the role ICWA plays in preserving identity, language and family connections.

Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Department of Family Services directors said interagency communication and training on ICWA had improved and recommended that state and tribal agencies continue capacity building for placements and casework. Tribal ICWA workers emphasized confidentiality and the need to counter misinformation.

Committee action: a committee member moved to recommend LSO draft 26LSO-3077 (the draft repeal) for introduction; the committee approved the recommendation by majority vote and will forward the bill for introduction in the legislative session. Committee staff noted the repeal removes the sunset so the state backup would remain unless later changed by the Legislature.

What happens next: the bill will be introduced for the legislative session consistent with committee action; agencies and tribal governments signaled willingness to continue training and coordination to support placements should the statutory backup remain in place.