Senate approves measure requiring registered agents to collect owners’ information amid privacy debate

The Wyoming Senate moved Senate File 82 forward after floor debate weighing fraud prevention and local government administrative needs against business privacy and potential burdens on registered‑agent firms.

Sponsor Senator Grama described the bill as a targeted step to require registered agents to maintain owner names and addresses for domestic and many non‑domestic entities, with exemptions for large employers and in‑state brick‑and‑mortar businesses. He said the change is aimed at deterring misuse of Wyoming corporate filings and assisting county officials and law enforcement in investigations: "We need to know more about these companies," he said.

Opponents including Senator Scott and Senator Hyde warned that mandating owner lists could chill legitimate incorporations and impose verification duties registered agents cannot reliably perform. Senator Scott noted that registered agents cannot always verify ownership claims and expressed concern about subpoenas and non‑criminal use of court processes. "A bad actor would still lie to the registered agent…you get sketchy information," he said.

Supporters said confidentiality is protected under existing statute (17‑28‑108), and that the secretary of state may compel records only under narrow processes, typically involving law‑enforcement requests or court orders. The sponsor and backers said the rule targets a small fraction of filings and that registered agents already collect much of the required contact information.

The floor adopted the committee report advancing SF82; sponsors asked for additional work during the interim to refine thresholds (for example, ownership percentage or employee count) and to ensure procedural protections for confidential data.