Wyoming House passes bill shielding pregnancy centers and allowing legislators to intervene in suits
February 07, 2025 | House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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The Wyoming House of Representatives passed House Bill 273, the "Wyoming pregnancy centers, autonomy and rights" bill, on third reading Friday after several hours of debate over the measure
nd a contested provision allowing the legislature to intervene in lawsuits challenging the law. The bill passed 46-14, with 2 members excused.
Supporters, including Representative Rodriguez Williams, said the bill would protect private nonprofit pregnancy resource centers that provide counseling, material support and, in some cases, medical services. Rodriguez Williams said allowing legislators to participate in litigation "would be an opportunity to show intent of the legislation that's been passed and clear up any misconceptions or misperceptions" about the law.
Opponents warned the litigation provision risks trampling the separation of powers and could create a fractured state defense. Representative Chestyck moved an amendment to remove the clause that would let the legislature intervene as a defendant; she argued it "completely obliterates, the separation of powers of the 3 branches" and said intervention would make the legislature a party to suits the executive branch is charged with defending.
Representative Nicholas and others said the amendment would let individual members of a later legislature undo the work of a prior legislature by intervening as parties. Representative Nicholas argued that allowing automatic intervention would be "a fundamental abuse of the court process" and could "turn the courtroom into a patent place" with multiple legislators asserting different versions of legislative intent.
Backers of the bill rejected that description and said the language simply would allow legislators to participate without first seeking the court's permission, analogous to other ordinary-party interventions that occur in litigation.
The House rejected Chestyck's amendment, and after additional debate the full bill passed. The roll call recorded 46 ayes, 14 noes and 2 excused.
What the bill does and where it goes next
House Bill 273 defines "pregnancy center" in its text and provides statutory protections for those centers; it also includes the contested clause on legislative intervention in litigation. Supporters said the measure protects centers that deliver material and counseling services; opponents said the bill puts the legislature in the middle of court processes that the executive branch historically defends.
The bill will go to the Senate for consideration. If it is challenged in court, the new provision could lead to the legislature seeking to participate as a party in that litigation.
Votes and formal actions
- Third reading passage: passed 46-14 (2 excused).
Ending
After the vote, the House continued its agenda, taking up further budget work and supplemental amendments.
nd a contested provision allowing the legislature to intervene in lawsuits challenging the law. The bill passed 46-14, with 2 members excused.
Supporters, including Representative Rodriguez Williams, said the bill would protect private nonprofit pregnancy resource centers that provide counseling, material support and, in some cases, medical services. Rodriguez Williams said allowing legislators to participate in litigation "would be an opportunity to show intent of the legislation that's been passed and clear up any misconceptions or misperceptions" about the law.
Opponents warned the litigation provision risks trampling the separation of powers and could create a fractured state defense. Representative Chestyck moved an amendment to remove the clause that would let the legislature intervene as a defendant; she argued it "completely obliterates, the separation of powers of the 3 branches" and said intervention would make the legislature a party to suits the executive branch is charged with defending.
Representative Nicholas and others said the amendment would let individual members of a later legislature undo the work of a prior legislature by intervening as parties. Representative Nicholas argued that allowing automatic intervention would be "a fundamental abuse of the court process" and could "turn the courtroom into a patent place" with multiple legislators asserting different versions of legislative intent.
Backers of the bill rejected that description and said the language simply would allow legislators to participate without first seeking the court's permission, analogous to other ordinary-party interventions that occur in litigation.
The House rejected Chestyck's amendment, and after additional debate the full bill passed. The roll call recorded 46 ayes, 14 noes and 2 excused.
What the bill does and where it goes next
House Bill 273 defines "pregnancy center" in its text and provides statutory protections for those centers; it also includes the contested clause on legislative intervention in litigation. Supporters said the measure protects centers that deliver material and counseling services; opponents said the bill puts the legislature in the middle of court processes that the executive branch historically defends.
The bill will go to the Senate for consideration. If it is challenged in court, the new provision could lead to the legislature seeking to participate as a party in that litigation.
Votes and formal actions
- Third reading passage: passed 46-14 (2 excused).
Ending
After the vote, the House continued its agenda, taking up further budget work and supplemental amendments.
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