Wyoming Draft Bill Aims At Library Sexually Explicit Materials For Minors

A draft bill in the Wyoming Legislature would allow a fine for giving minors access to sexually explicit materials in school/public libraries if a lawsuit is successfully filed.

As currently written the fine would be $50,000, but that amount is under discussion and could change before the bill is finalized.

You can see the draft bill from the legislature's joint judiciary committee here.

Critics of the legislation such as the Wyoming ACLU argue the bill usurps what should be the role of parents in deciding what their children should be allowed to see.

Bill Is Similar To Previous Bills That Failed

It's worth noting that as a general rule, bills sponsored by legislative committees tend to have a better chance of winning final approval. On the other hand, the 2026 session will be a budget session. That means non-budget items will need a 2/3 majority vote for introduction.

The bill includes the following passage in regard  school libraries that allow access to such material:

"(c) If any person violates subsection (b) of this 13 section, the school district that employs or contracts with 14 the person shall be liable for a civil penalty of fifty 15 thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each violation of 16 subsection (b) of this section."

The bill includes similar language for Wyoming Public Libraries.

The bill would allow for the filing of lawsuits for violations.

The draft legislation includes a lengthy list defining what is meant by sexually explicit materials, which you can read by clicking on the link to the draft bill above.

House District 43 Republican Representative Ann Lucas sponsored a bill in the 2025 legislative session dealing with the same topic. That bill didn't end up being approved.

She says the current draft legislation includes some technical requirements that weren't in her bill, but she says the intent is essentially the same.

But Lucas says she does have one problem with the draft bill. She thinks parents should have the final say in what their kids are able to view. She says her bill had that provision, the current draft bill does not.

Lucas made the comments on the ''Weekend In Wyoming'' program on AM 650, KGAB on Saturday. You can hear those comments below.

The Judiciary Committee on Tuesday took testimony on the proposed bill, and changes are possible before a final version moves forward.

Antonio Serrano, Advocacy Director for the Wyoming ACLU, issued this statement on the proposed legislation:

"Parents already have the ability to monitor and direct what books their kids read and have access to. We don’t need to substitute state control for parental judgement. If you don't like a book, don't read it – or don't let your kids read it. It's as simple as that.

"Threatening librarians with monetary fines for providing access to books some deem offensive will chill intellectual freedom and free speech. This draft legislation is nothing more than ideologically driven censorship dressed up as concern for children."

You can hear Rep. Lucas' interview from Saturday on the "Weekend In Wyoming' program in the audio file below: