Bill On Sexual Content In Wyoming Libraries Advances With Changes

The Wyoming Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee has signed off on a bill  that aims to keep sexually explicit materials in libraries away from kids.

You can read a draft version of the bill here.

The vote in favor of the measure was 11-2. Rep. Ken Chestek [D-Albany County] and Sen. Barry Crago [R-Johnson, Sheridan counties] voted no. Sen. Gary Crum [R-Albany County] was absent.

The bill would let people sue libraries and schools if they find sexually explicit materials in areas accessible to kids.

Changes Were Made In The Bill

One change that was made was in specifying an amount that could be collected in a lawsuit. Originally it was $50,000. That was reduced to $500, but the version that the panel finally approved did not contain a dollar amount. The version to come out of the hearing also specifies that suits can only be filed by people who actually live in either the county or school district in which the library is located. The goal is to prevent outsiders from picking legal fights in which they may not have a direct interest.

The bill was also amended to allow trustees to review materials that someone has complained about and remove them voluntarily if they choose to do so.

Rep. Ann Lucas [R-Laramie County],  who has long been active in the effort to keep sexually explicit materials in libraries away from kids, gave Townsquare Media the following statement:

"I am grateful to the citizens of Wyoming who have shown overwhelmingly that we must protect our children's innocence. The Joint Judiciary Committee worked hard on this bill that will get the lewd sex books out of the children's libraries. No books are being banned. We're just putting sex books in adult control, where they belong."

But opponents of the legislation say it amounts to book banning and argue that decisions on content should be left to librarians.

The 2026 legislative session will be  budget session, which means non-budget items will need a 2/3 majority vote for introduction