HB0147 creates a new chapter in Wyoming law prohibiting governmental entities from operating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, activities, or policies, and from engaging in what the bill defines as “institutional discrimination.” The bill defines DEI broadly as any program or policy that promotes differential or preferential treatment or classifies people by race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. It also defines institutional discrimination to include concepts such as inherent superiority or inferiority of groups, assigning blame based on identity, or requiring people to accept guilt or complicity based on race or other protected characteristics.
The bill bars state and local governmental entities, including the University of Wyoming, school districts, community colleges, counties, cities, towns, and other political subdivisions, from requiring DEI or institutional discrimination training or attendance, and from requiring instruction that promotes institutional discrimination. It also requires affected entities to take any steps needed to implement the act, including rulemaking if necessary, by July 1, 2025. The act takes effect July 1, 2025, with the implementation provisions effective immediately upon enactment.
The bill’s practical impact is to restrict how public employers, schools, and other public institutions in Wyoming can structure training, programming, and policies related to diversity and identity-based instruction. It would likely affect employee trainings, student programs, contractor requirements, and institutional policies across state agencies and local governments, while also creating a compliance obligation for those entities to review and potentially revise existing practices.
The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history is strongly favorable, with the bill advancing by comfortable margins in both chambers and in committee. The House Education Committee recommended amendment and do pass unanimously, and the bill passed the House 51-8 and the Senate 29-2 before concurrence passed 55-5. No committee transcripts were provided, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote totals suggest broad support with a smaller bloc of opposition.
The main point of contention appears to be the scope of the prohibitions, especially the bill’s broad definitions of DEI and institutional discrimination and how those definitions might affect public education, workplace training, and discussions of race and identity. A notable carve-out exempts federally recognized Indian tribes and programs related to tribal history, culture, language, and traditions, indicating an effort to preserve tribal-related educational and governmental activities while otherwise limiting DEI-related programming.
HB0147 adds a new statutory chapter to Title 9 governing prohibited practices by state institutions and expands compliance obligations for a wide range of public entities. It restricts DEI-related programs and training in state and local government, public education, and public higher education, and it requires those entities to implement the law through rulemaking or other administrative action as needed. The bill also creates an express exemption for federally recognized Indian tribes and related tribal programs and educational content.
The bill appears to have enjoyed generally strong support in the Legislature, passing committee and floor votes by substantial margins. The lack of committee transcript material limits insight into debate, but the recorded votes show a clear majority in favor and a smaller minority opposed. The pattern suggests the bill was viewed by supporters as a policy restriction on compelled DEI training and by opponents as an overbroad limitation on public institutions.
The central controversy is the bill’s breadth: supporters likely see it as preventing compelled ideological training and identity-based discrimination, while opponents may view it as sweeping too broadly into public education, employment, and institutional policy. The definitions of DEI and institutional discrimination are expansive and may raise concerns about chilling discussions of race, sex, and other identity-related topics. The tribal exemption is also notable, both because it narrows the bill’s reach and because it signals an intent to distinguish tribal sovereignty and cultural education from the bill’s DEI restrictions.