HB0163 would make it a crime in Wyoming for any person to employ or otherwise contract for services with an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or who is not lawfully authorized to work under federal law. The bill creates a new section in Wyoming statutes under a new article titled "Unauthorized Aliens" and applies to both direct employment and service contracts.
The bill sets misdemeanor penalties for violations: a $1,000 fine for a first offense and a $5,000 fine for a second or subsequent offense. It also specifies that the prohibition does not apply to workers who have valid and current visas or other work authorization, or to employers who continue employing workers who are lawfully present and are in the process of renewing or maintaining lawful status in compliance with federal law. Each unauthorized worker employed or contracted with would count as a separate offense. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB0163 would add a new state-level employment enforcement provision to Wyoming law, creating criminal penalties for hiring or contracting with unauthorized workers. It would affect employers, contractors, and any person who engages labor or services, while expressly carving out workers with valid federal work authorization and certain lawful-status renewal situations. The bill would operate alongside federal immigration and employment authorization rules, but would impose additional state misdemeanor fines for violations.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available record suggests the bill was introduced in a straightforward, enforcement-oriented manner with no documented debate in the provided materials. The sponsor list indicates notable legislative support at introduction, and the bill’s framing reflects a strong policy preference for restricting employment of unauthorized aliens. No contrary sentiment is captured in the supplied context.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the bill’s immigration-enforcement approach, particularly whether Wyoming should impose state criminal penalties on employers for hiring or contracting with unauthorized workers. Potential concerns include how employers would verify work authorization, whether the bill could create compliance burdens or liability for inadvertent violations, and how it would interact with federal immigration law and lawful-status renewal processes. Supporters would likely emphasize deterrence and compliance with federal work authorization rules, while opponents would likely focus on enforcement complexity and impacts on employers and workers.