HB0177 creates a new joint and standing committee of the Wyoming Legislature called the federal review committee. The committee would consist of five senators and nine representatives appointed after each general election, and it would be tasked with reviewing federal actions to determine whether they infringe on Wyoming’s sovereignty or diminish the rights and liberties of its citizens as understood through the ratification debates of the U.S. Constitution. It would also identify federal actions it believes exceed the enumerated powers of the federal government and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.
The bill directs the committee to respond to a broad range of federal actions, including laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, mandates, and other directives with the force of law. It authorizes the committee to recommend legislation, resolutions, declarations, and communications with other states based on its findings. The bill also includes a contingent repeal tied to repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment and requires legislative leaders to appoint members by January 6, 2026, with implementation dependent on House and Senate rules.
Impact
HB0177 would add a new statutory legislative committee to Wyoming law and expand the Legislature’s formal process for reviewing federal activity. It would not directly change substantive regulatory or criminal law, but it would create an institutional mechanism for monitoring federal actions and generating legislative responses, potentially affecting how Wyoming coordinates challenges to federal policy and how state lawmakers frame sovereignty and constitutional objections. The bill would also require internal legislative rulemaking to implement the committee’s work.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received generally favorable support in the House, passing the House Corporations Committee 8-1 and the House on third reading 32-25. That voting pattern suggests meaningful support among proponents of state sovereignty and skepticism of federal overreach, while also showing substantial opposition. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support through votes rather than detailed debate, but the close floor vote indicates the measure was controversial.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s premise that a legislative committee should independently assess federal actions for constitutionality and disregard contrary judicial interpretations, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Supporters likely view the committee as a tool to defend state sovereignty and constitutional limits on federal power, while opponents likely object to its legal theory, its dismissal of judicial review, and its broad mandate to evaluate all forms of federal action. The contingent repeal tied to repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment also signals a strong structural critique of the modern federal system, which may further divide lawmakers.