Committee advances bill to bar people on sex-offender registry from certain public offices
February 14, 2026 | Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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Representative Sara Lucas introduced House Bill 92 to prohibit people required to register as sex/offenders from being candidates for, appointed to, or serving in selected public offices, saying a 2024 local race exposed a statutory gap.
Lucas told the committee she filed the bill after a registered offender ran for a community college board in Laramie County in 2024 and public outcry led the candidate to withdraw. "Public office is a position of trust," Lucas said, arguing certain offenses should permanently disqualify some people from "positions of public trust." She said the bill "does not create new crimes" and preserves due process, and asked that the measure take effect July 1.
The bill lists sensitive offices including school district trustees, community college board members, county attorneys and district attorneys, county commissioners, municipal governing-body members, mayors and sheriffs, and directs election officials to refuse certification for ineligible candidates.
Several witnesses urged passage. Dallas Terrell described the 2002 conviction of a local man who later filed to run for a school board seat, saying the candidacy would have allowed unrestricted access to school property. Lynn Story Heiler, a certified forensic interviewer and former school board member, said "allowing someone who has harmed a child back where children are is pretty concerning" and asked lawmakers to prioritize child safety.
Committee members raised administrative and scope questions, including whether the ban should apply to people who have been removed from the registry. Minority Leader Yin asked whether registrants would realistically win elections; Lucas and others replied that the registry is not commonly checked by voters and that in multi-seat contests an ineligible candidate might still win if late discovery occurs.
The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to individuals "currently in the registry" and then advanced HB92 on a roll-call vote, with nine aye votes recorded. The bill will be considered on the House floor as amended.
Next steps: HB92 moves from committee to the full House for further floor action.
Lucas told the committee she filed the bill after a registered offender ran for a community college board in Laramie County in 2024 and public outcry led the candidate to withdraw. "Public office is a position of trust," Lucas said, arguing certain offenses should permanently disqualify some people from "positions of public trust." She said the bill "does not create new crimes" and preserves due process, and asked that the measure take effect July 1.
The bill lists sensitive offices including school district trustees, community college board members, county attorneys and district attorneys, county commissioners, municipal governing-body members, mayors and sheriffs, and directs election officials to refuse certification for ineligible candidates.
Several witnesses urged passage. Dallas Terrell described the 2002 conviction of a local man who later filed to run for a school board seat, saying the candidacy would have allowed unrestricted access to school property. Lynn Story Heiler, a certified forensic interviewer and former school board member, said "allowing someone who has harmed a child back where children are is pretty concerning" and asked lawmakers to prioritize child safety.
Committee members raised administrative and scope questions, including whether the ban should apply to people who have been removed from the registry. Minority Leader Yin asked whether registrants would realistically win elections; Lucas and others replied that the registry is not commonly checked by voters and that in multi-seat contests an ineligible candidate might still win if late discovery occurs.
The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to individuals "currently in the registry" and then advanced HB92 on a roll-call vote, with nine aye votes recorded. The bill will be considered on the House floor as amended.
Next steps: HB92 moves from committee to the full House for further floor action.
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