Senate committee gives do-pass to Wyoming Granite Act after author and sponsor outline 'sword and shield' against foreign censorship rulings

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 4–1 to give House Bill 70, known as the Wyoming Granite Act, a do-pass recommendation after a presentation and discussion about how the measure would protect Wyoming residents and businesses from extraterritorial enforcement of foreign censorship laws.

A representative presenting the bill told the committee the statute’s purpose (listed on pages 9–10 of the draft) is to "protect the constitutional rights of Wyoming residents and business entities from extraterritorial application of foreign censorship laws" and to "promote Wyoming's economy by fostering a safe harbor for digital innovation." The presenter said the bill creates a "sword" — a private cause of action allowing Wyoming residents, businesses and U.S. persons hosting content in Wyoming to sue foreign governments — and a "shield" that would prevent Wyoming courts and state employees from recognizing or enforcing foreign judgments based on protected speech.

Colin Crossman, the bill's author (speaking in his personal capacity), told committee members the measure is designed to work within existing federal frameworks, citing the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the International Organizations Immunities Act as legal touchstones. Crossman said the bill's approach is to use these federal tools to permit Wyoming-based causes of action without "acting in international law." He gave examples of foreign enforcement efforts — including an ongoing action the U.K. brought involving the platform 4chan, which he said involved a multiyear attempt to impose a large fine — and said, "This stops that," describing the bill's intended effect.

Crossman summarized an amendment to the bill that removes a previously included $10,000 penalty for state employees who cooperated with foreign enforcement and deletes an attorney-general rulemaking provision that the attorney general had objected to. He said the amendment also adds a "federal conformity" clause intended to dovetail the state statute with an anticipated federal act on the same subject.

Committee members asked for precise deletions in the drafted amendment; Crossman pointed the committee to the pages and lines to be removed (he referenced deletions on page 30 line 11 through page 31 line 15 and an additional deletion at page 32 lines 6–7). The chair suggested that some housekeeping deletions could instead be offered as floor amendments.

No members of the public offered testimony. After brief procedural exchanges the committee moved the bill, received a second, and on roll call the clerk announced a 4–1 vote in favor and declared the committee's recommendation "do pass" on House Bill 70.

The committee's action was limited to a committee recommendation; the transcript records the committee's do-pass vote but does not specify subsequent scheduling or floor action.