Lawmakers press for guardianship overhaul after long regulatory gaps, limited statewide capacity

Representative Styiver (House District 12) told the committee that Wyoming’s guardianship statutes have not been substantially revised in roughly 30 years and that the state’s previous public‑guardian office expired due to funding. Styiver said there is currently only one corporation in the state providing guardianship services and raised questions about fee practices, oversight and the adequacy of statutory protections for vulnerable adults.

Styiver argued the topic straddles several titles of state law and recommended a joint interim examination with Judiciary and Labor to address statutory inconsistencies, fee standards and alternatives such as supported decision‑making and protective accounts to preserve assets for beneficiaries.

What’s next: Styiver left handouts with draft statutory language and urged the co‑chairs to place guardianship reform among the committee’s interim priorities for development with Judiciary staff and stakeholder input.