WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SF 114

Missing persons-reporting requirement.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Landon Brown and 7 co-sponsors

Wyoming agencies must promptly accept credible missing-person reports, enter data within 8 hours, and escalate unresolved cases to the AG and DCI for statewide clearinghouse.

Assigned Chapter Number 44
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SF 114

Summary — SF 114: Missing persons — reporting requirement (Enrolled Act No. 31 / Chapter 44)

Status and effective date
- Enacted as Chapter No. 44, Session Laws of Wyoming 2025.
- Governor signed; effective July 1, 2025.
- Passed Senate (27–0–4) and House (60–0–2). Companion: HF 210.
- Fiscal note: “No significant fiscal or personnel impact.”

Purpose
- Establish minimum statewide duties for Wyoming law enforcement to accept, record, share and escalate credible missing‑person reports; improve timeliness, interagency coordination, and inclusion of cases in the state clearinghouse.

Key provisions
1. New statute created (W.S. 7-2-109) — acceptance requirement
- Each Wyoming law enforcement agency must accept, without delay, any credible report of a missing person unless at least one specified exception applies.

  1. Exceptions (when a report need not be accepted)

    • The agency already knows/has confirmed the person’s location.
    • The agency has confirmed the person’s safe status.
    • The person reported missing is not a Wyoming resident and the most recent verifiable location was not in Wyoming.
    • Another law enforcement agency already has, is accepting, or will accept the missing‑person report.
    • The reporter cannot articulate reasonable knowledge of the missing person or a legitimate reason for concern for the person’s health, safety or welfare.
    • The agency suspects the reported person intended to lawfully flee.
    • The person is being sought for harassment, stalking, or retaliation.
    • Other articulable extenuating circumstances that would make acceptance impractical, unreasonable, or unsafe — must be documented.

  2. Primary jurisdiction and interagency handling

    • Primary jurisdiction: agency with authority over the most recent verifiable location; if none, agency over the last known residence. Other agencies may still accept reports.

  3. Data entry, timelines and escalation

    • Reports meeting criteria must be entered into relevant national, regional and state databases no later than 8 hours after receipt and after all required information is available.
    • If a person is not located within 30 days, the accepting agency must compile a complete record (including photograph if available) and forward it to the Attorney General and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for inclusion in the state clearinghouse (W.S. 9-1-624(a)(v)).

  4. Additional duties (added amendment)

    • Upon receipt, primary jurisdiction shall request a photograph and cellular telephone information and, without delay, notify appropriate law enforcement agencies of pertinent information and cellular ping results when appropriate.
    • The primary jurisdiction must evaluate notifying area news media and posting on the agency’s routine social media channels.

  5. Clearinghouse/public disclosure (W.S. 9-1-624 amendment)

    • DCI’s clearinghouse may make information about ongoing missing‑person investigations (including reports submitted under W.S. 7-2-109) publicly available to aid investigations or when in the public interest.

Who is affected
- All Wyoming law enforcement agencies and peace officers (duties and recordkeeping).
- Division of Criminal Investigation and Attorney General’s office (clearinghouse and intake).
- Individuals reported missing and their families (quicker acceptance, entry, possible public release).
- Media and the general public (possible expanded access to ongoing case information).

Potential impacts
- Standardizes prompt acceptance and data sharing of credible missing‑person reports across Wyoming.
- Requires timely database entry (within 8 hours) and a 30‑day escalation process for unresolved cases.
- Encourages use of phone/location data and media/social channels for dissemination.
- Fiscal note estimates no significant fiscal/personnel impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.