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HB 22

Recall of elected municipal officers.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Allemand and 6 co-sponsors

Establishes a formal recall process for Wyoming municipal officers, detailing petitions, thresholds, timelines, and recall elections to remove officials before term end.

S COW:Failed 10-20-1-0-0
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 22

Summary of HB 22 (Wyoming, 2026) — Recall of Elected Municipal Officers

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a formal recall process for elected municipal officers (and certain appointed officers with four-year terms) in Wyoming.
  • Create a standardized framework for initiating recall, verifying signatures, notifying parties, and conducting recall elections.
  • Provide mechanisms to repeal or remove mayors, council members, or other municipal officials before the end of their terms under defined conditions.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Applicability
    • Applies to elected municipal officers and to those appointed to offices with a four-year term.
  • Recall Petition Process
    • A recall petition may be filed with the clerk responsible for conducting the election for the office.
    • The petition must conform to a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and include a warning statement aligned with existing state recall warning requirements.
    • The petition must be signed by qualified electors, with specific signature thresholds based on the size of the electorate.
    • Signers must provide printed name, signature date, residence, and contact information; signers may withdraw with written notice before filing.
    • Circulators must take an oath affirming they personally circulated the petition and verified signatures.
    • All signatures must be collected within 180 days of the first signature.
    • Petition circulation and verification follow standards mirroring existing verification rules; county clerks verify sufficiency and the governing body reimburses verification costs.
  • Signature Thresholds (Recall Thresholds)
    • For 2,500 or fewer registered electors: 40% of electors entitled to vote for the officer.
    • For 2,500 through 10,000 registered electors: 25% of electors entitled to vote for the officer.
    • For more than 10,000 registered electors: 15% of electors entitled to vote for the officer.
  • Timeline and Scheduling of Recall Election
    • If a recall petition is deemed sufficient, the recall election is scheduled as follows:
    • If a regular election is due within 90 to 120 days after sufficiency, the recall is placed on that upcoming election.
    • If no regular election is scheduled within 120 days, a special recall election must be held within 90 to 120 days after sufficiency.
    • Notices for recall elections must follow standard election notice protocols, including publication and postings in designated locations.
    • Costs of the recall election are borne by the governing body of the political subdivision.
  • Election Mechanics and Ballot
    • The ballot for a recall election asks whether the officer should be removed from office.
    • The recall election is conducted under Wyoming Election Code provisions, subject to amendments specific to recall.
  • Outcome and Vacancies
    • If a majority votes for removal, the officer is removed and the office becomes vacant.
    • Vacancies are filled per applicable Wyoming law (e.g., W.S. 15-1-107 and related vacancy rules).
    • The recalled officer cannot fill the vacancy created by the recall.
  • Restrictions on Recall Timing
    • A recall petition may not be filed against an officer until the officer has served at least nine months of the term and no less than six months before the next election.
    • No more than one recall election may occur against the same officer during a single term.
  • Implementation and Rules
    • The Secretary of State is authorized to promulgate rules necessary to implement this section, including petition form, signature verification procedures, and administration of recall elections.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Municipal officers (elected) and certain appointed officials serving four-year terms, within Wyoming municipalities.
  • Municipalities’ governing bodies, clerks, county clerks, and election administrators involved in recall petitions and recall elections.
  • The Secretary of State, through rulemaking, to standardize forms and procedures.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Initiation Window: Recall petitions require a minimum waiting period (nine months served, and at least six months before next election) before filing.
  • Signature Verification Window: All signatures must be gathered within 180 days from the first signature.
  • Sufficiency Review: County clerks have up to 60 days after filing to determine petition sufficiency, using standardized verification rules; costs of verification are borne by the local governing body.
  • Election Timing: Recall elections align with existing election scheduling rules, potentially piggybacking on regular elections or triggering a 90–120 day window for a special recall election.
  • Ballot and Process: The recall ballot presents a removal question; if sufficient, recall is conducted per Wyoming election laws, with provisions for notice and cost allocation.

Fiscal Impact

  • The fiscal note indicates no additional net fiscal or personnel impact beyond standard election costs, though specific costs of recall elections would fall to the affected local government (governing body).

Status and Legislative Path

  • Passed out of House committee and floor votes in House with broad support.
  • In the Senate, the first committee (Corporations) recommended amendments with a favorable vote, but the full Senate did not pass the measure in the final decision. The bill underwent several corrected and engrossed variations addressing form, thresholds, and process.
  • As of the latest action, the bill failed in the Senate Common (COW) committee vote on March 3, 2026, with a 10-20-1-0-0 result, ending its current path in the session unless reintroduced or reconsidered.

This summary captures the bill’s core purpose, major provisions (recall thresholds, petition mechanics, timelines, and election procedures), who is affected, and key procedural milestones.

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

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