HB0102

Changes the Attorney General from an appointed position to an elected state office beginning in 2026, designates the Attorney General as a state elected official, and modifies various statutes to reflect this change and reduce gubernatorial approval requirements for certain AG actions.

• Beginning at the 2026 general election, the Attorney General shall be elected in a statewide election for a four-year term instead of being appointed by the governor with senate consent. Until the 2026 election, the position remains appointed. (W.S. 9-1-601(a), Section 1)
• Designates the Attorney General as one of six state elected officials (along with Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction) for purposes of various state laws and commissions. (W.S. 7-22-101(a)(vi), W.S. 8-1-102(a)(xii), Section 2)
• Sets the Attorney General's salary at $175,000.00. (W.S. 9-3-101(a)(viii))
• Establishes the Attorney General in the line of succession to the governor, placed fifth in order after the Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. (W.S. 9-1-211(a), Section 2)
• Vacancies in the Attorney General office shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment subject to senate confirmation through a process where the state central committee submits names of qualified persons for gubernatorial selection. (W.S. 9-1-602, W.S. 22-18-111(a)(i), W.S. 28-12-102(d))
• Removes the requirement that the Attorney General obtain gubernatorial approval before retaining qualified practicing attorneys for fee-generating suits and before appointing assistant attorneys general and special assistants. (W.S. 1-35-104, W.S. 9-1-603(b), W.S. 9-1-608(a)(b), Section 2)
• Modifies statutes to allow the Attorney General to take certain actions independently or upon the Attorney General's own direction rather than requiring gubernatorial approval, including investigations and prosecutions, water rights proceedings, and directing criminal investigations. (W.S. 1-31-103, W.S. 1-35-103, W.S. 9-1-603(c), W.S. 9-1-605(b)(c)(d), W.S. 9-1-618(b)(i), W.S. 18-3-902(a), Section 2)