HB0108

Prohibits payment settlement entities and financial institutions from classifying firearms and ammunition merchants differently from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers, and establishes penalties for violations.

• Creates Chapter 32 of Wyoming Statute Title 40 establishing merchant code limitations, defining key terms including acquirer, merchant acquiring entity, payment settlement entity, and third party settlement organization. (W.S. 40-32-101(a), Sec. 1)
• Prohibits payment settlement entities, merchant acquiring entities, and third party settlement organizations from assigning merchant category codes to firearms or ammunition sellers that differ from codes assigned to general merchandise or sporting goods retailers, except as required by federal law. (W.S. 40-32-101(b), Sec. 1)
• Prohibits entities involved in processing payment card transactions from assigning or requiring merchants to use merchant category codes that specifically classify them as firearms or ammunition retailers or similar classifications, and allows firearms and ammunition merchants to use codes assigned to general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. (W.S. 40-32-101(c), Sec. 1)
• Establishes a misdemeanor penalty of one thousand dollars for each merchant category code violation or each instance of improper classification of a firearms, ammunition, or similar retailer. (W.S. 40-32-101(d), Sec. 1)
• Expands the existing prohibition on discrimination by financial institutions against firearm entities to include declining payment card transactions based solely on the assignment or non-assignment of a firearms or ammunition merchant code. (W.S. 13-10-302(a)(ii), Sec. 2)
• Exempts contracts entered into before July 1, 2025 from the bill's requirements, except when those contracts are renewed, extended, or modified. (Sec. 3)

Effective: July 1, 2025

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