SF0196

Amends the Second Amendment Protection Act to establish civil liability for governmental entities and officers that enforce federal firearms regulations, with exceptions for certain federal law enforcement cooperation.

• Creates a new statute establishing that governmental entities are liable for damages resulting from violations of the Second Amendment Protection Act. (W.S. 1-39-124, Sec. 1)
• Expands the definition of 'this act' in the Second Amendment Protection Act to include the new liability provision. (W.S. 1-39-103(a)(ix), Sec. 2)
• Modifies governmental immunity under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to exclude immunity for violations of the Second Amendment Protection Act, removing it from the list of exceptions to immunity. (W.S. 1-39-104(a), Sec. 2)
• Prohibits state and local governmental entities from using state or federal funds to enforce, administer, or cooperate with federal regulations on firearms, accessories, magazines, and ammunition that infringe on Second Amendment rights, except as provided in the statute. (W.S. 9-14-203(a), Sec. 2)
• Permits public officers to provide assistance to federal authorities for purposes unrelated to firearms regulation and allows Wyoming entities to accept federal law enforcement funds. (W.S. 9-14-203(b), Sec. 2)
• Establishes civil liability for peace officers and public officers who violate the act, imposing a civil penalty of fifty thousand dollars per violation and allowing courts to award damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees. Eliminates sovereign immunity as a defense. (W.S. 9-14-203(c), Sec. 2)
• Imposes a fifty thousand dollar civil penalty per affected employee on agencies that employ officers who previously served as federal officials and who knowingly enforce or assist in enforcing federal firearms regulations on or after July 1, 2025. (W.S. 9-14-203(d), Sec. 2)
• Creates exceptions to the act's prohibitions for providing material aid in pursuit of suspects with interstate/international criminal nexus, assisting federal prosecutors in drug and weapons-related felonies, and accepting federal law enforcement assistance.