HB0119

Prohibits Wyoming courts from applying foreign law in a manner that would violate fundamental constitutional rights and protections.

• Defines 'foreign law' as any law, legal code, or legal system from jurisdictions outside the United States, including international organizations and tribunals. (W.S. 8-1-111(a))
• Declares that any ruling or decision by a Wyoming state court, arbitration panel, tribunal, or administrative agency based on foreign law is void and unenforceable if it denies parties fundamental liberties, rights, and privileges guaranteed by the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions, including equal protection, due process, free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and press, privacy rights, and marriage rights. (W.S. 8-1-111(b), W.S. 8-1-111(c))
• Carves out exceptions to the foreign law limitation for application of common law, law of federally recognized Indian tribes with Wyoming reservations, existing Wyoming Supreme Court opinions, and ecclesiastical matters of religious organizations. (W.S. 8-1-111(d)(i), W.S. 8-1-111(d)(ii), W.S. 8-1-111(d)(iii), W.S. 8-1-111(d)(iv))
• Provides exceptions allowing foreign law application when parties voluntarily agree to foreign law or foreign court jurisdiction, when federal law preempts state law including treaty obligations, or where contracts or agreements between parties require it. (W.S. 8-1-111(d)(v), W.S. 8-1-111(d)(vi), W.S. 8-1-111(d)(vii))
• Prohibits courts from transferring a civil action to another venue if the transfer would result in application of foreign law that violates or likely violates fundamental constitutional liberties, rights, and privileges. (W.S. 1-7-103(d))

Effective: July 1, 2026

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