HB0173

Increases parental liability penalties and damages for minors' destructive acts, failure to exercise control, and non-compliance with court orders and school policies.

• Increases the maximum property damage liability that parents can be required to pay from $2,000 to $5,000 when a minor aged 10-17 maliciously and willfully damages property. (W.S. 14-2-203(a))
• Increases maximum contempt of court penalties for parents or guardians who violate juvenile court orders from $500 fine and 90 days incarceration to $1,000 fine and 120 days incarceration. (W.S. 14-3-438, 14-6-242, 14-6-438)
• Increases the maximum cash deposit or bond that parents can be required to furnish when a juvenile is placed on probation from $500 to $1,000. (W.S. 14-6-244(b))
• Specifies that forfeited parental deposits or bonds are applied to damages caused by the juvenile, with remaining funds held by the court until the juvenile reaches 18 years old, then either paid to the school fund if probation terms were violated or returned to the parent if probation was completed. (W.S. 14-6-244(d))
• Increases the maximum penalty for parents who willfully fail to comply with school attendance and truancy provisions from 10 days to 25 days of community service. (W.S. 21-4-105)
• Requires school district anti-bullying policies to include consequences and remedial actions, including potential law enforcement referral, for parents or guardians whose neglect or refusal to discipline their child contributed to harassment, intimidation, bullying, or retaliation. (W.S. 21-4-314(b)(xi))

Effective: July 1, 2026

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