Bill > HB0335

This bill establishes the Wyoming Educational Religious Freedom Act, which aims to prohibit what the legislature defines as "sectarian instruction" in public educational institutions. The bill broadly defines sectarian practices as any pedagogical approach that mandates specific beliefs about human development, identity, social interaction, or requires participation in activities involving emotional disclosure or identity exploration. Educational institutions would be prohibited from implementing curricula or practices that compel students to accept particular viewpoints about power dynamics, privilege, social structures, or group identity, and from establishing equity-based grading systems or mandatory identity-focused activities. The state board of education would be responsible for establishing standards to identify violations, creating a complaint process, and enforcing penalties for non-compliance. Penalties escalate progressively, starting with mandatory compliance training and monitoring for first-time violations, potentially leading to changes in accreditation status or even non-accredited status for repeated or willful violations. Parents and guardians would have the right to file complaints and request hearings if they believe an educational institution has violated the act. The bill does not prevent academic instruction about historical or scientific concepts or voluntary student participation in discussions. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and is framed as protecting students' rights of conscience and maintaining religious neutrality in public education.

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0335