Bill > HB0181

This bill establishes regulations for the use of biometric data, geolocation data, and automatic license plate reader systems by governmental entities in Wyoming. Biometric data refers to biological or behavioral characteristics used to identify a person, such as fingerprints or facial geometry, while geolocation data pinpoints the specific location of a person or vehicle. Automatic license plate reader systems are cameras that convert license plate images into readable data to identify vehicles. The bill generally prohibits governmental entities from using these technologies for identification, location tracking, or fee collection on highways, and also forbids them from contracting with third-party vendors for such purposes. However, law enforcement agencies are permitted to use biometric and geolocation data under specific circumstances, such as investigating violent felonies, locating missing persons, or identifying deceased individuals, and generally require a warrant for such use, with exceptions for emergencies. Similarly, automatic license plate reader systems can be used by law enforcement to identify stolen vehicles, vehicles associated with wanted individuals, or in cases of criminal surveillance, also with a general warrant requirement. The bill mandates that governmental entities develop written policies for the use of these technologies, including data retention limits of no more than seven days for non-investigative data, access controls, and security measures. It also creates a civil cause of action for individuals harmed by violations and prohibits the use of improperly obtained data as evidence in legal proceedings, with an effective date of July 1, 2026, and an amendment to the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to include liability for violations of these new provisions.

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/HB0181