Bill > SF0012

This bill creates two new crimes in Wyoming: "trespassing to unlawfully collect resource data" and "unlawful collection of resource data," which apply when someone enters private "open land" (land outside incorporated cities, towns, or approved developments) to gather information about the land or its use, such as data on agriculture, minerals, or wildlife, without the owner's permission or legal authorization. The bill defines "collect" as gathering information or taking samples intended for government agencies, and "resource data" broadly covers various land-related information but excludes data for property boundary surveys, government property assessments, or data collected by law enforcement officers. Importantly, any resource data collected in violation of these new laws cannot be used as evidence in any legal or administrative proceeding, except for the prosecution of the violation itself, and if a government entity possesses such unlawfully collected data, it must be destroyed and disregarded in any agency actions. Violators face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses.