Two bills proposed for Wyoming’s 2025 legislative session aim to broaden the scope of protection orders to include victims of sexual assault and stalking, marking a significant shift in how the state addresses personal safety and victim advocacy, Gillette News Record reports.
Drafted at the request of the state’s judicial branch, the bills seek to alleviate burdens on victims while enhancing legal protections.
Currently, protection orders, a type of restraining order issued by a court, are available primarily to victims of domestic abuse if a judge deems them to be in danger. These orders can last up to three years, but victims must renew them and may face additional legal hurdles if the perpetrator is incarcerated.
One of the key measures, Senate File 12, titled “Permanent protection orders,” would allow certain orders to be made permanent. This provision is designed to relieve victims from the current requirement to pause, or “toll,” protection orders if the offender is detained. The bill also aims to expand eligibility, permitting those who have experienced violence from individuals convicted of a violent felony—not just domestic abusers—to seek such orders.
“This whole concept of a permanent protection order was to try to remedy the tolling,” said Wyoming Division of Victim Services Director Cara Chambers.
She emphasized that the change could particularly benefit surviving family members or other victims previously ineligible for such protection.
A second proposal, Senate File 7, focuses on making it easier for younger victims to secure protection. It would allow prosecutors to file protection orders on behalf of victims under 21 and extend the time frame for scheduling a hearing from 72 hours to 10 days. Chambers noted that the bill addresses the shortage of legal support for victims, while Sen. Bill Landen, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted the practical need to accommodate backlogged court dockets.
“These stalking statutes have received attention several times over the last decade… We need to keep working to make sure those statutes are up to speed. And I think that’s what this does,” Landen said.
If passed, the proposed bills would represent a significant step in aligning Wyoming’s legal framework with the evolving needs of victims of violence and abuse. By expanding eligibility and streamlining the process for obtaining long-term protection, the legislation aims to provide more comprehensive safeguards for those at risk.
“This is good work at the request of the courts and the Judiciary Committee… These protection orders are important, particularly in the area of stalking,” Landen added.
