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Read. Follow. Verify.Wyoming Bill HB 52 establishes mandatory hand-count recount rules and creates state recount fund
Last action · March 3, 2026: S COW:S Did not consider for COWSponsor: Corporations
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What This Bill Proposed
Wyoming House Bill 52 requires mandatory hand counts for specific close election recounts in federal, statewide, and legislative races, authorizes state and county officials to order recounts, and establishes a continuously appropriated state recount account funded by a $200,000 general fund effective July 1, 2026.
Candidates requesting recounts and local governments face new statutory cost responsibilities, deposit thresholds up to $5,000, and specific procedural requirements for hand counting ballots.
- The Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee is a standing interim committee of the Wyoming Legislature that develops legislation between legislative sessions. context
- The Political Subdivisions Interim Committee oversees local government and election-related policy matters in Wyoming. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Candidates for public office
Candidates must file affidavits and pay specified deposits to obtain recounts and face financial liability if results do not change.
County clerks
County clerks must appoint counting boards for recounts, determine certain deposit amounts, issue cost accountings, and manage recount execution.
Secretary of State
The secretary of state is authorized to require specific recounts, promulgate rules, and administer the new election recount account.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a hand count required for a recount under HB 52?
Who pays for the recount if the results do not change?
What is the purpose of the newly created election recount account?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
18 actions- Mar 3, 2026SenateS COW:S Did not consider for COW
- Mar 2, 2026SenateS02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-0-2-0-0
- Mar 2, 2026SenateS Placed on General File
- Feb 27, 2026SenateS07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0
- Feb 27, 2026Senate:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations
- Feb 24, 2026SenateS Received for Introduction
Show 12 earlier actions
- Feb 24, 2026SenateS Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations
- Feb 23, 2026HouseH 3rd Reading:Passed 49-9-4-0-0
- Feb 21, 2026HouseH 3rd Reading:Laid Back
- Feb 20, 2026HouseH 2nd Reading:Passed
- Feb 19, 2026HouseH COW:Passed
- Feb 12, 2026HouseH02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0
- Feb 12, 2026HouseH Placed on General File
- Feb 11, 2026HouseH07 - Corporations:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0
- Feb 11, 2026House:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations
- Feb 9, 2026HouseH Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations 46-16-0-0-0
- Jan 22, 2026HouseH Received for Introduction
- Jan 20, 2026Bill Number Assigned
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wyoleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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