Current Social Justice Issues in State Legislation

 Current Social Justice Issues In Wyoming State Legislation

Emma Short

University of Nebraska at Kearney

SOWK-420: Diversity and Social Justice

November 21, 2025


  • Identify the proposed bill by its specific number, LB###, and provide a summary of the proposed legislation. Where applicable and appropriate, this should include a summary of the problem experienced by the population affected by your choice of legislation. 

I am from Wyoming. I decided to choose a bill that was proposed in Wyoming. The bill I chose is HB0064 - Chemical Abortions - Ultrasound Requirements. “This bill summarizes that at least 48 hours before a pregnant woman procures the drugs necessary for a chemical abortion (an abortion completed through the use of a drug or medication to terminate a pregnancy that can be confirmed through conventional medical testing), the pregnant woman must receive an ultrasound.” (wyoleg.gov). There were many bills this year that addressed the topic of abortion. As we all have probably heard, abortion has become illegal in many states, including Wyoming. This has had a significant impact on women in Wyoming. This has caused many issues in Wyoming, for example, I talked to one of my coworkers who was pregnant this year. When talking to her doctor about the possibility of her child having any medical issues that will cause them to suffer, she brought up the topic of abortion in case of an emergency. She did not want her child to suffer if something was wrong. She told me that when she brought the subject up with her doctor, he refused to answer; he said that, legally, he was not allowed to discuss it until something happened. She said that left her uneasy, but he understood why he was scared to answer any questions. In Wyoming, as explained in this bill. “The act creates a misdemeanor offense for violating the ultrasound requirement specified in this act.” (wyoleg.gov).

  • State whether you support or oppose the proposed legislation and explain why.

My view on abortion is pro-choice. I have always been taught that my body is mine and that I have control over it. Now I don’t oppose or support this bill one way or another. I appreciate that the Wyoming Legislature is taking the time to discuss these topics and reach an understandable agreement, rather than not talking about them and leaving women in the dark. However, I disagree with the talk about crime and about how the ultrasound decides for the women. “The ultrasound must be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice and must allow the pregnant woman to view the active ultrasound of the unborn baby and view the fetal heart monitor or hear the heartbeat of the unborn baby if the heartbeat is audible.” (wyoleg.gov). Some women don’t want to hear their baby’s heartbeat, especially in situations like this. I understand that it is now the law, but I think that it is insensitive to the population that this bill affects.

  • Report the current status of the bill (did it never leave committee, did it get to General File, Select File, was it amended, was it passed, vetoed by the Governor, etc.)

The bill HB0064 was assigned on 12/19/24

The House passed the bill HB0064 on 1/28/25

The Senate passed the bill on 2/25/25

The Governor voted on 3/04/25

The bill was passed on 3/06/25

References 

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







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