--- title: Government Transparency, Regulation & Legal Reform - Wyoming Liberty Group description: Explore Wyoming government transparency, regulation, and legal reform through research, articles, interviews, and news from Wyoming Liberty Group. canonical_url: https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/government-transparency-regulation-legal-reform language: en-GB notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/government-transparency-regulation-legal-reform. markdown-tokens: 3128 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://www.wyliberty.org/core-topics/government-transparency-regulation-legal-reform. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. ## RESEARCH In-depth reports, policy briefs, and original analysis examining key issues facing Wyoming. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ## Removing Barriers: A Case for Skills-Based Hiring in Wyoming January, 2026: Wyoming's workforce is changing, but many state hiring practices have not kept pace. Across public agencies, degree requirements are often used as a default screening tool, even for positions where the work can be performed just as effectively through experience, certifications, military service, or on-the-job training. In a state with a large rural population and an aging workforce, these requirements can unnecessarily narrow the hiring pool and limit opportunity for capable Wyoming residents. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/removing-barriers-a-case-for-skills-based-hiring-in-wyoming) ## Cleaning the Fishbowl November, 2017: There is a well-adopted premise in Wyoming case law that, “State agencies must act in a fishbowl.” This enables transparency when governmental officials and public figures are completing work on behalf of their constituents. It also lends credence to the moral belief that the means do not necessarily justify the end. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/Wyoming_Policy_Review_CLEANING_THE_FISHBOWL_Brief-02.pdf) ## Key Liberty Votes 2013 April, 2013: Welcome to the 2013 Key Liberty Votes. The purpose of Key Liberty Votes is to capture a snapshot of a Wyoming legislative session by compiling votes on specific bills relating to issues of individual freedom and responsibility. In the tables contained in this brief, the right hand column is the legislator's total pro-liberty votes. Six is the highest possible count. The average tally is at the bottom of this column. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB012-Key-Liberty-Votes-revd.pdf) ## Key Liberty Votes 2012 June, 2012: Welcome to the 2012 Key Liberty Votes. The purpose of Key Liberty Votes is to capture a snapshot of a Wyoming legislative session by compiling votes on specific bills relating to issues of individual freedom and responsibility. In the tables contained in this brief, the right hand column is the legislator's total pro-liberty votes. Six is the highest possible count. The average tally is at the bottom of this column. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB009-Key-Liberty-Votes.pdf) ## One Thousand Roads to Liberty: The Unexamined Case for RS 2477 and Sovereignty October, 2011: This paper focuses on one method to secure an important aspect of state sovereignty: heightened control over public lands. Wyoming is no stranger to the continued loss of key aspects of its sovereignty. From deciding its own wildlife management priorities to how best to educate children, rising federal authority has gradually diminished local control. But what if one legal tool had not yet been used by many states to regain their sovereignty? [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB006-RS2477.pdf) ## Key Liberty Votes 2011 July, 2011: Welcome to the 2011 Key Liberty Votes. The purpose of Key Liberty Votes is to capture a snapshot of a Wyoming legislative session by compiling votes on specific bills elating to issues of individual freedom and responsibility. In the tables contained in this brief, the right hand column is the legislator's total pro-liberty votes. Six is the highest possible count. The average tally is at the bottom of this column. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/images/PDF_Downloads/LB004-Key-Liberty-Votes.pdf) ## ARTICLES Shorter commentary, explainers, and timely analysis on current policy debates. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. ## There is No Direct Democracy Solution for Local Control of Data Centers in Wyoming July, 2026: There has been quite an outcry against the influx of workers and the infrastructure needed to build data centers in Laramie County. Memories are long, and the energy boom—and accompanying population boom—in Rock Springs in the 1970s is an enduring and controversial part of Wyoming history. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/there-is-no-direct-democracy-solution-for-local-control-of-data-centers-in-wyoming) ## Wyoming Legislature Begins to Confront Public Records Access in the Digital Age September, 2025: On August 14, at the second 2025-2026 interim meeting of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee of the Wyoming Legislature, the members considered some draft bills from the Legislative Service Office that would amend the Wyoming Public Records Act. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-legislature-begins-to-confront-public-records-access-in-the-digital-age) ## BLM’s Newest Land Schemes Guaranteed to Harm Wyoming September, 2024: On August 22, the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") officially released its Resource Management Plan for the Rock Springs Field Office. As noted by Representative Hageman, the plan will "substantially reduce economically productive and environmentally safe land uses such as grazing, energy production, mining, recreation, and other important activities on nearly a million acres in our state." [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/blms-newest-land-schemes-guaranteed-to-harm-wyoming) ## Manipulating the Masses - The rise of social media algorithms and AI May, 2024: A lawyer for Rep. Harriet Hageman, Wyoming's member of the U.S. House of Representatives, recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to a candidate running for the U.S. Senate, demanding that he stop issuing social media posts suggesting that Hageman is backing his candidacy. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/manipulating-the-masses-the-rise-of-social-media-algorithms-and-ai) ## THE WYOMING STATE GUARD – Critical Manpower at Minimal Cost February, 2024: It is important to begin this discussion with a recognition of the legal and constitutional definitions of the militia – what it is, and what it is not, and its historical basis. State militias date back to colonial times, and are firmly established in the U.S. Constitution, state constitution, and current federal and state statutes. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation/the-wyoming-state-guard-critical-manpower-at-minimal-cost) ## Wyoming “Synthetic Media” Bill Aims at Deep Fakes, Hits Free Speech February, 2024: The proposed bills for the 2024 Budget Session of the Wyoming Legislature include what amounts to a laundry list of cultural grievances. I don't say it lightly, and often regret saying it, but some things are appropriate for legislation—sometimes, there really "*aughta be a law*," as the Schoolhouse Rock narrative goes. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-synthetic-media-bill-aims-at-deep-fakes-hits-free-speech) ## Three Unnamed Petitioners v. Peterson (The John Doe Cases) March, 2015: Wisconsin prosecutors, engaging in a secret “John Doe investigation” normally reserved for pursuing organized crime activities and other wrongdoings, instigated police raids on numerous homes and seized computers, cellular phones and documents in an effort to determine whether certain politically-minded citizens and groups had engaged in illegal campaign finance “coordination” with, presumably, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s campaign. The investigations represent the pinnacle of the lengths to which prosecutors will go to use campaign finance investigations to punish free speech. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/three-unnamed-petitioners-v-peterson-the-john-doe-cases) ## Cary v. Texas November, 2014: In 2007, David and Stacy Cary broke several campaign finance laws under the Texas Election Code, indirectly contributing excessive funds to a judicial candidate. The candidate won the election handily, but was then indicted along with the Carys. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/cary-v-texas) ## Brophy v. Maxfield July, 2014: In the 2014 election cycle, Dan and Carleen Brophy generously supported a number of candidates for the Wyoming House and Senate, complying with the $1,000 contribution limit per candidate under state law. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/brophy-v-maxfield) ## Wills v. Maxfield June, 2014: In Wyoming, Republican and Democrat candidates can raise money for state primary races and, by extension, the general election any time between elections. But candidates like Jennifer Young, who was nominated as the Constitution Party candidate for Wyoming Secretary of State through party convention, do not run in a primary and cannot raise contributions outside of their own families until after the primary date. Similarly, Wyoming residents like Don Wills want to contribute to Young and other minor party and independent candidates, but cannot do so until the date of the primary. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/wills-v-maxfield) ## Williams v. City of Cheyenne January, 2014: If a Cheyenne resident displays a political sign on his lawn at the wrong time he risks a misdemeanor charge and $100 fine. Even during the allowed timeframe, if his lot is less than one acre and he places more than two political signs, this violation might also bring the same charge. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/williams-v-city-of-cheyenne) ## Dep’t of Health and Human Services v. Florida (NFIB v. Sebelius) February, 2012: WyLiberty joined this brief by our friends at Pacific Legal Foundation and the Cato Institute, along with 13 other organizations and 333 state legislators. It argues against Obamacare’s individual mandate, the requirement that most Americans purchase qualifying health insurance or pay a yearly penalty beginning in 2014. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/dep-t-of-health-and-human-services-v-florida-nfib-v-sebelius) ## Amici brief in McDonald v. City of Chicago November, 2009: In this brief, the Wyoming Liberty Group joins the Goldwater Institute to argue in favor of incorporating the Second Amendment right to bear arms, meaning the Court should recognize that the U.S. Constitution protects not only from infringement by the federal government onto gun rights, but also from state and local governments. [Read More](https://wyliberty.org/amici-brief-in-mcdonald-v-city-of-chicago) ## INTERVIEWS Conversations with experts, policymakers, and stakeholders on complex policy topics. ## WYLIBERTY IN THE MEDIA Op-eds, commentary, and media appearances featuring WyLiberty’s policy perspective. ## Transparency bill sent back for major overhaul January 22, 2019: A bill that would have set a deadline for public agencies to turn over public documents was pulled back Tuesday to allow for a major overhaul. The Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, faced with concerns by state and local government agencies about a proposed 10-day deadline for the release of public documents and criminal penalties for the law’s violation, agreed to begin work on the bill again using language proposed by the Wyoming Liberty Group. [READ MORE](https://cowboystatedaily.com/2019/01/22/transparency-bill-set-back-for-major-overhaul/) ## Transparency bill sent back for major overhaul January 22, 2019: A bill that would have set a deadline for public agencies to turn over public documents was pulled back Tuesday to allow for a major overhaul. The Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, faced with concerns by state and local government agencies about a proposed 10-day deadline for the release of public documents and criminal penalties for the law’s violation, agreed to begin work on the bill again using language proposed by the Wyoming Liberty Group. [READ MORE](https://cowboystatedaily.com/2019/01/22/transparency-bill-set-back-for-major-overhaul/) ## WYLIBERTY POLICY COMPASS Structured evaluations applying WyLiberty’s Policy Compass framework to proposed policies and legislation. ***(Click the Arrows to view our work)*** ## CARTOONS Political cartoons offering a satirical take on energy, taxation, and Wyoming’s economy. ## Related Government Transparency, Regulation & Legal Reform News Recent reporting on government transparency, public records, accountability, regulation, and legal reform in Wyoming and beyond. Loading the latest news… External articles open in a new tab. Coverage may include news, opinion, and institutional updates. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.