WY HB0014

Counties must reimburse individuals for all reasonable defense costs—including attorney fees, bail, lost time, and expungement expenses—when criminal charges are dismissed or result in acquittal based on lawful self-defense under W.S. 6-2-602

Individuals who successfully assert self-defense may petition for expungement of all arrest, charge, and prosecution records, with no filing fee required; courts must advise acquitted defendants of this right immediately upon verdict

Expungement petitions must be served on the district attorney or arresting law enforcement agency, which has 20 days to file an objection; if no objection is filed, courts may grant expungement summarily

Self-defense protections are clarified to explicitly include defense of oneself, another person, and real or personal property when using reasonable force

Juries must complete a special verdict form in self-defense acquittals specifying whether the defendant was protecting themselves, family, property, or aiding another facing imminent danger or violent felony