A Proposed Major Shift In University of Wyoming Campus Policy
Just as the University of Wyoming begins to settle into its first full year under new campus carry regulations, a fresh wave of legislation in Cheyenne seeks to drastically expand who can go armed on campus.
Leading the charge is House Bill 96, a proposal introduced just last week by Representative Jeremy Haroldson (R-Wheatland) and 10 other Republican co-sponsors. The bill aims to lower the legal age for a concealed firearm permit from 21 down to 18. While it would apply to all of Wyoming, the most immediate and visible impact would be seen within the residential halls and classrooms at the University of Wyoming.
In 2025, the Wyoming Legislature passed a law preventing the university from enforcing a total ban on firearms. However, that law came with a significant caveat: to carry on campus, a person would still need a valid state-issued permit, meaning those under 21 could not carry a gun.
Because Wyoming law previously restricted those permits to adults 21 and older, the majority of the undergraduate population, specifically freshmen and sophomores, have remained legally barred from carrying weapons in campus buildings.
House Bill (HB) 96 targets that specific restriction. If passed, 18-year-old students who meet the state’s background and training requirements would be eligible for permits, effectively making “freshman carry” a reality by July 1, 2026.
“You can go fight and die for your country at 18, but you can’t get a concealed carry permit… The bill would clarify last year’s legislation and bolster 18-year-olds’ Second Amendment rights.” Rep. Haroldson said.
The bill’s sponsors argue that if an 18-year-old is old enough to vote and serve in the military, they should be entrusted with the right to self-defense.
Despite the momentum from pro-Second Amendment groups like Gun Owners of America (GOA), HB 96 faces a steep climb. Considering that 2026 is a Budget Session, non-spending bills require a two-thirds majority vote in the House just to be introduced for debate.
The legislature formally convened on Feb. 9, and the coming days will determine whether the bill has enough political support to clear the initial 66% hurdle. If it fails this first vote, the proposal is effectively “dead” for the year, leaving the 21+ rule in place for another legislative season.
The push for expansion has not been met with full approval in Laramie. The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees has expressed ongoing concerns about the “delicate balance” of campus safety. During preliminary discussions, some trustees and faculty members voiced worries that lowering the age could introduce firearms into high-pressure social and academic environments such as dormitories and high-stakes testing centers, where “emerging adults” are still developing, and with that, a potentially impending risk.
“We’ve heard overwhelmingly from faculty, staff, and students that this doesn’t make them feel safer,” said Trustee Macey Moore during a recent board meeting, emphasizing the unique mental health and stress pressures found on a college campus back in Nov. of 2024.
If HB 96 clears its introduction this week, it will move to committee for further testimony. It is being tracked alongside HB 95, a sister bill that would allow anyone over 21 to carry on campus without a permit (Constitutional Carry).
For students at UW, the outcome of this month’s session will dictate the rules for the upcoming fall semester. Whether the campus remains a place where carrying is a “21-and-up” privilege or becomes an environment where 18-year-old students may be armed now rests in the hands of the 62 representatives in Cheyenne.
