Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday signed a law that protects the requirements listed in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) at a state level ahead of a forthcoming decision from the U.S. Supreme Court about the future of the federal act.

The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would codify provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into state law as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the fate of the federal act later this year.

Gov. Mark Gordon on Saturday signed into law an act that establishes a state task force to study the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Wyoming’s and other states’ legislation and protections as the act faces court challenges.

The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would codify provisions in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) as state law ahead of the Supreme Court’s impending deliberations about the constitutionality of the federal act.

Two committees on Wednesday advanced bills that would lead to the review or codification of provisions outlined in the Indian Child Welfare Act as the federal law faces legal challenges in court.

Wyoming legislators will have a full plate when they return to the statehouse in January for a 40-day general session. As the Wyoming Truth previously detailed, lawmakers are exploring a number of major changes: expanding access to mental health services, helping alleviate home tax rates and addressing a budget crunch impacting public education.