Lawmakers look to curb fraud enabled by Wyoming’s limited business regulations

Businesses from around the world have access to Wyoming’s tax structure by relying on registered agents who operate in the state and shield their clients from public scrutiny. For now, a registered agent must only have contact information for the business. A bill to require registered agents to keep more detailed information on file failed to advance in the Wyoming House of Representatives during the Legislature’s 2026 budget session, but lawmakers plan to study the issue further in the interim.

Senate File 82 sought to require registered agents to retain the names and addresses of each entity’s owners, unless the entity has more than 100 owners or maintains a fixed, physical business location in Wyoming. The bill aimed at criminal activity around the state, particularly in Sheridan County, where a single office building at 30 N. Gould St. is the listed address for hundreds of thousands of limited liability companies.

Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, said the bill achieved its broader goal of opening eyes and getting people talking. Secretary of State Chuck Gray testified that Wyoming had more than 830,000 business filings in fiscal year 2025, generating about $59.6 million, but estimated filings could drop 35-40% if the bill became law.

The House Corporations Committee voted to table the bill until the interim, allowing time for more stakeholder input and potentially implementing technology similar to programs used in Nevada and Delaware to identify patterns and prevent fraud upfront.