---
title: WyLiberty Attorney Testifies in Favor of Civil Forfeiture Reform Bills - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: WyLiberty attorney Steve Klein testified for two civil forfeiture reform bills; one requires a criminal conviction before Wyoming property may be forfeited.
canonical_url: https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/wyliberty-attorney-testifies-in-favor-of-civil-forfeiture-reform-bills
language: en-GB
notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/wyliberty-attorney-testifies-in-favor-of-civil-forfeiture-reform-bills.
markdown-tokens: 2360
---

> **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/wyliberty-attorney-testifies-in-favor-of-civil-forfeiture-reform-bills. 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.


\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Learn About ### Property Rights <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/wyliberty-attorney-testifies-in-favor-of-civil-forfeiture-reform-bills?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # WyLiberty Attorney Testifies in Favor of Civil Forfeiture Reform Bills \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) Friday, 18 July 2014 NEWCASTLE, WY – Wyoming Liberty Group staff attorney Steve Klein testified before the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee of the Wyoming Legislature today regarding two committee bill drafts that would substantially change the practice of civil forfeiture in Wyoming. "The Wyoming Controlled Substances Act currently allows police officers to seize property simply because they believe it's intended for use in a drug crime," said Klein. "Then the property owner must go to court and essentially prove the property is legitimate. Police have seized cars, cash and even firearms in Wyoming without even charging the owner of a crime and these bills would end this practice." The first proposed bill would keep the practice of civil forfeiture, but would heighten reporting requirements by law enforcement, place a greater burden on the government to permanently take someone's property, and put forfeited funds under the authority of the legislature. "The first bill would bring the practice of civil forfeiture in Wyoming into the light and allow for meaningful oversight of the practice, as well as provide significant protection for property owners," said Klein. "However, the fact remains the police could still seize and forfeit property without convicting the owner of a crime, a fundamental violation of property rights and due process." The second proposed bill, an alternative to the first, would end civil forfeiture and require a person to be convicted of a crime before losing his property. In criminal court, defendants are entitled to an attorney if they cannot afford one and may have their case heard before a jury. The bill also requires the Attorney General to report forfeiture data each year to the Judiciary Committee. "Both bills are strong reforms, but the second one is by far the best," said Klein. The proposed bills incorporate suggestions provided by Klein at the previous Judiciary Committee meeting in May, which were based on a brief published late last year. The committee will continue to consider both bills at its next meeting, September 11-12 in Laramie. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[Civil Asset Forfeiture\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/civil-asset-forfeiture) \[Civil Forfeiture\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/civil-forfeiture) \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/property-rights) \[News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) \[ A Sober Look at the Addictive Pot Tax \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/a-sober-look-at-the-addictive-pot-tax) \[ Does Race or Ethnicity Play a role in Juvenile Sen... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/does-race-or-ethnicity-play-a-role-in-juvenile-sentencing) #### Related Posts ### \[WY 2026 HB 11 - Eminent Domain - Landowner Bill of Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights/wy-2026-hb-11-eminent-domain-landowner-bill-of-rights) \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) ### \[Civil Forfeiture in Wyoming: Firearms Seizures Raise Second Amendment Concerns and Will Test the State’s New “Red Flag” Seizure Prohibition\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-in-wyoming-firearms-seizures-raise-second-amendment-concerns-and-will-test-the-state-s-new-red-flag-seizure-prohibition) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[CEI Recognizes Our Recent Publication\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/cei-recognizes-our-recent-publication) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Civil Forfeiture in Wyoming: Cash by Incomplete Numbers, 2018-2022\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-in-wyoming-cash-by-incomplete-numbers-2018-2022) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Civil Forfeiture Explained with Attorney Steve Klein - Episode 051\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/civil-forfeiture-explained-with-attorney-steve-klein-episode-051) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) ### \[Wyoming Supreme Court Decision Should Prompt the End of Civil Forfeiture\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/wyoming-supreme-court-decision-should-prompt-the-end-of-civil-forfeiture) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))