The Wyoming Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion (GRANITE) Act aims to protect Wyoming residents and businesses from foreign censorship laws that violate their constitutional rights. It establishes a legal framework that allows individuals to take legal action against foreign states and international organizations that enforce such laws, emphasizing that these laws are presumptively unconstitutional under both the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions. The Act provides clear rules regarding jurisdiction, standing, and remedies, including joint and several liability for foreign entities and civil penalties for violations. It also allows affected individuals to bring lawsuits in state courts and mandates that courts presume foreign censorship laws violate constitutional protections.

Additionally, the GRANITE Act prohibits Wyoming courts from recognizing or enforcing any foreign judgments that impose liability based on protected expression, and it prevents state entities from cooperating with foreign entities in enforcing such judgments. The Act allows individuals to seek declaratory or injunctive relief against the state, waiving sovereign immunity for these claims. It also outlines the calculation of statutory damages for plaintiffs, adjusting for inflation, and includes provisions for attorney fees and costs for prevailing plaintiffs. The Act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with certain sections effective immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 1-5-107