Public Safety

The purpose of this bill is to increase the penalties for contempt of court in magistrate court.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the law-enforcement authority of correctional officers of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The purpose of this bill is to raise the salaries of certain state employees: WV State Police and certain personnel; public school teachers; and school service personnel.

The purpose of this bill is to address Code consistency given the passage of SB240 during 2025 Regular Session to ensure that the current crimes of "sexual extortion" and "aggravated sexual extortion" are offenses that require registration as a sex offender by person convicted of one of these offenses and also clarifies that a prior conviction for the crime of sexual assault of a spouse, which was repealed by an act of the Legislature during the 2000 legislative session shall remain an offense that requires registration as a sex offender.

The purpose of this bill is to provide educational training regarding the fiduciary and other duties of executors and administrators of estates and requiring the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to provide this online training.

The purpose of this bill is to create the crime of gift card fraud, providing definitions, and establishing punishments.

The purpose of this bill is to modify the criminal and administrative penalties for assault or battery on athletic officials or participants.

The purpose of this bill is to provide that military protection orders may be considered as evidence of need for an emergency protective order or personal safety order and to require law enforcement to make certain notifications when arresting someone who has a military protective order entered against them in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center database.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify a sheriff's authority to hire within their own office.

The purpose of this bill is to guarantee that foster children age 13 and older are notified of and supported in attending court hearings that affect them, with counsel present and an explanation of the outcome provided afterward.

The purpose of this bill is to provide for the termination of parental rights upon certain convictions of crime.

The purpose of this bill is to allow the Supreme Court of Appeals to create pay scales for judicial support staff. This change will encourage employee recruitment and retention efforts and provide more clarity and consistency in pay structure based on job duties and educational requirements.

The purpose of this bill is to establish that a psychiatric hospital with an average annual inpatient census patient mix of greater than 95 percent of court-ordered forensic and civil involuntary commitments from state custody or from a state-owned hospital qualifies as a "state-designated facility" for purposes of the statute.

The purpose of this bill is to recognize legal standing of the West Virginia Legislature in court actions related to unauthorized changes to election laws and rules; and identify the Legislature as a necessary party.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the appointment, qualifications, certification, authority, compensation, and training of school protection officers by a sheriff, and to provide for limitations on the civil liability of school protection officers in certain circumstances.

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit persons convicted of felony terroristic threats under §61-6-24 of this code involving schools or children from residing within 1,000 feet of an educational facility, consistent with existing residency restrictions for certain sex offenders under §62-12-26 of this code, to enhance public safety and prevent unsafe proximity to child-populated locations post-conviction.

The purpose of this bill is to reinstate jury service rights to citizens with felony convictions if the felony convictions have been expunged.

The purpose of this bill is to increase penalties related to child sexual assault and sexual abuse; to increase penalties for distributing, possessing, and transporting material depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct; to add attempt as a crime; and to clarify that failure to report sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation of a child is a felony.

The purpose of this bill is to make it a misdemeanor to being under the impairment of narcotics in public; and providing for criminal penalties and education upon conviction thereof.

The purpose of this bill is to create the Substance Abuse Intervention Act. The bill provides for a short title. The bill provides for involuntary treatment for a substance use disorder and sets forth the rights of a patient. The bill establishes criteria for involuntary treatment. The bill creates a petition for 60-day and 360-day involuntary treatment and a guarantee for costs. The bill provides for proceedings for involuntary treatment, describes the duties of court, and disposition. The bill sets forth a 72-hour emergency involuntary treatment. The bill describes the failure to attend e…

The purpose of this bill is to amend penalties for any assault on a police officer or police dog.

The purpose of this bill is to repeal certain provisions of code relating to confidentiality of court files and law-enforcement records.

The purpose of this bill relates to pension benefits which are exempt from income taxation. The bill adds Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers into the class of law-enforcement officers exempted.

The purpose of this bill is to modify the lowering of the age of retirants from the West Virginia State Police Retirement System that are eligible to receive an annual annuity adjustment.

The purpose of this bill is to raise all bonds to $500,000.

The purpose of this bill is to permit removal of matters before the Human Rights Commission to the circuit court.

The purpose of this bill is to increase the hourly rate for private investigators working for Public Defender Services from $30 to $45.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Board of Funeral Service Examiners to promulgate a legislative rule relating to funeral directors, embalmers, apprentices, courtesy card holders, and funeral establishment requirements.This section is new; therefore,

The purpose of this bill is to create a misdemeanor offense by federal agents or employees who attempt to enforce decrees or writs not approved by Congress or issued by due process. The Attorney General is charged with enforcement.

The purpose of this bill is to require a full adversarial hearing before a court of record before a respondent may be prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition, under mandatory provisions in protective order and then only by clear and convincing evidence. The bill also provides for automatic appeal by respondent.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a pay equity salary adjustment for non-uniformed employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a pay equity salary adjustment and increase be provided to all employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The purpose of this bill is to provide guidelines for reinstating sheriff's deputies to their former departments after retirement and defining applicability, eligibility, and rules for the process.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize sheriffs who are members of the public retirement system to retire upon attaining the age of sixty-two with eight or more years of service.

The purpose of this bill is to make transportation of a telecommunication device into a state correctional facility a felony.

The purpose of this bill is to require that the Division of Corrections provide each probationer with physical copies of their birth certificate and Social Security Administration card upon release from a facility.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a pay raise to administrative employees, staff, and non-uniformed personnel of the Division of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services, and the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority in order to retain current workers and attract new workers to this field.

The purpose of this bill is to establish certain crimes, processes, and procedures regarding individuals who have illegally entered or reentered the state in violation of state and federal laws and to create prohibitions on the illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien. The bill provides for the enforcement of those prohibitions and certain related orders, including immunity from liability and indemnification for enforcement actions. Finally, the bill authorizes and requires under certain circumstances the removal of persons who violate those prohibiti…

The purpose of this bill is to establish a geographic assignment compensation differential for members of the West Virginia State Police.

The purpose of this bill is to raise the salary of Sheriff's to be 10% above the salaries of the county clerk and circuit clerk.

The purpose of this bill is to provide compensation to those who have been adversely impacted by the actions of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals' Judicial Investigative Committee or any other division operating under the umbrella of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

The purpose of this bill is to create of mental hygiene regions in the state, permit evaluations to be conducted by video, grant civil immunity to providers, and clarify commitment periods.

The purpose of this bill is to increase certain fees collected by county sheriffs and add these increased amounts to the Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund to provide modest increases in benefits for retired deputies.

The purpose of this bill is to provide an annual annuity adjustment of 1% for eligible deputy sheriff retirants and surviving spouses when the plan has reached a funded level of 105 percent. The bill permits the board to set the employer contribution rate, and the maximum employer contribution rate will be 13% after the first annual annuity adjustment is paid.

The purpose of this bill is to create the Anti-Federal Commandeering Act. The bill provides for a short title, and legislative findings and intent. The bill provides definitions, prohibits federal commandeering, and creates prohibitions on police activity. The bill defines permitted activities, and allows the Attorney General to challenge unconstitutional federal actions. The bill allows the Attorney General to publish model policies, and provides for law enforcement immunity.

The purpose of this bill is to increase compensation for panel attorneys of the Public Defender Services; and requiring Public Defender Services to annually provide a report to certain state agencies summarizing legal services that are being provided by the submission of a voucher by panel attorneys serving as guardians ad litem in state courts.

The purpose of this bill is to create the Anti-Terrorism Act; define terroristic acts and groups; declare that specific acts are felony criminal acts of terrorism and establish punishment therefor; create mandatory sentencing; require restitution to be paid to victims of terrorism; clarify unlawful restraint; prohibit obstruction of a terrorism investigation; and require the Attorney General to identify and designate terroristic entities and members engaged in acts of terrorism.

The purpose of this bill is to modify the sentence and parole eligibility for inmates serving life sentences and those who have been convicted of murder of the first degree; and modifying eligibility for attempted crimes of murder of the first degree.

The purpose of this bill is to modify the sentence and parole eligibility for the crimes of murder in the second degree; modifying the parole eligibility for inmates serving life sentences and those who have been convicted of first degree murder; and modifying eligibility for attempted crimes of murder in the first and second degree, and allowing the victim's family and prosecutor to attend the parole hearings in person or remotely.

The purpose of this bill is to add identification requirements for nonresident persons operating a commercial vehicle in West Virginia. The bill provides that those persons possess a valid work visa and provide proof of citizenship to validate his or her identity while operating a commercial motor vehicle and that they demonstrate proficiency of the English language sufficient to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language; respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records. Misdemeanor penalties and fines for vi…

The purpose of this bill is to create the crime of false judicial accusation after the determination of falsity.

The purpose of this bill is to protect citizens from databases created that reveal or contain information that can be used to reveal citizens' or vehicles' historical locations.

The purpose of this bill is to increase compensation for panel attorneys of the Public Defender Services; and requiring Public Defender Services to annually provide a report to certain state agencies summarizing legal services that are being provided by the submission of a voucher by panel attorneys serving as guardians ad litem in state courts. This bill was recommended for introduction by the Joint Committee on Children and Families.

The purpose of this bill is to establish that a defendant who may be fined $5,000 or more is entitled to a trial by jury.

The purpose of this bill is to expand the state's modifications for tax reducing federal adjusted gross income to retired out-of-state police, first responders, and other retirees who show the work they performed was in the capacity of Law Enforcement Officer, and/or a First Responder.

The purpose of this bill is to provide that persons accused of felonies or violent misdemeanors are required to post bond and are not entitled to release on their own recognizance. The bill also provides that the bail threshold for nonviolent felonies be increased and adjusted for inflation beginning July 1, 2026.

The purpose of this bill is to establish a tuition reimbursement for corrections workers in this state.

The purpose of this bill is to establish the criminal offense of obstructing a highway or other passageway; defining "obstruct"; and establishing penalties for violation of section.

The purpose of this bill is to provide retired State Police officers the ability to be reemployed with the Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit and update the makeup of the unit.

The purpose of this bill is to increase the allowable commission for tax collection by the sheriff.

The purpose of this bill is to require the court to issue a disposition decision within 12 months of ratification of the initial petition.The bill was recommended for introduction by the Joint Committee on Children and Families.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the West Virginia Code in relation to juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings to require that circuit courts make certain findings of fact and conclusions of law as it relates to the court's orders.This bill was recommended for introduction by the Joint Committee on Children and Families.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a pension benefits exemption from income taxation to Division of Natural Resources police, deputy sheriffs, full-time firefighters, and municipal police officers.

The purpose of this bill is to change the date for election of judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals to the same date as the general election.

The purpose of this bill is to strengthen penalties of juveniles accused of assault on a law enforcement officer, reserve deputy, court security officer, or first responder.

The purpose of this bill is to compute the final average salary of a member of the West Virginia Deputy Sheriff Retirement Fund based on the average of the highest annual compensation received for covered employment by the member in any three plan years within the member's last 10 years of service. Current law is based on five consecutive year.

The purpose of this bill is to require cash bail for violent or gun-related criminal offenses and to provide for consecutive sentencing for crimes committed while on bail for violent or gun-related criminal offenses.

The purpose of this bill is to enumerate the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals capacity to create rules regarding the scope of practice in the state of West Virginia while creating a task force to encourage the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to create rules allowing nonlawyers the ability to practice law under a limited license.

The purpose of this bill is to allow members of the West Virginia State Police Retirement System to use accrued leave to acquire additional credited service toward retirement.

The purpose of this bill relates to the suspension of licenses for failure to respond or appear in court when charged with a motor vehicle violation. The bill requires written notice of all fees owed and impending suspension prior to license suspension; and requires the citation issuing magistrate court or municipal court to forward administrative fee collected to division.

The purpose of this bill is to create a Work/Incarceration Prison pilot program; to establish guidelines for eligibility; creates one prison; authorizes the Division of Corrections to propose rules; provides sentence reduction to an offender sentenced to the work/incarceration prison; provides that an offender who commits a violation of the rules be sent to a correctional facility and have an additional year added on to their original sentence; provides guideline for appropriation; allows offenders from other counties be accepted to the work/incarceration prison; and provides for an annual …

The purpose of this bill is to require a person owing a judgment to a municipal court to pay, or enter into a payment plan, within 90 days of judgment. The bill further provides that a municipal court may request the DMV to suspend the driver's license of any person who fails to pay costs, fines, fees, and penalties owed within a specified timeframe.

The purpose of this bill is to establish a court fee for all criminal violations to fund grants to equip and train emergency medical service providers and personnel; and to provide that local emergency medical service providers will receive grants on a 70%-30% matching basis, with the local provider providing 30% of the total funds.

The purpose of this bill is to suspend any medical power of attorney in place for a vulnerable adult when an adult protective services investigation is ongoing and to fully invalidate the medical power of attorney if abuse is substantiated by a court

The purpose of this bill is to limit county responsibility for certain jail costs to 30 days from the date of incarceration when an inmate, incarcerated for a felony conviction, is awaiting transportation to a state correctional facility for a 60-day evaluation period.

The purpose of this bill is to change certain offenses and penalties therefor for certain persons who are accessories to a crime. The bill provides that a domestic partner to a felony offender may not be considered an accessory after the fact; removes prohibition that a servant of a felony offender may not be considered an accessory after the fact; providing that an accessory to a felony who is the brother or sister, parent or grandparent, or child or grandchild of the principal offender is guilty of a misdemeanor; providing that an accessory to a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction to promulgate a legislative rule relating to law enforcement training and certification standards.This section is new; therefore,

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the West Virginia State Police to promulgate a legislative rule relating to West Virginia State Police Career Progression System.This section is new; therefore,

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the sex at birth on a birth certificate and require medical documentation or a court order to change an applicant's sex on driver's licenses, identification cards, or instruction permits.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the West Virginia State Police to promulgate a legislative rule relating to contracted police or security services.

The purpose of this bill is to guarantee certain procedural safeguards to law-enforcement officers during any investigation or interrogation or subsequent hearing that could lead to disciplinary action, demotion, or dismissal.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the State Police to promulgate a legislative rule relating to West Virginia State Police Member Grievance Procedure.This section is new; therefore,

The purpose of this bill is to require registrant to Sex Offender Registry to provide all online identifiers from internet and mobile application accounts; to permit State Police to inspect mobile phone to verify accuracy of information; and to requiring registrant provide information about All Terrain Vehicles and Utility Terrain Vehicles operated by the registrant.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify that the right to bear arms is a constitutional right and to provide when persons convicted of non-violent crimes may have their rights to bear arms reinstated. The bill also clarifies what constitutes a crime of violence and provides protection for residents in the exercise of their constitutional rights.

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Attorney General to promulgate a legislative rule relating to fair treatment of crime victims and witnesses.This section is new; therefore,

The purpose of this bill is to create the crime of sale or barter of a child for adoption and the prohibition of placement of children for adoption by an unlicensed person or organization and create criminal penalties.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a pay increase for capitol police and staff.

The purpose of this bill is to provide for the removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts.

The purpose of this bill is to permit magistrates to order mental health evaluations prior to setting bonds for certain crimes.