Expanding categories of eligible federal law-enforcement officers authorized to enforce state laws
SB 944 expands West Virginia's law enforcement authority to include 20 additional categories of federal officers, such as FBI agents, IRS special agents, and Border Patrol officers, who may enforce state laws under specific conditions. These officers can act when requested by state/local agencies, during emergencies involving imminent danger, or when witnessing a felony. The bill explicitly excludes enforcement of traffic laws and parking ordinances, and clarifies that these federal officers remain federal employees - not state law enforcement personnel - and cannot conduct independent investigations. This policy change aims to enhance coordination between federal and state agencies during joint operations or emergencies.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 16, 2026
Signed Jun 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced Version
→
Enrolled Version
·
4 edits
·
Mar 19, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an introduced draft to an enrolled final version, adding official legislative signatures, certification of enrollment, and a specific effective date (90 days after passage). The substantive legal text regarding federal law enforcement authority remains identical, with no changes to the categories of eligible officers or the circumstances under which they can enforce state laws.
Scope change
The scope of the law itself did not change; the only difference is the addition of formal procedural elements required for a bill to become law.
TIMELINE
Added a specific effective date clause stating the law goes into effect 90 days after passage.
TECHNICAL
Added certification language signed by the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates confirming the bill is correctly enrolled.
Added signature lines for the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and the Governor.
Removed draft-specific headers, navigation links, and internal page numbers found in the introduced version.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Feb 24, 2026
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 19, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/19/2026
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/19/2026 - House Journal
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 609)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 218)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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