Criminal Justice

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime

This bill creates a Central Abuse Registry in West Virginia to track individuals convicted of crimes involving child abuse, neglect of incapacitated adults, abuse of adults receiving behavioral health services, and property misappropriation by those providing care services. It also adds specific sex offenses to the registration requirements and clarifies that people convicted of certain past offenses must remain on the registry. The legislation establishes a single annual fee of $125 for individuals required to register under both the abuse registry and sex offender registry, simplifying compliance by requiring only one payment. Funds collected from these fees will be used first to support mental health services for current and former state police employees before being applied to general state police operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by creating a registry for dangerous offenders, protecting vulnerable populations and enhancing accountability in criminal justice system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 4755: Adding Aggravated Vehicular Homicide to the list of qualifying offenses

HB 4755 adds "aggravated vehicular homicide" (defined in §17C-5-1(c)) to West Virginia's list of offenses that trigger enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders. This change directly affects individuals convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide who have prior qualifying offenses under the state's recidivism laws. The bill amends Section 61-11-18 of the West Virginia Code to include this offense, meaning a second or third conviction for this crime could result in harsher penalties if the offender has previous serious convictions. The law focuses on increasing penalties for repeat offenders in cases involving severe DUI-related fatalities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds aggravated vehicular homicide to enhanced sentencing list, increasing penalties for repeat offenders under recidivism laws.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5101: The Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act

HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, increases penalties for specific domestic violence offenses in West Virginia. It raises the minimum prison sentence for strangulation, suffocation, or asphyxiation of a family or household member (causing injury or loss of consciousness) from one year to two years, and for repeat offenders from one year to three years. For second offenses of domestic battery or assault, the bill sets a minimum jail term of 60 days and increases the maximum fine from $500 to $4,000. The bill also alters bail requirements for domestic violence cases to enhance victim safety protections.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for domestic violence offenses, expanding criminalization per bill's penalty hikes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4712: Increasing the criminal penalties for DUI causing death to be known as “Baylea’s Law.”

HB 4712, known as "Baylea's Law," increases criminal penalties for drivers convicted of DUI that causes death or injury in West Virginia. It raises prison sentences to 3-30 years for DUI causing death (up from prior limits), 2-10 years for serious bodily injury, and up to 1 year for lesser bodily injury. The bill also mandates license revocation for 10 years (or permanently) for DUI causing death, 5 years for serious injury, and 2 years for minor injuries, with options to reinstate through a "test and lock program." This law directly affects drivers convicted of DUI-related offenses resulting in harm to others, including minors or fetuses as defined by the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison sentences and license revocations for DUI offenses, expanding criminal penalties rather than promoting reform or reducing recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4799: To establish the cold case task force for the State of West Virginia

HB 4799 establishes a statewide cold case task force within the West Virginia State Police to investigate unsolved criminal cases. The task force, led by an executive board of the State Police Superintendent, police chiefs, and sheriffs' association presidents, will coordinate with other law enforcement agencies while respecting ongoing investigations. It creates a dedicated "cold case task force fund" for operations and requires the West Virginia Fusion Center to share relevant data from existing cold case databases. The bill focuses on structural mechanisms for investigation rather than new policy changes, directly affecting state and local law enforcement agencies collaborating on cold cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes cold case task force with dedicated fund to investigate unsolved crimes, strengthening law enforcement efforts in criminal justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4819: Relating to use of criminal records as disqualification from authorization to practice a particular profession

HB 4819 would change West Virginia's licensing rules for professions requiring state authorization. It prevents disqualification for most past criminal convictions unless the crime directly relates to the profession's duties and poses a clear public risk. Licensing agencies must now consider factors like the crime's nature, time passed since conviction, and evidence of rehabilitation (such as completed treatment or employment history) before denying a license. Applicants with past convictions can petition for reconsideration after five years without new offenses (excluding violent/sexual crimes), with agencies required to respond within 60 days. This affects all individuals seeking professional licenses in West Virginia, including fields like healthcare, education, or licensed trades.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces licensing barriers for individuals with past convictions by requiring rehabilitation consideration, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism and support reentry.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes barriers for healthcare professionals with past convictions, expanding workforce access and improving patient access to services by reducing licensing restrictions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes unnecessary barriers to professional licensing for individuals with criminal records, expanding employment opportunities and promoting fair hiring practices per employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4433: Prohibiting Human Smuggling and Trafficking

HB 4433 amends West Virginia law to create new criminal offenses for human smuggling (transporting undocumented people to evade enforcement) and human trafficking (recruiting or moving people for forced labor or sexual exploitation). It specifically targets individuals who transport adults or minors for these purposes, defining key terms like "coercion" and "forced labor" to clarify illegal conduct. The bill establishes penalties for these crimes, allows asset forfeiture of property used in trafficking, and requires restitution for victims. It also includes an exemption permitting medical, mental health, and legal services for undocumented individuals without criminal liability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses for human trafficking/smuggling with defined penalties, strengthening enforcement against these crimes per criminal justice policy goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4366: Relating to military interpersonal violence

This bill updates West Virginia laws to recognize military protective orders as valid evidence of domestic violence when seeking emergency protective orders from family courts. It defines a military protective order as one issued by a commanding officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, West Virginia National Guard, or another state's National Guard against someone under their command. The legislation requires law enforcement to notify relevant agencies of potential violations of these military orders and allows them to be used in petitions for temporary personal safety orders. These changes aim to improve how courts handle cases involving service members and their families by streamlining the process for obtaining protection orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by recognizing military protective orders as valid evidence, enhancing law enforcement response to domestic violence and improving victim protection.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill recognizes military protective orders as valid evidence, strengthening protections for veterans in domestic violence situations and improving their access to legal recourse.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4999: Relating to crimes against athletic officials

HB 4999 expands legal protections for both athletic officials (like referees) and participants (players) in West Virginia by making assault or battery against them a misdemeanor. It increases penalties: assault fines of $250-$500 with up to six months in jail, and battery fines of $500-$1,000 with up to one year in jail. The bill also allows school boards to ban convicted offenders from all school sports events for at least one year, with violating this ban treated as trespassing. However, it explicitly exempts normal sports actions - such as hard fouls within game rules - from prosecution.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assault/battery against officials (misdemeanor with fines/jail), expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4990: Relating to crimes using gift cards

HB 4990 creates new criminal offenses related to gift card fraud in West Virginia. It makes it a crime to steal, tamper with, or fraudulently obtain gift cards or their redemption information (defined as unique access codes), and to use stolen gift cards for purchases. Specifically, using stolen gift cards for $1,000+ in value over six months escalates the offense to grand theft. The bill directly affects individuals committing gift card fraud, while protecting cardholders, issuers, and sellers. It provides clear definitions for terms like "closed-loop gift card" (e.g., store-specific) and "gift card redemption information" to clarify the scope of the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for gift card fraud, expanding criminalization per indicators. No reform or protection elements present.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent