Criminal Justice

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5253: Creating a domestic violence registry

HB 5253 creates a confidential domestic violence registry maintained by the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau. The registry lists individuals convicted of three or more domestic violence offenses (as defined in state law), allowing authorized entities like childcare facilities, residential care homes, and home care providers to conduct confidential background checks before hiring staff or volunteers who interact with children, incapacitated adults, or adults receiving behavioral health services. Prosecuting attorneys must submit relevant conviction data to the registry, and the bill specifies that only "requesters" (such as employers or care providers) can access the information for employment screening purposes. The law aims to protect vulnerable individuals by enabling confidential verification of a person's domestic violence history prior to placement in caregiving roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates registry for repeat domestic violence offenders to prevent access to vulnerable populations, enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism through targeted background checks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5183: Directing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create a pilot domestic violence court in Kanawha County

HB 5183 directs West Virginia’s Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a single pilot domestic violence court in Kanawha County. This specialized court would handle specific misdemeanor domestic violence cases involving family or household members, including violations of laws related to assault, protective orders, and related offenses. The Supreme Court must collect data on the court’s effectiveness and report findings to lawmakers by 2027 and 2028. The pilot is limited to Kanawha County and applies only to misdemeanor cases (felony cases require a circuit judge).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specialized domestic violence court to improve case handling and data collection, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Judges

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5336: Relating to coercive control in domestic violence

HB 5336 updates West Virginia's domestic violence law to explicitly include "coercive control" as a defined form of abuse. The bill defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate and isolate a partner, such as controlling finances, monitoring communications, threatening harm, or restricting contact with friends and family. This change ensures non-physical tactics like emotional manipulation and isolation are legally recognized under domestic violence statutes. The bill directly affects victims of such abuse and legal proceedings by expanding the scope of what qualifies as domestic violence in court and law enforcement responses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDefines coercive control as abuse, strengthening legal recognition of non-physical domestic violence tactics to protect victims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5517: Relating to the Office of Insurance Commissioner maintaining and posting lists of bondsmen

HB 5517 requires West Virginia's Office of Insurance Commissioner to create and maintain centralized, geographically specific lists of licensed bail bondsmen for each county and detention facility. The bill mandates that these lists - showing only bondsmen operating within 50 miles of the facility - be posted prominently in jails and police stations, with detainees given immediate access to select a bondsman from the list. It also establishes a statewide master list containing all licensed bondsmen's details, which facilities must provide upon request. The legislation grants the Insurance Commissioner exclusive authority to manage these lists, replacing local efforts, and ensures detainees can contact any licensed bondsman statewide.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates accessible bail bondsman lists, enhancing defendant rights and court transparency in pretrial processes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 984: Clarifying that petition to restore firearms rights may include right to serve on jury

SB 984 allows individuals petitioning to restore their right to possess firearms to also request restoration of their right to serve on a jury in the same application. It automatically restores both firearms possession and jury service rights for certain nonviolent felons without requiring a separate petition. The bill clarifies eligibility for these petitions, specifies court authority to grant these rights, and mandates the Attorney General to publish public guidance on the process. This law directly affects West Virginia residents with prior felony convictions who seek to regain civil rights related to firearms and jury service.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores civic rights (jury service) alongside firearm rights for nonviolent felons, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Drug Policy

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5322: Relating to Animal Abuse

HB 5322 prohibits sexual abuse of animals, defined as touching an animal's mouth, anus, or sex organs for sexual gratification, and bans related activities like selling animals for this purpose or allowing it on one's property. It imposes penalties ranging from up to 12 months in jail or a $2,000 fine for basic violations to up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for aggravated cases involving children or animal harm. Convicted individuals must surrender all animals, cover their care costs, and face a 5-year ban on owning animals for misdemeanors or a 15-year ban for felonies. Additionally, courts must require a psychiatric evaluation (paid by the defendant unless indigent) before granting probation for these offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill defines new criminal offense (animal sexual abuse) with sentencing penalties, directly advancing criminal justice through law enforcement and sentencing provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5115: To implement trauma-informed practices in schools

HB 5115 requires West Virginia public schools (K-12) to adopt trauma-informed practices starting July 1, 2026, affecting all teachers, school staff, and students. The bill mandates training for educators on understanding trauma's impact on learning and behavior, while requiring schools to replace punitive discipline with restorative practices that address root causes. It also specifies creating inclusive school environments where students feel safe, connected, and supported through evidence-based strategies that avoid discrimination. The State Board of Education must develop implementing rules to ensure compliance with these standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces punitive discipline with restorative practices in schools, reducing school-based disciplinary referrals linked to criminal justice system involvement.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates trauma-informed training, restorative practices, and inclusive environments to support student well-being and educator effectiveness in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTrauma-informed practices directly address mental health support in schools through staff training and restorative practices, aligning with healthcare indicators for supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5436: Make it a felony to kill a canine officer

HB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClassifies harming police canines as felony, strengthening law enforcement protection during duty per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Sentencing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5032: Prevention of data center collection of citizen data

HB 5032, titled "Prevention of data center collection of citizen data," creates the Citizens' Data Center Transparency Act. It prohibits West Virginia data centers from facilitating warrantless collection of personal data by federal agencies (like the NSA) or others in ways violating the Fourth Amendment or West Virginia’s Constitution. The bill requires data center operators to annually report to the Joint Standing Committee on Technology and Infrastructure the types and amounts of data collected, how it’s used, and who the data is shared with (including government agencies or nonprofits). This law directly affects data center operators in West Virginia and aims to increase transparency around data handling practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits warrantless data collection violating Fourth Amendment, protecting constitutional privacy rights central to criminal justice procedures and civil liberties in law enforcement contexts.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless data collection violating Fourth Amendment/privacy rights, directly advancing data privacy protections under consumer protection subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 5286: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security-Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5286 adds $1.5 million in supplemental funding from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance to the Department of Homeland Security's Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation for equipment purchases during fiscal year 2026. This new appropriation, designated as "Equipment - Surplus" under Fund 0450, directly supports correctional facilities by providing resources for equipment needs without increasing overall state spending. The bill uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document, specifically reallocating unappropriated revenue to address immediate equipment requirements for correctional units. It does not create new policies or change eligibility but adjusts budget allocations for operational support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses unappropriated surplus funds for corrections equipment without increasing state spending, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and funding essential public services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds correctional equipment purchases for facilities, supporting operational needs within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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