Criminal Justice

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

HB 5099: Relating to restitution payments for the support of a child whose parent or guardian is a victim of intoxication manslaughter

HB 5099 requires courts to order defendants convicted of DUI causing death to pay monthly child support for the victim's child until age 18 or high school graduation. This directly affects children who lost a parent or guardian to a DUI-related death and defendants sentenced for such offenses. The bill mandates courts to set reasonable payment amounts considering the child's needs, guardian's resources, and other factors, while offsetting payments by any existing civil judgment for the same accident. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates restitution for victims' children in DUI death cases, holding offenders accountable and supporting victims within criminal justice sentencing framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5408: Relating to personal information disclosure

HB 5408 would require West Virginia government entities (such as state agencies, counties, and municipalities) to obtain a court-issued warrant before sharing personal information for federal immigration enforcement. Before disclosing such data, agencies must verify with requesters - under penalty of perjury - whether the information is sought for immigration enforcement and, if so, demand a warrant from a federal or state court. The bill also mandates annual reports to the attorney general and legislature detailing the number of immigration-related requests received and how they were handled. This law directly affects local and state agencies that handle personal data, including law enforcement and social services departments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for immigration data sharing, protecting civil liberties and enhancing law enforcement accountability in data disclosure practices90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires warrant for state sharing of data with federal immigration authorities, limiting state cooperation and protecting immigrant privacy.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires warrants for government disclosure of personal data, strengthening data privacy protections under technology policy framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Data Privacy

Track

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

HB 5267: Providing for the reintegration of inmates in correctional facilities

HB 5267 requires West Virginia correctional facilities to assist both juvenile and adult offenders in obtaining three essential identity documents - Social Security number/card, birth certificate, and driver's license - before their release. This applies to all inmates except those convicted of unlawful vehicle operation offenses. The bill amends §15A-3-4 of the state code to mandate this assistance as part of the commissioner’s duties, ensuring these documents are provided prior to release. The policy directly affects individuals transitioning from incarceration back into communities by addressing a common barrier to employment and housing. It focuses on concrete administrative changes within correctional facilities, without specifying outcomes or broader program impacts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFacilitates inmate reintegration by providing essential ID documents pre-release, reducing barriers to employment/housing and lowering recidivism - key criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5428: Relating to providing traumatic event counseling for peace officers.

HB 5428 requires employers of peace officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers to provide up to 12 sessions of licensed counseling (via telehealth if desired) for employees exposed to specific traumatic events in the line of duty, such as witnessing death, using deadly force, or responding to child-related incidents. Employers must cover up to 24 additional counseling sessions within one year if a mental health professional deems them necessary for recovery. The bill also prohibits requiring employees to use accrued leave for counseling appointments and ensures no loss of pay or benefits for up to 30 days if deemed unfit for duty during treatment, subject to specific conditions. It allows employees to select their own licensed mental health professional and clarifies that payment does not create a presumption of compensable claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides mental health support for law enforcement officers after traumatic incidents, promoting officer well-being and accountability in criminal justice operations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates employer coverage for mental health counseling for first responders exposed to trauma, directly expanding access to mental health services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-provided mental health counseling for trauma exposure during work duties, enhancing workplace safety and employee well-being for high-risk professions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Substance Abuse Tags Public Safety

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5427: To prohibit the malicious publication of personally identifiable information with intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, stalk, or facilitate harm.

HB 5427, the "Anti-Doxxing and Privacy Protection Act," prohibits publishing another person's personally identifiable information (PII) without consent when intending to harass, threaten, stalk, or cause harm. It directly affects individuals who engage in malicious doxxing (e.g., sharing home addresses, phone numbers, or location data to intimidate) and protects victims, including public officials, healthcare workers, and private citizens. Key provisions establish criminal penalties for violations, allow civil lawsuits for victims, and create procedures for redacting PII from public records when safety is at risk. The bill explicitly excludes lawful public records disclosures, judicial proceedings, and good-faith journalism to preserve constitutional protections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects victims from doxxing harassment, aligns with civil rights and court safety within criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits malicious doxxing of PII, strengthening data privacy protections against harassment and harm per bill's core focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 918: Relating to civil service promotion criteria for municipal law-enforcement officers

SB 918 establishes new civil service promotion criteria for municipal law enforcement officers in West Virginia. It requires officers to complete 40 hours of leadership training before taking promotional exams, which account for 40% of their score. The bill also mandates a 40% score from a board evaluation (using 1-10 ratings on tactics/leadership questions) and 20% from seniority, with all criteria applied uniformly. This directly affects municipal police officers seeking promotions, as it standardizes the process through specific, measurable requirements set by the law. The bill applies to all municipal law enforcement agencies covered by civil service provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires 40h leadership training & structured board evaluations for promotions, enhancing accountability in law enforcement per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 5468: Allotting counties $5,000 per deputy position to only be used for deputy pay raises

HB 5468 would allocate $5,000 per deputy sheriff position in each West Virginia county from the state's general revenue fund, to be used exclusively for raising deputy sheriff salaries. Counties receiving these funds must spend them solely on pay increases for deputies, with no flexibility for other expenses like equipment or administrative costs. This bill directly affects all West Virginia counties that employ deputy sheriffs by creating a dedicated state funding stream specifically for their salary increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds exclusively for deputy sheriff pay raises, increasing public safety spending within budget constraints.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds deputy sheriff pay raises exclusively, directly supporting law enforcement resource allocation within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Law Enforcement

Track

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

HB 5380: Removing the one-time limit on the expungement of certain criminal convictions

HB 5380 would remove a current restriction in West Virginia law that limits individuals to one expungement of criminal convictions. Under existing rules, people with multiple eligible convictions could only have one set of charges erased from their records. This bill would allow eligible individuals to seek expungement for multiple convictions, provided they meet other criteria like waiting periods and avoid excluded offenses (e.g., violent crimes or DUI). It directly affects people with multiple qualifying convictions who currently cannot clear all their records. The bill does not change existing waiting periods or the list of ineligible offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves one-time expungement limit, enabling multiple clean records for eligible individuals. Promotes rehabilitation, reduces recidivism barriers, and aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Track

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 882: Establishing Blue Envelope Program to promote communication between law enforcement and community members

SB 882 establishes a "Blue Envelope Program" for drivers in West Virginia diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The bill requires the West Virginia State Police to distribute durable blue envelopes containing a clear statement of the driver's diagnosis, communication tips for officers, space for personalized needs, emergency contact information, and instructions for use during traffic stops or accidents. These envelopes will be available by mail and at state police offices, holding license and registration documents. The program explicitly states no diagnosis verification is required, and individuals providing good-faith information are granted immunity from liability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes safer law enforcement interactions for autistic drivers via communication tools during traffic stops, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5548: Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act

HB 5548, the "Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act," prohibits distributing deepfake videos or images that falsely depict a person engaging in non-consensual sexual conduct without their permission. It targets individuals who intentionally share such content to coerce, harass, or damage reputations, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 or up to five years in prison for repeat offenses. The law explicitly excludes constitutionally protected speech like political satire, commentary, or media with clear disclosures that it is manipulated. It also allows affected individuals or officials to seek court orders to stop violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for non-consensual deepfake distribution, protecting individuals from harassment and reputational harm under criminal law, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits non-consensual deepfake distribution, protecting digital privacy and rights against tech misuse, aligning with data privacy safeguards in technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Artificial Intelligence

Track