SB 848 is a supplemental appropriation bill that allocates $84,600 from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to cover inmate medical expenses for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation under the Department of Homeland Security during fiscal year 2026. This funding specifically targets Correctional Units within the Division and uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor’s budget document. The bill does not create new programs or alter policies but directs available resources to address medical costs for inmates. It is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, to ensure necessary healthcare funding for correctional facilities.
HB 5368 would create a public registry for West Virginia domestic violence offenders with at least two qualifying convictions. It requires individuals convicted of two domestic violence offenses (such as domestic battery, assault, or strangulation against an intimate partner) to register with local state police, providing their name, address, and other identifying details. The registry would make this information publicly available to help community members protect themselves and their children, while the bill explicitly states it is for safety purposes, not punishment. The law applies retroactively to existing offenders and defines "domestic violence" under specific state statutes.
HB 5484 creates a new felony crime in West Virginia for conspiring to deny medical care to victims of sexual exploitation, assault, incest, or abuse. It directly affects individuals who work together (conspire) to block victims from accessing licensed medical treatment for injuries or conditions caused by these crimes. The bill establishes penalties of 5-10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, or both for violations. This law specifically targets efforts to prevent victims from receiving necessary medical care following sexual offenses, without altering existing abortion laws.
HB 5050 amends West Virginia law to remove the gender restriction from the state convict road force program, making all state inmates - including women - eligible to work on road construction and maintenance crews under the state highways commissioner. Previously, the program only included "male persons" convicted of felonies. The bill expands the existing program, which requires inmates to work on state roads, quarries, and material production facilities, to apply to all incarcerated individuals regardless of sex. This change directly affects all state inmates serving sentences for felonies.
SB 915 clarifies that juveniles, including those transferred to adult court, cannot be detained in facilities where they might have contact with or be near adult inmates (convicted or awaiting trial) or with adult facility staff. The bill removes ambiguous language from existing law and gives the Corrections Commissioner discretion to oversee staff procedures in jails or lockups where juveniles are placed near adults. It also requires the Division of Juvenile Services to notify courts when a juvenile turns 18, triggering a hearing to transfer them to an adult facility or other appropriate setting before their 18th birthday. This change aims to prevent confusion in juvenile placement decisions and ensure consistent handling within West Virginia's correctional system.
HB 5261 updates West Virginia's laws on seizing property involved in criminal activity. It specifies that when someone is convicted of a crime involving contraband (such as drugs, tax-evading tobacco, or equipment used to manufacture illegal substances), the court can order forfeiture of the crime's proceeds, property traceable to those proceeds, and items used to commit the crime (like vehicles, containers, or records). The bill includes new protections for innocent property owners, such as allowing vehicle owners to keep their property if they didn’t know it was used for illegal activity. It also establishes clear rules for handling seized property, including requirements for returning property to owners and restrictions on selling forfeited items.
HB 5104 requires parolees or probationers identified through a standardized risk assessment as having a history of substance abuse to participate in approved support services for a minimum of 60 days. This applies specifically to individuals under supervision whose assessment (mandated under §62-12-6) confirms substance abuse history. The bill adds this as a mandatory condition of release under §62-12-17(a)(4), with participation schedules approved by probation or parole officers. It directly affects individuals on parole or probation in West Virginia whose substance abuse history is documented via the court-mandated assessment process.
SB 736 requires West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a free temporary identification card to eligible released inmates no earlier than seven days before their release. The card is valid for 180 days and has the same legal standing as a standard DMV ID, enabling released inmates to prove identity, age, and residency when applying for new IDs or driver's licenses. Eligibility excludes inmates who already hold a valid West Virginia ID or driver's license expiring more than 30 days after release, or non-U.S. citizens. The bill also mandates collaboration between Corrections and DMV to verify Social Security numbers for applicants lacking other documentation.
HB 5094 bans private ownership and operation of prisons in West Virginia, effective July 1, 2026. The bill prohibits private companies from running correctional facilities, removing existing approval requirements for private prison operations that would otherwise apply. It explicitly allows state-run facilities and specifies that foreign court inmates sentenced abroad cannot be held in private prisons. This directly affects private prison companies operating in West Virginia and changes the state's correctional system by eliminating private contracting for prison management.
HB 5146 would amend West Virginia's drug scheduling law to remove marijuana, psilocybin, and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from Schedule I, the most restrictive category for controlled substances. This change would move these substances to a less restrictive classification under the state's Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The bill directly affects how these specific substances are legally treated in West Virginia, removing their current Schedule I status. It does not address medical or recreational use but changes their regulatory classification. The bill was introduced by Delegate Young and referred to the Health and Human Resources and Judiciary committees.
