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.
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.
HB 5198 amends West Virginia's hate crime law to explicitly include "disability" as a protected class alongside race, sex, and other characteristics. It increases penalties for crimes motivated by disability bias - such as violence or intimidation - by classifying such acts as felonies punishable by fines up to $5,000 or 10 years in prison. The bill applies to all individuals with disabilities as defined under state law (§16B-17-3), directly affecting victims of disability-targeted crimes and holding perpetrators accountable under existing hate crime provisions.
HB 5117 would restore voting rights for West Virginia residents who have completed their prison sentence for a felony. Currently, individuals convicted of felonies are barred from voting until they finish all aspects of their sentence, including probation or parole. This bill removes that barrier by making them eligible to register as soon as they are released from prison, without waiting for probation or parole to end. It also requires the state's Division of Corrections to notify people of their voting rights upon release and the Division of Probation to do the same upon discharge.
HB 5674, titled "Prohibiting civil rights violations based on disability, gender identity or sexual orientation," makes it a felony to commit violence or intimidation against someone because of their disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It establishes criminal penalties of up to $5,000 fines or 10 years in prison for such bias-motivated acts, while requiring judges to consider alternative sentencing like community corrections. The bill explicitly excludes protected speech or labor union activities from being used as evidence in prosecutions, and prohibits using constitutionally protected associations as grounds for conviction unless directly tied to the crime. This law directly affects individuals targeted by bias-based violence, those committing such acts, and the criminal justice system through revised sentencing guidelines.
HB 4095 would remove qualified immunity for West Virginia police officers who use excessive force or act negligently during no-knock warrant operations. If a court finds an officer violated equal protection laws through reckless, illegal, or excessive force causing injury or trauma, they could be held personally liable. The bill also requires courts to review both the officer's actions and their agency's training procedures; if inadequate training is identified, the police department could face liability. This directly affects officers executing no-knock warrants, their agencies, and residents subjected to such operations.
HB 4190 would automatically restore the right to possess firearms and serve on a jury for eligible nonviolent felons in West Virginia upon completion of their sentences, without requiring a court petition. The bill clarifies that petitions for firearm rights may include restoration of jury service rights and specifies who can file such petitions (e.g., individuals with certain nonviolent felony convictions). It also requires the Attorney General to publish public guidance on the process. This change directly affects individuals with prior nonviolent felony convictions who have met the eligibility criteria for automatic restoration.
SB 112 would change West Virginia law to automatically restore voting rights for people convicted of a felony upon their release from incarceration, regardless of whether they are on probation, parole, or supervised release. Currently, individuals serving felony sentences cannot vote, but this bill would end that disqualification immediately after release. The key provision amends Section 3-2-2 of the state code to state that eligibility is "automatically restored upon release from incarceration." This directly affects all West Virginians who were incarcerated for a felony conviction, allowing them to register and vote as soon as they leave prison.
HB 4406 would restore voting rights for West Virginia residents convicted of felonies upon their release from incarceration, including release through pardon, parole, probation, or completion of sentence. Currently, these individuals are barred from voting while serving their sentence, but the bill removes this restriction immediately upon release. The change allows formerly incarcerated people to register and vote without additional legal steps once they are released from prison or supervision. This policy directly affects all individuals in West Virginia who have been convicted of a felony and are released under these conditions.
