Prohibiting the private ownership or operation of a prison

HB 3252 prohibits private ownership or operation of prisons in West Virginia, effective July 1, 2025. It requires private entities to obtain written approval from the secretary to operate or modify facilities before that date, but eliminates this option entirely after the deadline. The bill directly affects private prison contractors and operators, banning their ability to run facilities for general incarceration. It explicitly preserves state and local government authority to operate prisons, and does not apply to foreign court sentences.