Create a registry of persons convicted of animal abuse
HB 5209 creates a state registry for individuals convicted of animal abuse (misdemeanor or felony) in West Virginia. It requires these individuals to register with the West Virginia State Police and pay an annual $125 fee, which funds mental health services for state police employees. The registry is integrated into an existing "Central Abuse Registry" that already includes records for child abuse, elder abuse, and sex offenses. This bill directly affects only those with final convictions for animal abuse crimes, not suspected abusers or general animal cruelty cases.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2026
Last action Feb 5, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jeff Eldridge
RRepublican
Co
Evan Worrell
RRepublican
Co
Geno Chiarelli
RRepublican
Co
J.B. Akers
RRepublican
Co
Jordan Maynor
RRepublican
Co
Josh Holstein
RRepublican
Co
Laura Kimble
RRepublican
Co
Lori Dittman
RRepublican
Co
Margitta Mazzocchi
RRepublican
Co
Pat McGeehan
RRepublican
Co
Roger Hanshaw
RRepublican
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