SB 158 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Patrolman Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act

This bill, formally titled the Patrolman Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act, amends West Virginia's murder sentencing laws to require the death penalty for first-degree murder when specific aggravating circumstances exist - particularly if the victim was a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. It establishes new procedures for jury sentencing, including requiring unanimous jury decisions on death penalty imposition based on specified aggravating factors (like killing an officer) and mitigating circumstances. The bill also mandates lethal injection as the execution method, requires automatic Supreme Court review of death sentences, and specifies protocols for handling death penalty cases, such as forensic DNA testing and transfer to correctional facilities. The memorial name honors Patrolman Cassie Marie Johnson but does not alter the bill's substantive legal provisions.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Jan 14, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary then Finance
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors