SB 473 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Creating felony offense of using electronic device to threaten violence

SB 473 creates felony penalties for threatening to commit violent crimes using electronic devices (like texts, social media, or emails) when the threat causes a building evacuation, widespread fear, or serious disruption. It directly affects individuals who send such threats, making it a felony if the communication causes significant public alarm or evacuation. The law specifies that prosecutors must prove the threat was viewed as threatening by a reasonable person, and it prohibits defenses like claiming the threat wasn't "real." Penalties include fines up to $10,000 or prison terms of 1-10 years for these offenses.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → sb473 h jud am _1 adopted.htm · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill moved from a standalone computer crime statute to being incorporated into the Crimes Against the Peace article, significantly redefining the threat offense and expanding its scope. The new version applies to any crime of violence rather than just electronic threats, adds false emergency reporting as a separate offense, and modifies the geographic restriction distance from 3,000 to 1,000 feet.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from purely electronic communication threats to include any threat of a crime of violence, and added false emergency reporting as a distinct offense.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'crime of violence' to include any criminal offense involving physical force rather than just electronic threats

SCOPE

Added false emergency reporting as a new separate offense with its own penalties

REQUIREMENT

Changed the geographic restriction distance from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet for those on release

Added exemption for authorized emergency drills from the statute's application

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision allowing courts to order offenders to reimburse emergency response costs

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 10, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Amendment reported by the Clerk

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

With amendment, do pass

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 60)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors