SB 900 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Including certain correctional facilities as "targeted facility"

This bill expands the definition of "targeted facility" in West Virginia's unmanned aircraft regulations to include jails, state correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, and federal correctional facilities. By amending the state code, the legislation ensures these correctional facilities are treated as critical infrastructure for the purposes of drone use and security. The change directly affects law enforcement agencies, correctional facility operators, and drone pilots who must now comply with additional security protocols at these locations. This amendment aligns correctional facilities with other critical infrastructure sites under existing state drone laws.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Last action Mar 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

sb900 h jud am _1 adopted.htm sb900 hfat akers 3-13 adopted.htm · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to change the title and sponsor information, while the substantive text of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act was removed. The original version included detailed definitions of critical infrastructure facilities, criminal penalties for trespass and damage, civil liability provisions, and exemptions for labor activities and contractors. The amended version appears to be a simplified amendment focused specifically on adding correctional facilities to the critical infrastructure definition.
Scope change
The bill's scope was significantly reduced from a comprehensive critical infrastructure protection statute to a narrowly focused amendment targeting only the inclusion of correctional facilities in the critical infrastructure definition.
SCOPE

Removed comprehensive definitions of critical infrastructure facilities that previously included 24 categories including refineries, power facilities, water systems, telecommunications, ports, airports, nuclear reactors, and more.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed criminal penalty provisions that established misdemeanor and felony charges for trespassing and damaging critical infrastructure, including specific fine amounts and imprisonment terms.

Removed civil liability provisions that allowed facility owners to seek damages from trespassers and those who compensated trespassers, including punitive damages up to three times compensatory damages.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed exemptions for labor activities, union organizing, picketing, and contractors performing work at critical infrastructure facilities.

REQUIREMENT

Removed forfeiture provisions that allowed seizure of vehicles and property used in theft or damage to critical infrastructure facilities.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill title from 'SB900 H JUD AM #1' to 'SB900 HFAT Akers 3-13' and modified the committee action language to reflect a delegate's amendment motion rather than a Judiciary Committee amendment.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

How they voted

320
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Feb 25, 2026
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
30 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 603)
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Introduced
Amendment reported by the Clerk
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
With amendment, do pass
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 229)
upper
Feb 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors