Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 4456: Relating to clarification of a law enforcement agency and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and personnel of states bordering this state

This bill clarifies and expands cooperation between law enforcement agencies within West Virginia and with agencies in neighboring states. It defines key terms such as "criminal justice enforcement personnel" and "law-enforcement agency" to establish who can participate in joint efforts. The legislation allows agency heads to request temporary assistance for investigations, including sharing personnel, equipment, and technical resources, with written requests required except in emergencies involving immediate danger to life. Personnel assigned to other agencies retain their original benefits and jurisdiction while operating under the operational command of the host agency's leadership. Agreements must be filed with local circuit clerks to remain in effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances inter-agency cooperation and clarifies definitions for law enforcement personnel, strengthening criminal justice operations and resource sharing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4366: Relating to military interpersonal violence

This bill updates West Virginia laws to recognize military protective orders as valid evidence of domestic violence when seeking emergency protective orders from family courts. It defines a military protective order as one issued by a commanding officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, West Virginia National Guard, or another state's National Guard against someone under their command. The legislation requires law enforcement to notify relevant agencies of potential violations of these military orders and allows them to be used in petitions for temporary personal safety orders. These changes aim to improve how courts handle cases involving service members and their families by streamlining the process for obtaining protection orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by recognizing military protective orders as valid evidence, enhancing law enforcement response to domestic violence and improving victim protection.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill recognizes military protective orders as valid evidence, strengthening protections for veterans in domestic violence situations and improving their access to legal recourse.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Military Families National Guard & Reserve

passed · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 443: Granting municipal fire marshals authority to assist in lawful execution of law-enforcement officer's official duties

This bill grants municipal fire marshals in West Virginia the authority to assist law enforcement officers in carrying out their official duties. It allows fire marshals to arrest individuals who disobey lawful orders at fire scenes, violate arson or explosive offense prohibitions, obstruct a fire marshal, or fail to obey lawful commands, provided they receive required law enforcement training. The legislation also permits fire marshals to file criminal complaints to obtain arrest warrants and clarifies that assistance to federal law enforcement is subject to specific limitations. Additionally, fire marshals may help other law enforcement officers execute their duties when requested, but must work under the direct supervision of the requesting officer.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands law enforcement authority by allowing fire marshals to assist in arrests and enforce orders, strengthening public safety and criminal justice enforcement capabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5336: Relating to coercive control in domestic violence

HB 5336 updates West Virginia's domestic violence law to explicitly include "coercive control" as a defined form of abuse. The bill defines coercive control as a pattern of behavior meant to dominate and isolate a partner, such as controlling finances, monitoring communications, threatening harm, or restricting contact with friends and family. This change ensures non-physical tactics like emotional manipulation and isolation are legally recognized under domestic violence statutes. The bill directly affects victims of such abuse and legal proceedings by expanding the scope of what qualifies as domestic violence in court and law enforcement responses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDefines coercive control as abuse, strengthening legal recognition of non-physical domestic violence tactics to protect victims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5436: Make it a felony to kill a canine officer

HB 5436 amends West Virginia law to classify police canines as "law enforcement officers" when actively working with human officers, directly affecting police departments and canine units. The bill specifies that officers defending a canine during duty may use the same level of force as they would to protect a human officer. It clarifies that canines are not state employees and do not receive personnel protections, but their protection during service is treated as equivalent to protecting a human officer. This is a definitional change, not a new penalty, with no specific sentencing details provided in the text.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClassifies harming police canines as felony, strengthening law enforcement protection during duty per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Sentencing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5138: Relating to law enforcement warrant for third party information

HB 5138 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing most personal information held by internet and phone companies, such as names, addresses, payment details, and call records. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and telecommunications providers by mandating judicial oversight for these data requests during criminal investigations. The bill allows warrantless access only in specific emergencies (e.g., imminent risk of death, kidnapping, or human trafficking), with subscriber consent, or if the data is publicly accessible. This replaces current practices where such third-party records could often be obtained without a warrant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for law enforcement data access, enhancing judicial oversight and protecting civil liberties during investigations per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates warrants for law enforcement data access, strengthening consumer data privacy protections per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Telecommunications

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5361: Relating to federal law enforcement in specific locations

HB 5361 would prevent state and local law enforcement officers in West Virginia from conducting immigration-related arrests, detentions, or surveillance in sensitive locations like schools, places of worship, hospitals, courthouses, and facilities serving vulnerable populations (e.g., victims of abuse or individuals with disabilities). The bill defines these "sensitive locations" and prohibits immigration enforcement actions there, except when a court orders entry or an imminent public safety threat requires intervention. This directly affects how state/local officers interact with immigration enforcement in these settings. The law does not restrict federal immigration enforcement actions but limits state/local cooperation in protected locations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement from immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, protecting vulnerable populations and enhancing accountability - aligns with civil rights and oversight indicators in criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits immigration enforcement in hospitals, protecting healthcare access and patient safety in medical facilities.80% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits state/local enforcement in sensitive locations, limiting cooperation with federal immigration actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 1047: Establishing Community Well-Being, Recovery Housing, and Family Stabilization Act

SB 1047 creates a non-criminal system to address homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges by requiring law enforcement to issue verbal warnings, then written warnings, and finally refer individuals to community behavioral health centers after three encounters - replacing arrests or citations. The bill sets standards for recovery housing to be substance-free, trauma-informed, and long-term, with specific provisions for family recovery housing supporting pregnant women and mothers with children. It prohibits criminalizing homelessness or addiction, integrates community behavioral health centers with recovery housing services, and mandates an annual report from a state advisory team, all using existing state resources without new funding. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces arrests for homelessness/addiction with behavioral health referrals, reducing criminalization and promoting treatment-based reform per bill's core mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects individuals from law enforcement to behavioral health centers, establishing community-based mental health services and recovery housing standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes recovery housing standards for homelessness, focusing on trauma-informed, substance-free housing and family stabilization, advancing housing stability through behavioral health referrals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health Substance Abuse Homelessness

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 25, 2026

HB 5067: Relating to the powers and duties of the director of the Division of Administrative Services

HB 5067 clarifies the Division of Administrative Services' role in managing federal grants for law enforcement. It allows the Director to directly partner with law enforcement agencies (like the State Police) to apply for and administer federal grants restricted to such agencies. The bill also removes a previous requirement for the Deputy Secretary to hear certain appeals, instead directing the Office of Administrative Hearings to handle appeals from the Governor’s Committee on Crime subcommittees. This affects how state agencies coordinate federal grant funding and process appeals related to law enforcement certification decisions. The changes streamline grant administration but do not create new law enforcement powers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill streamlines federal grant access for law enforcement agencies, enabling funding for criminal justice programs through direct administrative partnerships.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5589: Relating to cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

HB 5589 (West Virginia) prohibits state law enforcement agencies from entering new or continuing existing 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities (like ICE). It requires judicial warrants for ICE to enter nonpublic areas of government facilities or conduct enforcement in sensitive locations (schools, hospitals, places of worship). The bill bans detaining individuals solely based on ICE detainers and prohibits transferring people to ICE without a warrant. It directly affects all West Virginia law enforcement agencies and state facilities by restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement absent court authorization. The bill repeals previous state laws governing immigration cooperation and establishes new requirements for warrant-based enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts ICE access without warrants and bans detainers, protecting civil rights in law enforcement interactions, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits 287(g) agreements, requires warrants for ICE access to sensitive locations, bans detainer-based detentions - limits state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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