West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 8 R cosponsors

SB 270 — Declaring sale and manufacture of firearms essential business during declared emergency

Last action — Chapter 241, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 12, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on August 08, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill SB 270 changes the title to emphasize its focus on protecting firearm owners' rights during emergencies and clarifies that the sale and maintenance of firearms, ammunition, and related items are considered essential services. It also includes provisions to prevent restrictions on firearms training entities during such times. This matters because it aims to bolster the rights of gun owners and ensure businesses related to firearms can operate without interference during crises. Additionally, the amendment allows for specific limited government actions in emergencies while providing a pathway for legal recourse if firearms are unlawfully seized.

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Latest
SB270 HFA Masters and Butler 4-4 #1Casto 3264 Delegate Masters and Butler moved to amend the bill on page 3, section 19a, line 48, immediately following the word “activities”, by striking the remainder of subdivision (9).   AdoptedRejected
SB270 HFAT Akers 4-8Casto 3264 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:“A Bill to amend  and reenact §15-5-19a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to limiting restrictions of firearms owners during certain states of emergency and other like states;
declaring the sale, repair, maintenance, and manufacture of firearms, ammunition, and related accessories and components to be essential businesses and services for the purposes of safety and security in times of declared emergency or any other statutorily authorized responses to disaster, war, acts of terrorism, riot or civil disorder, or other emergencies;
adding entities engaged in providing firearms safety training, or firearms safety instructor courses, classes, or programs to a list of entities the operation of which may not be restricted by state action in an emergency;
limiting restrictions on lawful hunting or fishing activities in an emergency;
prohibiting specific governmental regulation of firearms, ammunition, components or accessories of any kind or nature, or their use or possession;
extending the expiration date of concealed license during emergencies;
providing enumerated exceptions that would permit limited government action in the regulation of firearms in emergencies in certain narrowly tailored factual scenarios;
creating an action for damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or other appropriate redress for the unlawful seizure or confiscation of firearms or related accessories and components;
and providing for civil damages.”  AdoptedRejected 
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Action History

  1. Chapter 241, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/25/2025

  3. To Governor 4/14/2025

  4. Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 4/14/2025 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 4/14/2025 - Senate Journal

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to House

  10. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 418)

  11. House Message received

  12. Communicated to Senate

  13. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  14. Passed House (Roll No. 416)

  15. Read 3rd time

  16. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  17. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  18. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  19. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  20. Read 2nd time

  21. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  22. Read 1st time

  23. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  24. With amendment, do pass

  25. Markup Discussion

  26. To House Judiciary

  27. To Judiciary

  28. Introduced in House

  29. House received Senate message

  30. Ordered to House

  31. Passed Senate (Roll No. 33)

  32. Read 3rd time

  33. Laid over on 3rd reading 2/25/2025

  34. Laid over on 3rd reading 2/24/2025

  35. On 3rd reading

  36. Read 2nd time

  37. On 2nd reading

  38. Read 1st time

  39. On 1st reading

  40. Committee substitute reported

  41. To Judiciary

  42. Introduced in Senate

  43. To Judiciary

  44. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 143 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (143)

143 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 143 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 98 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 84001
Democrat 8100
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 98101
% of votes cast 98%1%0%1%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28001
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Bill Hamilton Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Not Voting
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 270?
SB 270 is sponsored by Chris Rose (Republican), Darren Thorne (Republican), Vince Deeds (Republican), Phillips, Patricia Rucker (Republican), Craig A. Hart (Republican), T. Kevan Bartlett (Republican), Robbie Morris (Republican), and Patrick Martin (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 270?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 12, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 270?
Track SB 270 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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