West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 3 R cosponsors

SB 151 — Creating crime of assault on police dogs and other public safety animals

Last action — To House Judiciary

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

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

This bill aims to make it a crime to assault police dogs and other animals that help keep the public safe. If passed, it would provide legal protection for these animals and hold offenders accountable for harming them.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

162 added · 32 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to SB 151 clarify and strengthen the legal protections for public safety animals, such as police dogs. The bill now specifically outlines offenses for willfully causing injury or death to these animals, along with established penalties for offenders, which can include jail time and fines. Importantly, it also allows for a defense in cases where individuals intervene to protect these animals during their duties. This matters because it recognizes the critical role these animals play in public safety and aims to deter harm against them.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 151 By Senator Weld [Introduced February 12, 2025;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 151 BYSENATORWELD [Reported February 18, 2025, from the Committee on the Judiciary] CS for SB 151 A BILL to amend and reenact §61-11-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr SB 151 2025R1541 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-27a;
to amend the code by adding a new section, designated §61-2-10c;
and to repeal §19-20-24, relating to police dogs and other public safety animals;
and to repeal §19-20- 24, relating to police dogs and other public safety animals;
allowing for defense of public service animals;
and establishing criminal penalties.
establishing criminal penalties;
and specifying that the felony offenses set forth are qualifying offenses for recidivist sentencing purposes.
ARTICLE 3.
ARTICLE 2.
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.
CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON.
§61-3-27a.
§61-2-10c.
Willfully causing the death or injury to public safety animals.
Willfully causing the death or injury to public safety animals;
penalties;
right of self-defense on behalf of public safety animal.
(1) "Public safety animal" means a dog and any other animal specifically trained to assist public safety officers or persons working under the direction of, or in cooperation with, public safety officers in the performance of their official duties.
(1) "Public safety animal" means a dog and any other animal specifically trained to assist public safety officers or persons working under the direction of, or in cooperation with, public safety officers in the performance of their official duties;
(2) "Public safety officer" means a law-enforcement officer, fire prevention or investigation officer, correctional officer, or emergency services officer.
(2) "Public safety officer" means a law-enforcement officer, fire prevention or investigation officer, correctional officer, or emergency services officer;
(3) "Physical injury" means substantial physical pain or temporary impairment of the animal’s ability to physically function as a public service animal.
CS for SB 151 (3) "Physical injury" means substantial physical pain or temporary impairment of the animal’s ability to physically function as a public service animal;
(4) "Serious physical injury" means bodily injury that causes serious or prolonged physical injury or permanent impairment of the animal’s ability to function as a public service animal.
and (4) "Serious physical injury" means bodily injury that causes serious or prolonged physical injury or permanent impairment of the animal’s ability to function as a public service animal.
Intr SB 2025R1541 (b) Any person who willfully causes physical injury to a public safety animal is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.
(b) Any person who willfully causes physical injury to a public safety animal is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) or (c) of this section, any person who willfully causes the death of a public safety animal is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for an indeterminate term of not less than two years nor more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of this section, any person who willfully causes the deathof a public safety animal is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for an indeterminate term of not less than two years nor more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(e) The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who euthanizes an injured, ill, or infirm public safety animal as part of his or her official duties.
(e) The right of self-defense may be exercised by a person in defense of a public service animal.
(f) The provisions of §61-11A-4 relating to court-ordered restitution are applicable to persons convicted of a violation of this section.
(f) The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who euthanizes an injured, ill, or infirm public safety animal as part of his or her official duties.
NOTE:
(g) The provisions of §61-11A-4 of this code relating to court-ordered restitution are applicable to persons convicted of a violation of this section.
The purpose of this bill is to make it unlawful to harm, attempt to harm, or kill a police dog that is under the control of a law-enforcement or corrections officer who is acting in his or her official capacity.
§61-11-18.
The bill also defines the term "police dog" and sets forth penalties.
Punishment for second or third offense of felony.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
(a) For purposes of this section, "qualifying offense" means any offense or an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in the following provisions of this code:
CS for SB 151 (1) §60A-4-401(a)(i) and §60A-4-401(a)(ii);
(2) §60A-4-406;
(3) §60A-4-409(b)(1) and §60A-4-409 (b)(2);
(4) §60A-4-411;
(5) §60A-4-414;
(6) §60A-4-415;
(7) §60A-4-416(a);
(8) §61-2-1;
(9) §61-2-4;
(10) §61-2-7;
(11) §61-2-9(a);
(12) §61-2-9a(d) and §61-2-9a(e);
(13) §61-2-9b;
(14) §61-2-9c;
(15) §61-2-9d;
(16) §61-2-10;
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(17) §61-2-10b(b) and §61-2-10b(c);
(18) Felony provisions of §61-2-10b(d);
(19) §61-2-12;
(20) Felony provisions of §61-2-13;
(21) §61-2-14;
(22) §61-2-14a(a) and §61-2-14a(d);
(23) §61-2-14c;
(24) §61-2-14d(a) and §61-2-14d(b);
(25) §61-2-14f;
(26) §61-2-14h(a), §61-2-14h(b), and §61-2-14h(c);
CS for SB 151 (27) §61-2-16a(a) and §61-2-16a(b);
(28) Felony provisions of §61-2-16a(c);
(29) §61-2-28(d);
(30) §61-2-29(d) and §61-2-29(e);
(31) §61-2-29a;
(32) §61-3-1;
(33) §61-3-2;
(34) §61-3-3;
(35) §61-3-4;
(36) §61-3-5;
(37) §61-3-6;
(38) §61-3-7;
(39) §61-3-11;
(40) Felony violation of 61-3-12;
(41) §61-3-13(a);
(42) Felony violation of §61-3-18;
(43) Felony violation of §61-3-19;
(44) Felony violation of §61-3-20;
(45) Felony violation of §61-3-20a;
(46) Felony violation of §61-3-21;
(47) §61-3-22;
(48) Felony violation of §61-3-24;
(49) Felony violation of §61-3-24a;
(50) §61-3-27;
(51) §61-3-54;
(52) §61-3C-14b;
CS for SB 151 (53) §61-3E-5;
(54) Felony violation of §61-5-10;
(55) §61-5-17(b), §61-5-17(f), §61-5-17(h), and §61-5-17(i);
(56) §61-5-27;
(57) §61-6-24;
(58) Felony provisions of §61-7-7;
(59) §61-7-12;
(60) §61-7-15;
(61) §61-7-15a;
(62) §61-8-12;
(63) §61-8-19(b);
(64) §61-8A-2;
(65) §61-8A-4;
(66) §61-8A-5;
(67) §61-8B-3;
(68) §61-8B-4;
(69) §61-8B-5;
(70) §61-8B-7;
(71) §61-8B-10;
(72) §61-8B-11b;
(73) §61-8C-2;
(74) §61-8C-3;
(75) §61-8C-3a;
(76) §61-8D-2;
(77) §61-8D-2a;
(78) §61-8D-3;
CS for SB 151 (79) §61-8D-3a;
(80) §61-8D-4;
(81) §61-8D-4a;
(82) §61-8D-5;
(83) §61-8D-6;
(84) §61-10-31;
(85) §61-11-8;
(86) §61-11-8a;
(87) §61-14-2;
and (88) §17C-5-2(b), driving under the influence causing death.;
and (89) Felony provisions of §61-2-10c.
(b) Except as provided by subsection (c) of this section, when any person is convicted of a qualifying offense and is subject to imprisonment in a state correctional facility for the qualifying offender and it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that the person had been previously convicted in the United States of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal correctional facility, the court shall, if the sentence to be imposed is for a definite term of years, add five years to the time for which the person is or would be otherwise sentenced.
Whenever in that case the court imposes an indeterminate sentence, the minimum term shall be twice the term of years otherwise provided for under the sentence.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, when any person is convicted of first degree murder or second degree murder or a violation of §61-8B-3 of this code and it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that the person had been previously convicted in this state of first degree murder, second degree murder, or a violation of §61-8B-3 of this code, or has been so convicted under any law of the United States or any other state for an offense which has the same or substantially similar elements as any offense described in this CS for SB 151 subsection, the person shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for life and is not eligible for parole.
(d) When it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that the person has been twice previously convicted in the United States of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal correctional facility which has the same or substantially similar elements as a qualifying offense, the person shall be sentenced to imprisonment in a state correctional facility for life:
Provided, That prior convictions arising from the same transaction or series of transactions shall be considered a single offense for purposes of this section:
Provided, however, That the most recent previous qualifying offense which would otherwise constitute a qualifying offense for purposes of this subsection may not be considered if more than 20 years have elapsed between:
(1) The release of the person from his or her term of imprisonment or period of supervision resulting from the most recent qualifying offense or the expiration of a period of supervised release resulting from the offense;
and (2) the conduct underlying the current charge.
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Action History

  1. To House Judiciary

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. House received Senate message

  5. Ordered to House

  6. Passed Senate (Roll No. 20)

  7. Read 3rd time

  8. On 3rd reading

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. On 2nd reading

  11. Read 1st time

  12. On 1st reading

  13. Committee substitute reported

  14. To Judiciary

  15. Introduced in Senate

  16. To Judiciary

  17. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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 32 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27002
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 32002
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
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 Not Voting
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

What does SB 151 do?
This bill aims to make it a crime to assault police dogs and other animals that help keep the public safe. If passed, it would provide legal protection for these animals and hold offenders accountable for harming them.
Who sponsors SB 151?
SB 151 is sponsored by Ryan Weld (Republican), Vince Deeds (Republican), and Bill Hamilton (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 151?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 151?
Track SB 151 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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