HB 2551 — Increase criminal penalties for trespassing livestock
Last action — To Judiciary
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House of Delegates
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
35 added · 30 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to House Bill 2551 updates the penalties for livestock owners whose animals trespass on others' property and cause damage. The bill now includes stricter penalties for repeat offenders, increasing the timeframe for being charged with a misdemeanor from six months to twelve months after the first incident. This change is significant because it aims to hold livestock owners more accountable for negligence and protect property rights, potentially reducing property damage and conflicts between landowners.
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increasing the criminal penalties for the second and subsequent misdemeanor offenses of negligently permitting livestock to run at large and trespass on the property of other landowners which injures a person or destroys the property of another person;
extending the period of time in which a person may be charged with a violation of the section;
and creating criminal penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 18.
GENERAL STOCK LAW.
§19-18-3.
Criminal penalties for trespassing livestock.
(a) While livestock may escape enclosures due to accident or unforeseen circumstances, it is unlawful for the owner of livestock to negligently permit livestock to run at large and trespass on the property of other landowners.
(b) If livestock injures a person or destroys the property of another person while negligently trespassing, the owner of the livestock shall be given an oral or written warning for the first offense.
For a second offense within six 12 months of the first, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 $100 nor more than $100 $200.
For a third or subsequent offense within six 12 months of the second or subsequent offense, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 $200 nor more than $1,000 $2000.
View plain text versions (4)
- Motion for previous question adopted (Roll No. 344) View text Current html
- Committee Substitute Engrossed Committee Substitute pdf
- Committee Substitute View text pdf
- Introduced Introduced Version pdf
Action History
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To Judiciary
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To Judiciary
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Introduced in Senate
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Communicated to Senate
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Passed House (Roll No. 345)
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Motion for previous question adopted (Roll No. 344)
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Read 3rd time
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On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
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Read 2nd time
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On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
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Read 1st time
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On 1st reading, Special Calendar
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By substitute, do pass
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To House Judiciary
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Introduced in House
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To Judiciary
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Filed for introduction
Sponsors
- Dave Foggin · Primary
- Carl "Bill" Roop · Cosponsor
- Vacant1 · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on · 40 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Dave Foggin Republican
Co-sponsors (2)
- Carl "Bill" Roop Republican
- Vacant1 Republican
Not signed on (149)
149 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 149 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 63 | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 68 | 31 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 68% | 31% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (100)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Kump | — | Yea |
| Devault | — | Yea |
| Linville | — | Yea |
| Flanigan | — | Yea |
| Steele | — | Nay |
| Clark, T | — | Yea |
| Anitra Hamilton | Democrat | Nay |
| Evan Hansen | Democrat | Nay |
| Hollis Lewis | Democrat | Nay |
| John Williams | Democrat | Nay |
| Kayla Young | Democrat | Nay |
| Mike Pushkin | Democrat | Nay |
| Rick Garcia | Democrat | Nay |
| Sean Hornbuckle | Democrat | Nay |
| Shawn Fluharty | Democrat | Nay |
| Adam Burkhammer | Republican | Yea |
| Adam Vance | Republican | Nay |
| Andy Shamblin | Republican | Yea |
| Betsy Kelly | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Ridenour | Republican | Yea |
| Bob Fehrenbacher | Republican | Nay |
| Bryan Smith | Republican | Yea |
| 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 | Nay |
| Clay Riley | Republican | Yea |
| D. Rolland Jennings | Republican | Yea |
| Dana Ferrell | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Gary G. Howell | Republican | Nay |
| Geno Chiarelli | Republican | Nay |
| George Miller | Republican | Yea |
| George Street | Republican | Yea |
| Henry Dillon | Republican | Nay |
| Ian T. Masters | Republican | Yea |
| James Robert "JB" Akers II | Republican | Yea |
| Jarred Cannon | Republican | Nay |
| Jeff Campbell | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Eldridge | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| John Paul Hott | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Kyle | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Pinson | Republican | Nay |
| Jordan Bridges | Republican | Yea |
| Jordan Maynor | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Holstein | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Mark Zatezalo | Republican | Nay |
| Marshall W. Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Marty Gearheart | Republican | Nay |
| Matthew Rohrbach | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Amos | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Hite | Republican | Nay |
| Michael Hornby | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Roy Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Browning | Republican | Yea |
| S. Chris Anders | Republican | Yea |
| Sarah Drennan | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| Walter Hall | Republican | Yea |
| Wayne Clark | Republican | Yea |
| William Anderson | Republican | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 66 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 70 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 70% | 30% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (100)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Devault | — | Yea |
| Kump | — | Yea |
| Flanigan | — | Yea |
| Linville | — | Nay |
| Steele | — | Nay |
| Clark, T | — | Yea |
| Anitra Hamilton | Democrat | Nay |
| Evan Hansen | Democrat | Nay |
| Hollis Lewis | Democrat | Nay |
| John Williams | Democrat | Nay |
| Kayla Young | Democrat | Nay |
| Mike Pushkin | Democrat | Nay |
| Rick Garcia | Democrat | Nay |
| Sean Hornbuckle | Democrat | Nay |
| Shawn Fluharty | Democrat | Nay |
| Adam Burkhammer | Republican | Yea |
| Adam Vance | Republican | Nay |
| Andy Shamblin | Republican | Yea |
| Betsy Kelly | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Ridenour | Republican | Nay |
| Bob Fehrenbacher | Republican | Nay |
| Bryan Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Bryan Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Carl "Bill" Roop | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Charles Sheedy | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Phillips | Republican | Nay |
| Christopher W. Toney | Republican | Yea |
| Chuck Horst | Republican | Nay |
| Clay Riley | Republican | Yea |
| D. Rolland Jennings | Republican | Yea |
| Dana Ferrell | Republican | Yea |
| Dave Foggin | Republican | Yea |
| David Cannon | Republican | Nay |
| David Green | Republican | Yea |
| David McCormick | Republican | Nay |
| Dean Jeffries | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Smith | Republican | Nay |
| Elias Coop-Gonzalez | Republican | Yea |
| Eric Brooks | Republican | Yea |
| Erica Moore | Republican | Yea |
| Evan Worrell | Republican | Yea |
| Gary G. Howell | Republican | Nay |
| Geno Chiarelli | Republican | Yea |
| George Miller | Republican | Yea |
| George Street | Republican | Nay |
| Henry Dillon | Republican | Nay |
| Ian T. Masters | Republican | Nay |
| James Robert "JB" Akers II | Republican | Yea |
| Jarred Cannon | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Campbell | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Eldridge | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| John Paul Hott | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Kyle | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Pinson | Republican | Yea |
| Jordan Bridges | Republican | Yea |
| Jordan Maynor | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Holstein | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Marty Gearheart | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Rohrbach | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Amos | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Hite | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Sarah Drennan | Republican | Yea |
| Scot C. Heckert | Republican | Yea |
| Stanley Adkins | Republican | Yea |
| Trenton Barnhart | Republican | Nay |
| 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 |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 2551?
- HB 2551 is sponsored by Dave Foggin (Republican), Carl "Bill" Roop (Republican), and Vacant1 (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 2551?
- This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” 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 HB 2551?
- Track HB 2551 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on HB 2551
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