West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted 11 R cosponsors

HB 4845 — To prohibit swatting

Last action — Chapter 87, Acts, Regular Session, 2024

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2024. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

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.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 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 · 4 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HB 4845 changes the title to make it clear that the bill focuses on enhancing penalties for falsely reporting emergencies and includes a process for restitution. This change simplifies the bill's intent, ensuring people understand it addresses serious misreporting issues. By clarifying these aspects, the bill aims to deter false reports that can waste emergency resources and cause public alarm.

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Previous
Latest
HB4845 S JUD AM #1 2-27Smith  7883 The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
HB4845 S JUD AMT #1 2-27Smith  7883 The Committee on Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:Eng.
ARTICLE 6.
Com.
CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE.
Sub.
§61-6-20.
for House Bill 4845— A Bill to amend and reenact §61-6-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the penalties for certain instances of false reporting of an emergency incident, clarifying the applicability of this section;
Falsely reporting an emergency incident.
and establishing a protocol for restitution.     AdoptedRejected
(a) A person is guilty of reporting a false emergency incident when knowing the information reported, conveyed, or circulated is false or baseless, he or she:(1) Initiates or circulates a false report or warning of or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, accident, illness, or other emergency under circumstances in which it is likely that public alarm or inconvenience will result or that firefighting apparatus, ambulance apparatus, one or more rescue vehicles or other emergency apparatus might be summoned;
or(2) Reports, by word or action, to any official or quasi-official agency or organization having the function of dealing with emergencies involving danger to life or property, an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, accident, illness, or other emergency in which it is likely that public alarm or inconvenience will result or that firefighting apparatus, ambulance apparatus, one or more rescue vehicles or other emergency apparatus might be summoned, which did not occur, does not in fact exist;
or(3) Reports to a law-enforcement officer or agency the alleged occurrence of any offense or incident which did not in fact occur, or an allegedly impending occurrence of an offense or incident which is not in fact about to occur, or false information relating to an actual offense or incident or to the alleged implication of some person therein;
or(4) Without just cause, calls or summons by telephone, fire alarm system, or otherwise, any firefighting apparatus, ambulance apparatus, rescue vehicles, or other emergency vehicles.(b) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection(a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500 or confined in the county jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined.(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of the provisions of this section or, of a violation of this section which results in bodily injury to another person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000, or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than one year nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(d) Prior to the sentencing of a person who has been convicted of a violation of this section, the court may enter an order directing any law enforcement agency or emergency service provider involved in the emergency response that wishes to be reimbursed for the costs incurred by the agency or provider during the emergency response, to file with the court within a specified time an itemized statement of those costs.
The court may then order the offender to reimburse the agency for all or a portion of those costs.(e) This section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized emergency drill.
     AdoptedRejected
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Action History

  1. Chapter 87, Acts, Regular Session, 2024

  2. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024

  3. To Governor 3/13/2024

  4. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 3/22/2024 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 3/13/2024 - Senate Journal

  7. To Governor 3/13/2024 - House Journal

  8. House Message received

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to Senate

  11. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 490)

  12. House received Senate message

  13. Senate requests House to concur

  14. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 336)

  15. Read 3rd time

  16. On 3rd reading

  17. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  18. Read 2nd time

  19. On 2nd reading

  20. Read 1st time

  21. Immediate consideration

  22. Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment

  23. To Judiciary

  24. To Judiciary

  25. Introduced in Senate

  26. Communicated to Senate

  27. Passed House (Roll No. 138)

  28. Read 3rd time

  29. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  30. Read 2nd time

  31. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  32. Read 1st time

  33. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  34. By substitute, do pass

  35. To House Judiciary

  36. With amendment, do pass, but first to Judiciary

  37. To House Technology and Infrastructure

  38. Introduced in House

  39. To Technology and Infrastructure then Judiciary

  40. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"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-SENATE AMENDED HB

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 64002
Unaffiliated 26000
Democrat 7001
Total 97003
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kirby — Yea
Ross — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Kump — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Foster — Yea
Linville — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Steele — Yea
Hamilton — Yea
Martin — Yea
Summers — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Tully — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Warner — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Devault — Yea
Householder — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Fast — Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Not Voting
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 Ward Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Not Voting
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach 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
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 16000
Unaffiliated 17000
Democrat 1000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MARONEY — Yea
STOVER — Yea
MARTIN — Yea
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
SWOPE — Yea
CAPUTO — Yea
NELSON — Yea
PHILLIPS — Yea
PLYMALE — Yea
TRUMP — Yea
HAMILTON — Yea
HUNT — Yea
JEFFRIES — Yea
SMITH — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
KARNES — Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
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
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 98 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 64002
Democrat 8000
Unaffiliated 26000
Total 98002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kirby — Yea
Ross — Yea
Kump — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Foster — Yea
Linville — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Steele — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Martin — Yea
Hamilton — Yea
Summers — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Tully — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Warner — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Devault — Yea
Householder — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Fast — Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin 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 Ward Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Green 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
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Not Voting
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Not Voting
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
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach 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
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson 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 HB 4845?
HB 4845 is sponsored by Roger Hanshaw (Republican), Bill Ridenour (Republican), Jordan Maynor (Republican), Darren Thorne (Republican), Andy Shamblin (Republican), Eric Brooks (Republican), Pat McGeehan (Republican), Geno Chiarelli (Republican), Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), Vacant1 (Republican), and Chris Phillips (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4845?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4845?
Track HB 4845 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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