West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee 4 R cosponsors

HB 5445 — Revising the statute to reduce the minimum age for a cadet for the West Virginia State Police from the age of 21 to the age of 18.

Last action — On 1st reading, House Calendar

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

This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced February 05, 2024. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House of Delegates.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low 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

Stalled 22% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).

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

9 added · 12 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill, now called Committee Substitute for HB 5445, changes the minimum age requirement for becoming a cadet in the West Virginia State Police from 21 years old to 18 years old. This change also removes any upper age limit for applicants. This matters because lowering the age makes it easier for younger individuals to start their careers in law enforcement, potentially addressing staffing shortages and allowing fresh talent into the force.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 5445 By Delegates Hott, Kelly, Kimble, and Ward [Introduced February 05, 2024;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for House Bill 5445 By Delegates Hott, Kelly, Kimble, and Ward [Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr HB 2024R3503H 2024R3542S A BILL to amend and reenact §15-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, revising the statute to reduce the minimum age for a cadet for the West Virginia State Police from the age of 21 to the age of 18.
Reported on February 23, 2024] CS for HB 5445 A BILL to amend and reenact §15-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, revising the statute to reduce the minimum age for a cadet for the West Virginia State Police from the age of 21 to the age of 18;
and eliminating the upper age restriction.
An annual report shall be filed with the Legislature on or before January 1 of each year by the superintendent which includes a summary of the efforts and the effectiveness of those efforts intended to recruit females, Intr HB 2024R3503H 2024R3542S African-Americans, and other minorities into the ranks of the State Police.
An annual report shall be filed with the Legislature on or before January 1 of each year by the superintendent which 1 CS for HB 5445 includes a summary of the efforts and the effectiveness of those efforts intended to recruit females, African-Americans, and other minorities into the ranks of the State Police.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to revise the statute to reduce the minimum age for a cadet for the West Virginia State Police from the age of 21 to the age of 18.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. On 1st reading, House Calendar

  2. Placed on House Calendar

  3. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  4. By substitute, do pass

  5. To House Judiciary

  6. Introduced in House

  7. To Judiciary

  8. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 148 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (148)

148 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 148 →

"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

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 5445?
HB 5445 is sponsored by Bryan Ward (Republican), Laura Kimble (Republican), John Paul Hott (Republican), and Betsy Kelly (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5445?
This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced February 05, 2024. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5445?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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