West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted 8 R cosponsors

HB 5091 — West Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Act

Last action — Chapter 89, 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 25, 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 (8 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

4 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to House Bill 5091 significantly expands protections for critical infrastructure in West Virginia by removing the requirement that such facilities must be physically enclosed to be protected. It also includes digital assets, such as hardware and software, in the definition of critical infrastructure, and introduces harsher penalties for offenses related to damage or trespass. This change is important as it acknowledges the growing threat of cyberattacks, enhancing the security of vital facilities against both physical and digital threats, and ensuring stricter consequences for those who violate these protections.

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HB5091 SFAT Plymale #1 3-4Curia  7824Senator Plymale moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:Eng.
HB5091 SFA Plymale #1 3-4Curia  7824Senate Plymale moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
Com.
ARTICLE 10.
Sub.
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY.
for House Bill 5091—A BILL to amend and reenact §61-10-34 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the "West Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Act";
§61-10-34.
defining terms;
Critical Infrastructure Protection Act;
removing the requirement that a critical infrastructure facility be enclosed;
prohibiting certain acts, including trespass and conspiracy to trespass against property designated a critical Infrastructure facility;
including hardware, software, digital property, nuclear reactors, and nuclear components in definition of critical infrastructure facility;
criminal penalties;
clarifying that digital and physical equipment is protected;
and civil action.
including damage inflicted by cyber-attack or digital interference as punishable conduct;
(a) This section may be referred to as the "West Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Act".(b) For purposes of this section:"Critical Infrastructure" means systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States of America or the State of West Virginia that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, state economic security, national public health or safety, state public health or safety, or any combination of those matters, whether such systems or assets are in operation or are under any state of construction."Critical infrastructure facility" means one of the following:
increasing criminal penalties;
if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs that are posted on the property that are reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders and indicate that entry is forbidden without site authorization:(1) A petroleum or alumina refinery;(2) An electrical power generating facility, substation, switching station, electrical control center or electric power lines, and associated equipment infrastructure;(3) A chemical, polymer, or rubber manufacturing facility;(4) A water intake structure, water treatment facility, wastewater treatment plant, or pump station;(5) A natural gas compressor station;(6) A liquid natural gas terminal or storage facility;(7) Wireline and wireless telecommunications infrastructure;(8) A port, railroad switching yard, trucking terminal, or other freight transportation facility;(9) A gas processing plant, including a plant used in the processing, treatment, or fractionation of natural gas or natural gas liquids;(10) A transmission facility used by a federally licensed radio or television station;(11) A steelmaking facility that uses an electric arc furnace to make steel;(12) A facility identified and regulated by the United States Department of Homeland Security Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program;(13) A dam that is regulated by the state or federal government;(14) A natural gas distribution utility facility including, but not limited to, pipeline interconnections, a city gate or town border station, metering station, below- or above-ground pipeline or piping and truck loading or offloading facility, a natural gas storage facility, a natural gas transmission facility, or a natural gas utility distribution facility;(15) A crude oil or refined products storage and distribution facility including, but not limited to, valve sites, pipeline interconnections, pump station, metering station, below- or above-ground pipeline or piping, and truck loading or offloading facility;(16) Military facilities, including national guard facilities and equipment storage areas where non-military personnel are prohibited;
creating  second offense penalties for a person who willfully damages, destroys, vandalizes, defaces, or tampers with equipment in a critical infrastructure facility causing damage in excess of $2,500;
(17) Department of Highways facilities and locations near or on roads or highways where the public is prohibited;(18) Health care facilities;(19) Any above-ground portion of an oil, gas, hazardous liquid, or chemical pipeline, tank, or other storage facility that is enclosed by a fence, other physical barrier, or is clearly marked with signs prohibiting trespassing that are obviously designed to exclude intruders;
providing person who buys or receives certain property stolen from a critical infrastructure facility is guilty of larceny;
or (20) A commercial service airport as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration;
providing exception to larceny for persons acting at the request of law enforcement or in cooperation with law enforcement;
(21) Any nuclear reactor and its associated components including, but not limited to, components related to modular or microreactors, cooling technologies, sensors, instrumentation, or storage involved in training or research opportunities;
providing liability for compensatory and punitive damages in certain circumstances;
or(22) The hardware, software, or other digital property of any critical infrastructure facility listed in this subsection.
providing for forfeiture of items of personal property in certain circumstances;
 (c)(1) Any person who willfully and knowingly trespasses or enters property containing a critical infrastructure facility without permission by the owner of the property or lawful occupant thereof is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, or confined in jail not less than 30 days nor more than one year, or both fined and confined.
and providing that forfeiture be governed by the applicable provisions of the West Virginia Contraband Forfeiture Act.
If the intent of the trespasser is to willfully damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, tamper with the physical or digital equipment, or impede or inhibit operations of the critical infrastructure facility, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or confined in a jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.(2) (A) Any person who willfully damages, destroys, vandalizes, defaces, or tampers with the physical or digital equipment in a critical infrastructure facility causing damage, including damage inflicted by cyber-attack or digital interference in excess of $2,500 is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 $3,000 nor more than $5,000 $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.
  AdoptedRejected    
(B) Any person convicted of a second offense under the provisions of this subdivision is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $15,000, or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a term of not less than two years nor more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.(3) Any person who conspires with any person to commit the offense of trespass against a critical infrastructure facility in violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and the trespass actually occurs is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount of not less than $2,500 $250 nor more than $10,000 $1,000.
Any person who conspires with any person to willfully damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, or tamper with equipment in a critical infrastructure facility and the damage, destruction, vandalization, defacing, or tampering causes damage, including damage inflicted by cyber-attack or digital interference in excess of $2,500 is guilty of a felony and, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $5,000 $3,000 nor more than $20,000 $10,000.(d)(1) Any person who is arrested for or convicted of an offense under this section may be held civilly liable for any damages to personal or real property while trespassing, in addition to the penalties imposed by this section.(2) Any person or entity that compensates, provides consideration to, or remunerates a person for trespassing as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section may also be held liable for damages to personal or real property committed by the person compensated or remunerated for trespassing.(e) A person who buys or receives from another person, aids in concealing, transfers to a person other than the owner thereof, or possesses any stolen goods or other thing of value from a critical infrastructure facility, which he or she knows or has reason to believe has been stolen from a critical infrastructure facility, is guilty of larceny, and may be prosecuted although the principal offender has not been convicted:
Provided, That possession of stolen goods from a critical infrastructure facility while acting at the request of law enforcement or in cooperation with law enforcement does not constitute a violation of this section.
  Any person convicted of an offense under this subsection, in addition the criminal penalties imposed for larceny, is liable to the critical infrastructure facility owner for compensatory damages and, in addition, for punitive damages in an amount not less than three times the amount of the compensatory damages.
(e) (f) The provisions of this section §61-10-34(c)(1) of this code do not apply to:
(1) Any any person or organization:(i) (1) Monitoring or attentive to compliance with public or worker safety laws, or, wage and hour requirements;
(ii) (2) Picketing at the workplace that is otherwise lawful and arises out of a bona fide labor dispute, including any controversy concerning wages, salaries, hours, working conditions, or benefits, including health and welfare, sick leave, insurance, and pension or retirement provisions, the managing or maintenance of collective bargaining agreements, and the terms to be included in those agreements;
or(iii) (3) Engaging in union organizing or recruitment activities, including attempting to reach workers verbally, in writing with pamphlets, and investigation of non-union working conditions, or both. (2) (g) The provisions of this section do not apply to:
(1) The right to free speech or assembly including, but not limited to, protesting and picketing;
or (3) (2) A contractor who has a contractual relationship with a critical infrastructure facility and the contractor’s employees are acting within their scope of employment performing work at a critical infrastructure facility.(h)(1) All items of personal property which are used, have been used, or are intended for use in perpetration of theft or damage to infrastructure are subject to forfeiture.(2) The items of personal property subject to forfeiture include all conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles, or vessels, except that:
(A) A conveyance used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier may not be forfeited under this section unless it appears that the person owning the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of this section;(B) A conveyance may not be forfeited under the provisions of this article, unless the state proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the person owning the conveyance knew, or had reason to know, that the conveyance was being employed or was likely to be employed in a violation of this section;
and(C) A bona fide security interest or other valid lien in any conveyance may not be forfeited under the provisions of this article, unless the state proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the holder of the security interest or lien either knew, or had reason to know, that the conveyance was being used or was likely to be used in a violation of this section.(3) All procedures relating to the seizure and disposition of property subject to forfeiture under the authority of this section are governed by the applicable provisions of the West Virginia Contraband Forfeiture Act, §60A-7-701 et seq.
of this code. AdoptedRejected
View plain text versions (6)

Action History

  1. Chapter 89, Acts, Regular Session, 2024

  2. Approved by Governor 3/26/24

  3. To Governor 3/21/2024

  4. Approved by Governor 3/26/24 - House Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 3/26/2024 - Senate Journal

  6. To Governor 3/21/2024 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 3/21/2024 - Senate Journal

  8. House Message received

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to Senate

  11. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 519)

  12. House received Senate message

  13. Senate requests House to concur

  14. Floor title amendment adopted

  15. Committee title amendment withdrawn by unanimous consent

  16. Passed Senate (Roll No. 337)

  17. Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  18. Committee amendment withdrawn by unanimous consent

  19. Read 3rd time

  20. On 3rd reading with right to amend

  21. Read 2nd time

  22. On 2nd reading

  23. Read 1st time

  24. Immediate consideration

  25. Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment

  26. To Judiciary

  27. To Judiciary

  28. Introduced in Senate

  29. Communicated to Senate

  30. Passed House (Roll No. 104)

  31. Read 3rd time

  32. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  33. Read 2nd time

  34. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  35. Read 1st time

  36. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  37. By substitute, do pass

  38. To House Judiciary

  39. Introduced in House

  40. To Judiciary

  41. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 5 voted No

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 94 Yea · 4 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 65001
Unaffiliated 25100
Democrat 4301
Total 94402
% of votes cast 94%4%0%2%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kirby — Yea
Ross — Yea
Kump — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Linville — Yea
Foster — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Steele — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Martin — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Summers — Yea
Tully — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Warner — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Devault — Yea
Householder — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Fast — Yea
Hamilton — Nay
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Nay
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Not Voting
Mike Pushkin Democrat Nay
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 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 88 Yea · 7 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 65001
Unaffiliated 20204
Democrat 3500
Total 88705
% of votes cast 88%7%0%5%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Espinosa — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Fast — Yea
Ross — Yea
Kump — Yea
Smith — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Linville — Yea
Foster — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Summers — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Martin — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Tully — Yea
Warner — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Devault — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Rowe — Nay
Hamilton — Nay
Householder — Not Voting
Nestor — Not Voting
Steele — Not Voting
Kirby — Not Voting
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Nay
John Williams Democrat Nay
Kayla Young Democrat Nay
Mike Pushkin Democrat Nay
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott 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
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

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5091?
HB 5091 is sponsored by Wayne Clark (Republican), Tully, Margitta Mazzocchi (Republican), Jarred Cannon (Republican), Andy Shamblin (Republican), Phil Mallow (Republican), DeVault, Espinosa, Dana Ferrell (Republican), Kathie Hess Crouse (Republican), and Stanley Adkins (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5091?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 25, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 5091?
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