West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 11 R cosponsors

HB 4997 — Relating to residency restrictions for persons convicted of terroristic threats

Last action — To Judiciary

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  1. 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 died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Relating to residency restrictions for persons convicted of terroristic threats

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

3 added · 13 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 4997 now specifies that individuals convicted of making felony terroristic threats related to schools or children will be banned from living within 1,000 feet of educational facilities. This change is aimed at enhancing public safety and protecting children by keeping those who have committed serious offenses away from places where children gather. By aligning this restriction with existing laws for sex offenders, it reinforces the importance of maintaining safe environments for students.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 4997 FISCAL NOTE By Delegates Martin, Burkhammer, Phillips, Hornby, Funkhouser, Mallow, Butler, Ridenour, Zatezalo, Anderson, and McGeehan [Introduced January 30, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 4997 By Delegates Martin, Burkhammer, Phillips, Hornby, Funkhouser, Mallow, Butler, Ridenour, Zatezalo, Anderson, and McGeehan [Introduced January 30, 2026;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr 2026R3233 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-12-26a, relating to residency restrictions for persons convicted of terroristic threats involving schools or children;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Eng HB 4997 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-12-26a, relating to residency restrictions for persons convicted of terroristic threats involving schools or children;
Intr 2026R3233 NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit persons convicted of felony terroristic threats under §61-6-24 of this code involving schools or children from residing within 1,000 feet of an educational facility, consistent with existing residency restrictions for certain sex offenders under §62-12-26 of this code, to enhance public safety and prevent unsafe proximity to child-populated locations post-conviction.
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. Introduced in Senate

  2. To Judiciary

  3. To Judiciary

  4. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  5. Read 3rd time

  6. Passed House (Roll No. 96)

  7. Communicated to Senate

  8. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 1st time

  12. Do pass

  13. Markup Discussion

  14. To House Judiciary

  15. To House Homeland Security

  16. Markup Discussion

  17. Filed for introduction

  18. To Judiciary

  19. Introduced in House

  20. To House Judiciary

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

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 85002
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 96003
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Kump — Not Voting
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
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 Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Gregory A. Watt Republican Yea
Guy Ward Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Not Voting
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
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 Yea
John Jordan Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle 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
Lisa White Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos 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
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
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

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4997 do?
Relating to residency restrictions for persons convicted of terroristic threats
Who sponsors HB 4997?
HB 4997 is sponsored by Carl Martin (Republican), Adam Burkhammer (Republican), Chris Phillips (Republican), Michael Hornby (Republican), Joe Funkhouser (Republican), Phil Mallow (Republican), Jim Butler (Republican), Bill Ridenour (Republican), Mark Zatezalo (Republican), William Anderson (Republican), and Pat McGeehan (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4997?
This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” 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 4997?
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Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

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