West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted 5 R cosponsors

HB 4561 — Clarifying the sheriff’s authority to hire within their office.

Last action — Chapter 210, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

  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 20, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 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.

In plain language

The bill clarifies a sheriff's hiring authority within their office.

This bill seeks to provide clarity on the authority of sheriffs to hire personnel in their offices. It outlines how sheriffs can manage their hiring processes.

Summary

Clarifying the sheriff’s authority to hire within their office.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

39 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HB 4561 clarifies the process by which sheriffs can hire and promote staff within their offices. It specifically states that sheriffs may appoint multiple chief deputies with the approval of the county commission, enhancing their flexibility in staffing. This change is important because it allows sheriffs greater control over their teams, which could lead to better management and support for law enforcement efforts in their communities. Additionally, it ensures that individuals holding the position of chief deputy or jailer retain their rank, maintaining morale and stability within the department.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 4561 By Delegates Brooks, Roop, Pritt, Green, and Martin [Introduced January 20, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 4561 B YDELEGATES BROOKS, ROOP, RITT, REEN,AND MARTIN [Passed March 10, 2026;
referred to the Committee on Government Organization] Eng HB 4561 A BILL to amend and reenact §7-14-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying a sheriff's authority to hire within their own office.
in effect 90 days from passage (June 8, 2026)] Enr HB 4561 AN ACT to amend and reenact §7-14-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying a sheriff's authority to hire within their own office.
Provided, That, except for the chief deputy or jailer, no person shall be eligible for promotion from the lower grade to the next higher grade until such person shall have completed at least two years' service in the next lower grade:
Provided, That, except for chief deputy or jailer, no person shall be eligible for promotion from the lower grade to the next higher grade until such person shall have completed at least two years' service in the next lower grade:
The provisions of this section shall be construed to apply and to 1 Eng HB 4561 inure to the benefit of all persons who have ever been subject to the provisions of this article.
The provisions of this section shall be construed to apply and to Enr HB 4561 inure to the benefit of all persons who have ever been subject to the provisions of this article.
Enr HB 4561 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 3
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Government Organization

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Government Organization

  5. Markup Discussion

  6. Do pass

  7. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  8. Read 1st time

  9. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  10. Read 2nd time

  11. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  12. Read 3rd time

  13. Passed House (Roll No. 87)

  14. Communicated to Senate

  15. Introduced in Senate

  16. To Government Organization

  17. To Government Organization

  18. Reported do pass

  19. On 1st reading

  20. Read 1st time

  21. On 2nd reading

  22. Read 2nd time

  23. On 3rd reading

  24. Read 3rd time

  25. Passed Senate (Roll No. 401)

  26. Communicated to House

  27. Completed legislative action

  28. House received Senate message

  29. To Governor 3/11/2026

  30. To Governor 3/11/2026 - Senate Journal

  31. Approved by Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal

  32. Approved by Governor 3/19/2026

  33. Approved by Governor 3/19/2026 - House Journal

  34. Chapter 210, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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

Roll Call

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29000
Democrat 4000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 88 Yea · 0 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 770010
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 2001
Total 880011
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
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 Not Voting
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
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 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 Not Voting
David McCormick Republican Not Voting
Dean Jeffries Republican Not Voting
Doug Smith Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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
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

What does HB 4561 do?
Clarifying the sheriff’s authority to hire within their office.
Who sponsors HB 4561?
HB 4561 is sponsored by Eric Brooks (Republican), Carl "Bill" Roop (Republican), Vacant1 (Republican), David Green (Republican), and Carl Martin (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4561?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4561?
Track HB 4561 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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