West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

SB 705 — Creating offense of theft by conversion

Last action — Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  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.

Vetoed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on April 01, 2026.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Creating offense of theft by conversion

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

64 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to SB 705 focus on clarifying the definition and penalties for theft by conversion. One key change is the addition of specific provisions regarding restitution, ensuring that victims can receive compensation from defendants in these cases. Moreover, the updated bill outlines more precise rules about where such cases can be prosecuted, making it easier for victims to have their cases heard in a convenient location. These changes are important as they strengthen the legal framework for addressing theft and improve protections for victims.

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SB705 HFAT Akers 3-13Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: “A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-61, providing definitions;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Enrolled Senate Bill 705 B YSENATORS W ELD, EEDS,AND WOELFEL [Passed March 14, 2026;
in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)] Enr SB 705 AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-61, relating to providing definitions;
and establishing venue.”;    AdoptedRejected 
and establishing venue.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 3.
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.
§61-3-61.
Theft by conversion;
penalties;
and restitution.
(a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Property" includes, but is not limited to, leased or rented personal property;
"Personal property" means personal property having a replacement cost value greater than $100, excluding any late fees and penalties, including but not limited to heavy equipment contained within the definition of "heavy equipment rental inventory" in §11-5-15 of this code, tractors, and other farm equipment primarily designed for use in agriculture;
and "Funds" means any form of money, including cash, payment instruments such as checks, money orders, or sales drafts, and receipts from electronic fund transfers.
(b) A person is guilty of the offense of theft by conversion when, after having lawfully obtained funds or other property of another under an agreement or by some other legal obligation in order to make a specified application of the funds or a specified disposition of the property, he or she knowingly converts the funds or property to his or her own use in violation of the agreement or legal obligation.
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section involving funds or other property valued in an amount of less than $2,500 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not more than one year, fined not more than $1,000, or both fined and confined.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section involving funds or other property valued in an amount of $2,500 or more, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be Enr SB 705 imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than 10 years, fined not more than $2,500, or both fined and imprisoned.
(d) The court, when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense under this section, shall order, in addition to or in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution to any victim in accordance with §61-11A-4 of this code.
(e) Venue for prosecution of any violation of this section may be in the county in which the defendant resides, the county in which the victim resides, in the county where the property is located, in the county where the agreement was executed, or in the county where the obligation arose.
Enr SB 705 The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate ...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
President of the Senate ...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor 3
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Judiciary

  5. Reported do pass

  6. On 1st reading

  7. Read 1st time

  8. On 2nd reading

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. On 3rd reading

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. Passed Senate (Roll No. 198)

  13. Ordered to House

  14. House received Senate message

  15. Introduced in House

  16. To Judiciary

  17. To House Judiciary

  18. Markup Discussion

  19. With amendment, do pass

  20. Immediate consideration

  21. Read 1st time

  22. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  23. Read 2nd time

  24. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  25. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  26. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  27. Read 3rd time

  28. Passed House (Roll No. 552)

  29. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  30. Communicated to Senate

  31. House Message received

  32. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 627)

  33. Communicated to House

  34. Completed legislative action

  35. To Governor 3/19/2026

  36. To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal

  37. Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026

  38. Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

  39. Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

Sponsors

  • Weld · Primary
  • Woelfel · Cosponsor
  • Vince Deeds · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Weld

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"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
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 4000
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 →

Roll Call

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28001
Democrat 4000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
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 Not Voting
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 →

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 SB 705 do?
Creating offense of theft by conversion
Who sponsors SB 705?
SB 705 is sponsored by Weld, Woelfel, and Vince Deeds (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 705?
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 SB 705?
Track SB 705 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 7 days ago · updated continuously

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