Creating criminal penalties for introducing ransomware into computer with intent to extort
Do you support it?
Want to know if it passes?
We'll email you when SB 261 moves — a committee vote, a floor vote, or a signature. Nothing else.
Free forever · unsubscribe in one click.
Your answer was recorded either way.
Which district are you in?
Your ZIP is all we need to match you to your own representatives — so we can tell you how they voted on SB 261.
You're tracking SB 261
We'll email you the moment it moves.
SB 261 — Creating criminal penalties for introducing ransomware into computer with intent to extort
Last action — Chapter 84, Acts, Regular Session, 2020
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓Passed House of Delegates
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2020. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
4 sponsors
1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
13 added · 273 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest amendment to Bill SB 261 adds the phrase "a determinate sentence of" in multiple sections concerning sentencing guidelines. This change clarifies that the legislation now specifies fixed sentences for certain offenses instead of leaving room for more flexible sentencing options. This matters because it aims to create more consistency and predictability in how sentences are handed down, which can affect both the legal system's efficiency and individuals facing these sentences.
SBSB261 261H TextJUD skipAM navigation#1 SENATECasto PRESIDENT3264 SENATORS COMMITTEESThe VIDEO/AUDIOCommittee DISTRICTon MAPSthe SENATEJudiciary CLERKmoved SENATEto RULESamend HOUSEthe SPEAKERbill DELEGATESon COMMITTEESpage VIDEO/AUDIO5, DISTRICTsection MAPS61-3C-4(a), HOUSEline CLERK6, HOUSEafter RULESthe HOUSEword STAFF“for” JOINTby INTERIMinserting COMMITTEESthe LEGISLATIVEphrase ADMINISTRATOR“a LEGISLATIVEdeterminate SERVICESsentence DIVISIONof” PUBLICAND INFORMATIONOn LEGISLATIVEpage AUTOMATED5, SYSTEMSsection DIVISION61-3C-4(b), LEGISLATIVEline AUDITOR'S10, OFFICEafter PERFORMANCEthe EVALUATIONword &“for” RESEARCHby DIVISIONinserting POSTthe AUDITphrase DIVISION“a BUDGETdeterminate DIVISIONsentence REGULATORYof” AND FISCALON AFFAIRSpage DIVISION5, CLAIMSsection COMMISSION61-3C-4(d), CRIMEline VICTIMS19, RULE-MAKINGafter REVIEWthe SPECIALword INVESTIGATIONS“for” JUDICIALby COMP.inserting the phrase “a determinate sentence of” Adopted Rejected
COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO.
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version « Senate Bill 261 History OTHER VERSIONS — Committee Substitute (1) | Introduced Version | | Email Key:
Green = existing Code.
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 261 Senators Ihlenfeld, Baldwin, Stollings, and Maynard, original sponsors [Passed March 7, 2020;
in effect 90 days from passage] AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-3C-3 and §61-3C-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to contaminating a computer with ransomware;
creating criminal offense of introducing ransomware into any computer, computer system, or computer network with the intent to extort money or other consideration;
setting forth the elements of the offense;
defining terms;
and establishing criminal penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 3C.
WEST VIRGINIA COMPUTER CRIME AND ABUSE ACT.
§61-3C-3.
Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) “Access” means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, intercept data from, or otherwise make use of any computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, computer data, or other computer resources.
(2) “Authorization” means the express or implied consent given by a person to another to access or use said person’s computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, computer system, password, identifying code, or personal identification number.
(3) “Computer” means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high-speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions and includes any data storage facility or communication facility directly related to, or operating in conjunction with, such device.
The term “computer” includes any connected or directly related device, equipment, or facility which enables the computer to store, retrieve, or communicate computer programs, computer data, or the results of computer operations to or from a person, another computer, or another device, file servers, mainframe systems, desktop personal computers, laptop personal computers, tablet personal computers, cellular telephones, game consoles, and any other electronic data storage device or equipment, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand-held calculator, or other similar device.
(4) “Computer contaminant” means any set of computer instructions that are designed to damage or destroy information within a computer, computer system, or computer network without the consent or permission of the owner of the information.
They include, but are not limited to, a group of computer instructions commonly called viruses or worms that are self-replicating or self-propagating and are designed to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, consume computer resources, or damage or destroy the normal operation of the computer.
(5) “Computer data” means any representation of knowledge, facts, concepts, instruction, or other information computed, classified, processed, transmitted, received, retrieved, originated, stored, manifested, measured, detected, recorded, reproduced, handled, or utilized by a computer, computer network, computer program, or computer software, and may be in any medium, including, but not limited to, computer printouts, microfilm, microfiche, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, punch paper tape, or punch cards, or it may be stored internally in read-only memory or random access memory of a computer or any other peripheral device.
(6) “Computer network” means a set of connected devices and communication facilities, including more than one computer, with the capability to transmit computer data among them through such communication facilities.
(7) “Computer operations” means arithmetic, logical, storage, display, monitoring, or retrieval functions or any combination thereof and includes, but is not limited to, communication with, storage of data in or to, or retrieval of data from any device, and the human manual manipulation of electronic magnetic impulses.
A “computer operation” for a particular computer shall also mean any function for which that computer was designed.
(8) “Computer program” means an ordered set of computer data representing instructions or statements, in a form readable by a computer, which controls, directs, or otherwise influences the functioning of a computer or computer network.
(9) “Computer software” means a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with computer data or with the operation of a computer, computer program, or computer network.
(10) “Computer services” means computer access time, computer data processing, or computer data storage, and the computer data processed or stored in connection therewith.
(11) “Computer supplies” means punch cards, paper tape, magnetic tape, magnetic disks or diskettes, optical disks or diskettes, disk or diskette packs, paper, microfilm, and any other tangible input, output, or storage medium used in connection with a computer, computer network, computer data, computer software, or computer program.
(12) “Computer resources” includes, but is not limited to, information retrieval;
computer data processing, transmission, and storage;
and any other functions performed, in whole or in part, by the use of a computer, computer network, computer software, or computer program.
(13) “Financial instrument” includes, but is not limited to, a check, draft, warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit or debit card, transaction authorization mechanism, marketable security, or any computerized representation thereof.
(14) “Owner” means any person who owns or leases or is a licensee of a computer, computer network, computer data, computer program, computer software, computer resources, or computer supplies.
(15) “Person” means any natural person, general partnership, limited partnership, trust, association, corporation, joint venture, or any state, county, or municipal government and any subdivision, branch, department, or agency thereof.
(16) “Property” includes:
(A) Real property;
(B) Computers and computer networks;
(C) Financial instruments, computer data, computer programs, computer software, and all other personal property regardless of whether they are:
Show all 68 changed lines (28 more)
(i) Tangible or intangible;
(ii) In a format readable by humans or by a computer;
(iii) In transit between computers or within a computer network or between any devices which comprise a computer;
or (iv) Located on any paper or in any device on which it is stored by a computer or by a human;
and (D) Computer services.
(17) “Ransomware” means a computer contaminant, or lock placed or introduced without authorization into a computer, computer system, or computer network that restricts access by an authorized user to the computer, computer system, computer network, or any data therein under circumstances in which the person responsible for the placement or introduction of the ransomware demands payment of money or other consideration to remove the computer contaminant, restore access to the computer, computer system, computer network, or data, or otherwise remediate the impact of the computer contaminant or lock.
(18) “Value” means having any potential to provide any direct or indirect gain or advantage to any person.
(19) “Value of property or computer services” shall be:
(A) The market value of the property or computer services at the time of a violation of this article;
or (B) if the property or computer services are unrecoverable, damaged, or destroyed as a result of a violation of §61-3C-6 or §61-3C-7 of this code, the cost of reproducing or replacing the property or computer services at the time of the violation.
§61-3C-4.
Computer fraud;
access to Legislature computer;
criminal penalties.
(a) Any person who, knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly, accesses or causes to be accessed any computer, computer services, or computer network for the purpose of:
(1) Executing any scheme or artifice to defraud;
or (2) obtaining money, property, or services by means of fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(b) Any person who, with intent to extort money or other consideration from another, introduces ransomware into any computer, computer system, or computer network is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(c) A person is criminally responsible for placing or introducing ransomware into a computer, computer system, or computer network if the person directly places or introduces the ransomware or directs or induces another person to do so, with the intent of demanding payment or other consideration for removing, restoring access, or other remediation of the impact of the ransomware.
(d) (1) Any person who, knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly, accesses, attempts to access, or causes to be accessed any data stored in a computer owned by the Legislature without authorization is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of §61-3C-17 of this code to the contrary, in any criminal prosecution under this subsection against an employee or member of the Legislature, it shall not be a defense:
(A) That the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he or she had authorization to access the data merely because of his or her employment or membership;
or (B) that the defendant could not have reasonably known he or she did not have authorization to access the data:
Provided, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall promulgate rules for the respective houses of the Legislature regarding appropriate access of members and staff and others to the legislative computer system.
Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.
| Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name:
Email:
Phone:
Show all 68 changed rows (28 more)
View plain text versions (4)
- SB261 H JUD AM _1 adopted.htm View text Current html
- Committee Substitute Enrolled Committee Substitute html
- Committee Substitute View text html
- Introduced Introduced Version html
Action History
-
Chapter 84, Acts, Regular Session, 2020
-
Approved by Governor 3/24/20
-
To Governor 3/18/20
-
Approved by Governor 3/24/20 - Senate Journal
-
Approved by Governor 3/24/20 - House Journal
-
To Governor 3/18/20 - House Journal
-
To Governor 3/18/20 - Senate Journal
-
Completed legislative action
-
Communicated to House
-
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 582)
-
House Message received
-
Communicated to Senate
-
Passed House (Roll No. 559)
-
Read 3rd time
-
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
-
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
-
Read 2nd time
-
From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar
-
From Special Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on House Calendar
-
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
-
Read 1st time
-
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
-
With amendment, do pass
-
To House Judiciary
-
To Judiciary
-
Introduced in House
-
Ordered to House
-
Passed Senate (Roll No. 48)
-
Read 3rd time
-
On 3rd reading
-
Read 2nd time
-
On 2nd reading
-
Read 1st time
-
On 1st reading
-
Committee substitute reported
-
To Judiciary
-
Introduced in Senate
-
To Judiciary
-
Filed for introduction
Sponsors
- Ihlenfeld · Primary
- Baldwin · Cosponsor
- Stollings · Cosponsor
- Maynard · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 148 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Ihlenfeld
Co-sponsors (3)
- Baldwin
- Stollings
- Maynard
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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 68 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 98 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (100)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Kump | — | Yea |
| Rowan | — | Yea |
| Angelucci | — | Yea |
| Espinosa | — | Yea |
| Lavender-Bowe | — | Yea |
| Rowe | — | Yea |
| Atkinson | — | Yea |
| Evans | — | Yea |
| Linville | — | Yea |
| Shott | — | Yea |
| Fast | — | Yea |
| Little | — | Yea |
| Skaff | — | Yea |
| Barnhart | — | Yea |
| Fleischauer | — | Yea |
| Longstreth | — | Yea |
| Sponaugle | — | Yea |
| Lovejoy | — | Yea |
| Staggers | — | Yea |
| Foster | — | Yea |
| Mandt | — | Yea |
| Steele | — | Yea |
| Bates | — | Yea |
| Graves | — | Yea |
| Storch | — | Yea |
| Bibby | — | Yea |
| Hamrick | — | Yea |
| Summers | — | Yea |
| Boggs | — | Yea |
| Hanna | — | Yea |
| Maynard | — | Yea |
| Swartzmiller | — | Yea |
| Brown, N. | — | Yea |
| Sypolt | — | Yea |
| Brown, S. | — | Yea |
| Hardy | — | Yea |
| Miley | — | Yea |
| Thompson, C. | — | Yea |
| Hartman | — | Yea |
| Thompson, R. | — | Yea |
| Byrd | — | Yea |
| Hicks | — | Yea |
| Nelson | — | Yea |
| Tomblin | — | Yea |
| Cadle | — | Yea |
| Higginbotham | — | Yea |
| Pack | — | Yea |
| Paynter | — | Yea |
| Walker | — | Yea |
| Canestraro | — | Yea |
| Pethtel | — | Yea |
| Waxman | — | Yea |
| Capito | — | Yea |
| Householder | — | Yea |
| Phillips | — | Yea |
| Westfall | — | Yea |
| Caputo | — | Yea |
| Porterfield | — | Yea |
| Wilson | — | Yea |
| Cowles | — | Yea |
| Jeffries, J. | — | Yea |
| Pyles | — | Yea |
| Zukoff | — | Yea |
| Robinson | — | Yea |
| Diserio | — | Yea |
| Rodighiero | — | Yea |
| Doyle | — | Yea |
| Kessinger | — | Yea |
| Estep-Burton | — | Not Voting |
| Hill | — | Not Voting |
| Evan Hansen | Democrat | Yea |
| John Williams | Democrat | Yea |
| Mike Pushkin | Democrat | Yea |
| Sean Hornbuckle | Democrat | Yea |
| Shawn Fluharty | Democrat | Yea |
| Ben Queen | Republican | Yea |
| Betsy Kelly | Republican | Yea |
| Betsy Kelly | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Christopher W. Toney | Republican | Yea |
| D. Rolland Jennings | Republican | Yea |
| Dean Jeffries | Republican | Yea |
| Evan Worrell | Republican | Yea |
| Gary G. Howell | Republican | Yea |
| George Miller | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Barrett | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Campbell | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Butler | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Ellington | Republican | Yea |
| John Paul Hott | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Dean | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Rohrbach | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Azinger | Republican | Yea |
| Pat McGeehan | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Roger Hanshaw | Republican | Yea |
| Roy Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| T. Kevan Bartlett | Republican | Yea |
| Vernon Criss | Republican | Yea |
| William Anderson | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (34)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| LINDSAY | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| BALDWIN | — | Yea |
| MANN | — | Yea |
| STOLLINGS | — | Yea |
| BEACH | — | Not Voting |
| MARONEY | — | Yea |
| SWOPE | — | Yea |
| BLAIR | — | Yea |
| MAYNARD | — | Yea |
| SYPOLT | — | Yea |
| BOLEY | — | Yea |
| PALUMBO | — | Yea |
| TAKUBO | — | Yea |
| PITSENBARGER | — | Yea |
| TARR | — | Yea |
| CLINE | — | Yea |
| PLYMALE | — | Yea |
| TRUMP | — | Yea |
| FACEMIRE | — | Yea |
| PREZIOSO | — | Yea |
| UNGER | — | Yea |
| HAMILTON | — | Yea |
| ROBERTS | — | Yea |
| WELD | — | Yea |
| HARDESTY | — | Yea |
| ROMANO | — | Yea |
| WOELFEL | — | Yea |
| IHLENFELD | — | Yea |
| RUCKER | — | Yea |
| MR PRESIDENT | — | Yea |
| JEFFRIES | — | Yea |
| Charles H. Clements | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Azinger | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 261?
- SB 261 is sponsored by Ihlenfeld, Baldwin, Stollings, and Maynard.
- What is the current status of SB 261?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2020. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 261?
- Track SB 261 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SB 261
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SB 261
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →