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WV HB4999
Bill
Status
Enrolled
3/14/2026
Primary Sponsor
Ryan Browning
Click for details
AI Summary
- Expands protections for assault and battery at sporting events to cover participants (players, coaches, assistant coaches, team members) in addition to athletic officials like referees and umpires
- Establishes minimum fines of $250 for assault and $500 for battery against athletic officials or participants, with maximum penalties of $500 fine and 6 months jail for assault, or $1,000 fine and 1 year jail for battery
- Authorizes county boards of education and higher education governing boards to ban convicted offenders from all state school sports events for a minimum of 365 days
- Creates trespass penalties for banned individuals who refuse to leave school sports events after receiving written notification of their ban
- Exempts players from prosecution for acts committed during gameplay that fall within the rules or nature of the sport, such as hard fouls
Legislative Description
Relating to crimes against athletic officials
Crime
Last Action
Completed legislative action
3/14/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary2/18/2026
Judiciary2/9/2026
Courts2/5/2026
Judiciary1/30/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available