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WV HB5001

Bill

Official Source

Status

Introduced

1/30/2026

Primary Sponsor

Laura Kimble

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Prohibits employers from terminating or taking adverse action against employees who use reasonable and proportionate force to defend themselves or others from a physical attack at their workplace
  • Applies only when the attacker is not a co-worker of the defending employee
  • Allows employees to use deadly force without a duty to retreat if they reasonably believe they or another person faces imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm
  • Amends West Virginia Code §55-7-22 (Civil relief for persons resisting certain criminal activities) to extend existing self-defense protections to the workplace context
  • Introduced January 30, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

Legislative Description

Prohibiting the termination of employment of an employee who defends themselves from an attack inside workplace

Labor

Last Action

To House Judiciary

1/30/2026

Committee Referrals

Judiciary1/30/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available