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WV HB5198
Bill
Status
Engrossed
2/23/2026
Primary Sponsor
Andy Shamblin
Click for details
AI Summary
- Adds "mental disability" to West Virginia's civil rights protection statute (§61-6-21), which prohibits violence or intimidation based on protected characteristics
- Makes it a felony to willfully injure, intimidate, or interfere with a person's rights because of their mental disability, punishable by up to $5,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment, or both
- Extends conspiracy provisions to cover mental disability, applying the same penalties when persons conspire to violate someone's rights based on this characteristic
- Establishes mental disability as an aggravating circumstance in sentencing for any felony or misdemeanor committed against a victim because of their disability
- Defines "mental disability" using the Americans with Disabilities Act definition (42 USCS § 12102)
Legislative Description
Relating to crimes against the intellectually disabled
Crime
Last Action
To Judiciary
2/24/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary2/24/2026
Judiciary2/13/2026
Courts2/12/2026
Judiciary2/4/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available