Welcome to our 2026 ‘Daily at the State Legislature page’ – scroll down to read the status of the bills by date.
Here we address animal welfare bills that are introduced during the WV Legislative Session.
We will note if we think it is particularly good or a threat to an existing law on the books that protects animals. We often leave you to make that determination. Note that the dates are from newest to oldest as we post each current day to garner support for necessary bills.
Keep in mind, we are all volunteers who provide this information taking time from our busy lives to keep you informed. Our contributors on the bills are WV animal welfare supporters from all over the state providing this information to us.
Here are some hints. You can go to the WV State Legislature site https://www.wvlegislature.gov/
You can also track bills through their site. https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm
We have accumulated a 22-year history of animal bills in the WV State Legislature. It is a unique history and can be accessed here only.
Legislative Session Detail Animal Welfare 03-2025
Everything following is now in the above file for easy download…..
Here we are again for another session of the WV State Legislature. We know everyone thinks we need more laws to help animals. We need some but really not many to do the job well. First, we need the enforcement of the laws we have. However, there are areas of ambiguity within the code. And bills that are just lacking in support of our furry friends. Often, we just need to remain vigilant to ensure a bill will not do more harm than good.
Often bills get introduced as a courtesy to a local constituent. If bills do not get helped & nurtured they simply remain in committee and languish like the majority of other bills that never pass. If you have an interest in a bill, you have to get involved, get others involved, write to your legislators, post on social media, travel to Charleston to see them in person, make phone calls. Sounds like a lot of effort, doesn’t it? Well, it definitely is. That is why only a small portion of bills actually make it through to passage and becoming law.
Read and see if you support or oppose any of these that have been introduced. If you do nothing, then your argument remains that the law needs changed but you are unwilling to offer effort to get it done. It may be different this year and you could be that difference. If we miss a bill, please let us know. Sometimes we add comments to a bill to ponder its impact. It does not necessarily indicate support or not.
2026 Legislative Session:
Important dates for this session:
Feb. 17 -last day to introduce bills in the House
Feb. 23 – last day to introduce bills in the Senate
Mar. 1 – bills are due out of committee in house of origin.
Mar. 4 – last day to consider bill on 3rd reading in house of origin.
Animal bills activity:
March 2 Does not look promising for ANY animal welfare bill. That is not surprising with our legislature. Our needs are usually at the bottom of the list. I will not mention what some of the bills that did pass are about but then it is a matter of taste and this is an animal welfare site. That is our focus. It is mind boggling that beastiality remains not explicitly illegal in the state and may not be prosecuted. Dogs and puppies will continue to freeze in extreme weather when we could have passed a bill to assist there. We do not give up. There is another day, especially an election day coming. We just have to remember those who support the animals and those who do not. We will help you.
Feb. 27
SB 867 is dead and did not make it out of committee. We did see a notification sent by Chairman Willis saying it would be on the committee agenda on Feb. 26. It obviously got pulled before it made it. Looks like some maneuvers going on behind the scenes with strings being pulled by Senate leadership. It is shameful that more dogs and puppies will freeze in extreme weather like they did this brutal winter due to the ineptitude and non-caring of these Senators. This bill got a lot of press and some awareness was raised on this need. We hope those who supported it will not give up and continue to bring this up in the future.
Now the question is will beastiality still remain the law of the land in WV as the single state allowing it. Because if it is NOT explicitly listed as illegal then there are cases that are not pursued. Sad, but true.
Feb. 26
SB 867, the WV Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, defines an outdoor shelter for dogs to protect them in extreme weather. This bill must be out of committee by March 1 or it is dead this session.
Both HB4725 & HB5176 have passed the House and just need to pass out of Judiciary to the Senate floor and be passed.
HB 4725 makes sexual assault of an animal illegal and a felony.
HB 5176 creates a state animal abuse registry with the state police.
Feb. 18 HB 5176 just passed out of House Judiciary and is headed to the Senate Judiciary
Fiscal note summary: This piece of legislation creates an animal abuse database and creates a fee for inclusion in the animal abuse database. It is projected to generate approximately $6,250 in revenue in the first year, with an additional $6,250 anticipated annually in subsequent years. Initial implementation costs are estimated at $15,288 in the first year, primarily for database setup. Expenses are expected to decrease in the following year. Minimal, yet currently indeterminate, website maintenance costs may also be incurred in future years.
Sponsors are Del. Akers, Hornby, Martin, Linville, Ferrell, McGeehan, Heckert, Browning, Moore, Campbell and Maynor – Relating to creating the animal abuse database within the West Virginia State Police. (FN) – To the House Judiciary
Feb. 17 Call to action remains to get these two bills on Senate Judiciary agenda: Continue to make calls to Senate Judiciary to get HB 4725 makes sexual assault of an animal illegal and a felony.
SB 867, the WV Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, defines an outdoor shelter for dogs to protect them in extreme weather.
Also HB 5550 companion bill to SB 867 is in House Judiciary. Make calls to get it on Judiciary agenda. Scroll down for contact info.
Feb. 17 last day for bills to be introduced into the House:
HB 5670 Del Williams Monongalia referenced to Judiciary
The purpose of this bill is to amend the statute relating to cruelty to animals. The bill provides definitions of “food”, “water”, “shelter”, and “treatment”. It provides specifics for tethering an animal. The bill includes for seizure of an animal for violations in addition to increasing criminal penalties. Finally, the bill provides that a person in violation of this statute for a second time shall be added to a state-wide, publicly available, do not adopt or sell registry.
This is a good bill at first read but it is too late. It incorporates some of the language of shelter from the Outdoor Safe Dogs Act with hay and cedar shavings removed. Adds tethering guidelines also. More comprehensive but does not state sexual assault is illegal as HB 4725. Also has the second time offense being added to a statewide do not adopt registry. Right now other more narrowly defined bill have traction for this year.
Feb 16 There is more activity on the “Safe Outdoor Dogs Act.” There is now a House Bill and a Senate bill. We have to be mindful of the date March 1 since that is the date that bills MUST be passed out of committee in their House of Origin. It is important that one or the other of these bills moves out of committee and to the chamber floor in less than two weeks.
HB 5550 compatible to SB867 just introduced in House Judiciary
Lead sponsor
Del Kimble Harrison laura.kimble@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3102
Co-sponsors
Del Eldridge Lincoln jeff.eldridge@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3152
Del T. Howell Fayette, Kanawha tresa.howell@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3287
Del Mazzocchi Boone, Lincoln, Logan margitta.mazzocchi@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3174
Del Marple Harrison Lewis keith.marple@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-314
Del Sheedy Marshall, Wetzel charles.sheedy@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3111
Del Kimble and Del Marple are both on House Judiciary Comm.
House Judiciary Committee:
Delegate Akers – Chair Kanawha jb.akers@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3340
Delegate Maynor – Vice-Chair Mercer, Raleigh, Summers jordan.maynor@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3164 Delegate Fluharty – Minority Chair Ohio shawn.fluharty@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3270
Delegate Hansen – Minority Vice-Chair Monongalia evan.hansen@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3125
Delegate Butler Mason, Putnam jim.butler@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3199
Delegate Cannon, D. Hampshire, Morgan david.cannon@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3157
Delegate Ferrell Kanawha dana.ferrell@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3194
Delegate Flanigan Ohio bill.flanigan@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3378
Delegate Funkhouser Jefferson joe.funkhouser@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3130
Delegate Heckert Wood scot.heckert@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3394
Delegate Hillenbrand Hampshire, Mineral rick.hillenbrand@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3176
Delegate Holstein Boone josh.holstein@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3184
Delegate Hornby Berkeley michael.hornby@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3138
Delegate Jennings Preston buck.jennings@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3396
Del Kimble Sponsor Harrison laura.kimble@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3102
Delegate Kump Berkeley larry.kump@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3122
Delegate Mallow Marion phil.mallow@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3331
Del Marple Co- sponsor Harrison, Lewis keith.marple@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3141
Delegate Martin Upshur carl.martin@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3167
Delegate Masters Berkeley ian.masters@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3147
Delegate Phillips, Barbour, Upshur chris.phillips@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3192
Delegate Ridenour, Jefferson bill.ridenour@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3248
Delegate Roop Raleigh bill.roop@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3180
Delegate Shamblin Kanawha andy.shamblin@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3392
Delegate Ward, B. Hardy, Pendleton bryan.ward@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3154
OR for more detail……
https://www.wvlegislature.gov/committees/house/HouseCommittee.cfm?Chart=jud
Contact info is linked
Delegate Akers – Chair
Delegate Maynor – Vice-Chair
Delegate Fluharty – Minority Chair
Delegate Hansen – Minority Vice-Chair
Delegate Butler
Delegate Cannon, D.
Delegate Ferrell
Delegate Flanigan
Delegate Funkhouser
Delegate Heckert
Delegate Hillenbrand
Delegate Holstein
Delegate Hornby
Delegate Jennings
Delegate Kimble
Delegate Kump
Delegate Mallow
Delegate Marple
Delegate Martin
Delegate Masters
Delegate Phillips
Delegate Ridenour
Delegate Roop
Delegate Shamblin
Delegate Ward, B.
Feb 13
Two necessary animal welfare bills are in the Senate Judiciary Committee:
HB 4725 makes sexual assault of an animal illegal and a felony.
SB 867, the WV Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, defines an outdoor shelter for dogs to protect them in extreme weather.
If your senator is on this committee, ask them to push for these bills to be added to the agenda and passed. See link below for contact info.
Senate Juciciary
Willis – Berkeley / Chair tom.willis@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7867
Bartlett – Kanawha / Vice-Chair kevan.bartlett@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7841
Azinger -Wood mike.azinger@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7970
Chapman – Ohio Sponsor laura.chapman@wvsenate.gov 304) 357-7918
Charnock – Kanawha anne.charnock@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7854
Deeds – Greenbrier vince.deeds@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7959
Fuller – Wayne Co-sponsor scott.fuller@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7937
Garcia – Marion joey.garcia@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7961
Hart – Mingo craig.hart@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7843
Helton – Fayette brian.helton@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7807
Martin – Lewis patrick.martin@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7845
Maynard – Lincoln zack.maynard@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7939
Rose – Monongalia chris.rose@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7902
Rucker – Jefferson patricia.rucker@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7957
Tarr – Putnam eric.tarr@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7901
Taylor – Taylor jay.taylor@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7914
Weld – Brooke ryan.weld@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7984
Feb. 12
Drum roll please! Finally, a bill passes out of the House which makes sexual assault of an animal a felony and clearly illegal. No more nuance or Judge dismissing cases due to this not being technically illegal. It now is if this becomes law Many thanks to the bipartisan effort of Del. Akers and Del. Young for working together on the House floor today to make this a reality with the needed amendment.
On the House Floor today, Delegate Young offered an amendment to HB 4725 to add language on sexual abuse being unlawful to this bill before passage. Delegate Akers moved to amend his own bill with Del Young’s approval adding his clause to the bill which is underlined below. The bill passed almost with nearly unanimous vote of 93 yeas. It goes to the Senate.
New title of the bill: H. B. 4725 — “A Bill to amend and reenact 61-8-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to cruelty to animals; creating the felony offense of committing a sexual act with an animal; creating definitions for the offense of committing a sexual act with an animal; clarifying the disposition of an animal following a dismissal of criminal charges; authorizing the court to make certain findings in ordering disposition based upon the protection of the animal; clarifying the length a time persons convicted of offenses may be subject to prohibitions on possessing animals; creating penalties; and creating civil and criminal penalties.”
Here is the amended language which was added and passed to the Senate:
(2) A person who commits a sexual act with an animal is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in a correctional facility not less than one nor more than five years and be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. For purposes of this subdivision, “sexual act with an animal” means any act between a person and an animal involving direct physical contact between the genitals of one and the mouth or anus of the other, or direct physical contact between the genitals of one and the genitals of the other: Provided, That a sexual act with an animal may be proved without evidence of penetration.
Akers, Martin, Ferrell, Funkhouser, and Kimble are sponsors.
Feb. 9
SB 867 entitled ‘’WV Safe Outdoor Dogs Act’ referenced to Sen. Judiciary sponsor is Sen. Chapman.
Under the house or porch is not adequate shelter for an outdoor dog. Nor are barrels, lean to’s, cardboard or other disposable boxes, plastic drums, or vehicles. Sen. Chapman’s bill offers more detail on adequate and inadequate shelter for outside dogs in this session. Many are seeing and hearing about dangerous and brutally cold situations of puppies and dogs freezing during this prolonged cold in our state. And think of all those that go unreported without the public outrage. This bill as law is very much needed. Along with Sen. Chaoman as lead sponsor, Sen. Scott Fuller is now another sponsor on SB 867. He is from Caball and Wayne and is a retired law enforcement Officer….Come on more sponsors….
Advocates, we need this SB 867 in WV code. Check the detailed description of adequate outdoor shelter for a dog and what is inadequate. Feb. 17 is the last date for a bill to be introduced into the House this session. This bill also needs to be introduced into the House of Delegates. Maybe your legislator will step up to be a sponsor too.
Two bills / sexual assault of animal Noting that a Democrat and a Republican introduced exactly the same bills. Consider that likely the Republican bill is the one that will move. Although we thank Kayla Young for caring to introduce her bill.
HB 5335 By Del. Young (Democrat) from Kanawha – Relating to Animal Abuse – To the Judiciary
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit activities connected with sexual abuse of an animal; establish criminal penalties; provide for forfeiture of animals, payment of associated costs, and restrictions on owning animals upon conviction.
**This makes sexual abuse of an animal illegal.
HB 5322 By Del. Foggin (Republican) from Wood – Relating to Animal Abuse – To the Judiciary
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit activities connected with sexual abuse of an animal; establish criminal penalties; provide for forfeiture of animals, payment of associated costs, and restrictions on owning animals upon conviction. **This makes sexual abuse of an animal illegal
Feb 2 – Feb. 6
HB 5176 By Del. Akers, Hornby, Martin, Linville, Ferrell, McGeehan, Heckert, Browning, Moore, Campbell and Maynor – Relating to creating the animal abuse database within the West Virginia State Police. – To the Judiciary
HB 5207 to Judiciary very similar to HB 4130 but without the breeder protection portion in it. This is another more comprehensive bill which could have merit.
SB 936: Providing WV certified thoroughbred eligibility (Rucker; Agriculture then Finance)
Jan 26 – Jan 30
HB 4725 Clarifying the disposition of animal subject to animal cruelty treatment. To House Judiciary – This bill is on the move. It would be beneficial to expand unlawful to include sexual assault on animals perhaps? Is there any concern that 7.10.4 / Bonding on the seizure and forfeiture of an animal would be weakened here if it had been imposed? In almost all cases of bonding with seizure, the offender relinquishes the animals for the charges to be dropped. Not sure if a person would relinquish due to not wanting to post bond and still have go thru the court case. Is it possible that the animal had been otherwise adopted and the final verdict of the case dismissal and the judge could recommend that the animal be returned? I realise this is unlikely but animal welfare laws frequently face the unlikely. 7.10.4 came about due to a case in Kanawha County years ago and it is a highly useful tool for law enforcement.
HB 4800 -Clarifying the penalty of a dog attacking livestock by adding a proviso to include “any other livestock.” To House Agriculture, Commerce and tourism House Ref. 1 – Government Organization House Ref. 2 – Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourism
SB 688. By Sen. Deeds, Hamilton and Weld
Establishing offense of assault or injury of service animal Judiciary
SB 674. By Sen. Rose, Azinger, Bartlett, Charnock, Roberts and Thorne Judiciary Relating to dog racing requirements NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify that a licensed racetrack casino must not maintain an active dog racing license in order to receive telecasts and accept wagers on dog and horse races, or to otherwise apply and qualify for a video lottery or racetrack table game licenses.HB 4836 By Del. Pritt – To prohibit people taking their animals into a grocery store or a store that sells food, if the animal is not a legitimately trained service animal – To the Judiciary (at first look at this one, it seems that this could make it so that live dog racing is not needed to gamble which would be a way to separate the need to have live racing.)
HB 4933 By Del. Pritt – Relating to the tax exemption of a citizen who paid to have a cat or dog spayed or neutered (FN) – To Finance
Here we are again with another bill to repeal the dog tax. HB 4094 is in House Finance and we hope it stays there. The sponsors are Del Horst from Berkeley, Del Crouse from Putnam & Del Holstein from Boone. Please someone from their respective counties needs to offer some info on why we still need this.
Some reasons for the dog tax
Establish ownership of lost dogs and stray dogs
Responsible dog owner – some leverage for Animal Control
Managing mandatory rabies shot
Tracking vicious dogs
A 2026 fiscal note on HB 4094 from the WV Tax & Revenue dept. Based on available data from county budgets, the proposed bill would result in an annual loss to the dog and kennel funds of local governments of roughly $250,000 per year.
Research on this topic found:
A bill to repeal the dog tax has been submitted in previous years:
HB 2782 in 2021 Repeal domestic animal tax
HB 4051 in 2022 aka “Save All Baby Dogs Act” got a lot of attention due to the Gov.
HB 4600 in 2024 Repeal domestic animal tax
HB 2699 in 2025 To eliminate the dog tax
The dog tax has a long history in WV:
1881 Acts of the Legislature of WV at its 15 session / 0 cents male and $1.00 female
1906/1907 The Code of West Virginia: Containing the Declaration of Dog Tax $1.00 male and $2.00 unspayed female
1951 current dog tax bill was passed.
1965 amended
1981 all money to the dog and kennel fund
1998 same but exempting service dogs
*Info found in the 1907 Report of the WV Department of Agriculture / no surprise the farmers were the first concerned about packs of roaming dogs.
Jan 13 through Jan. 16
SB 192 establishing offense of assault upon service animal to Senate Judiciary
SB 200 Creating drime of assault on police dogs and other public safety animal to Senate Judiciary
SB 226 Relating to Commercial fee law (does not affect our funding) Senate Judiciary
SB 312 Dep of AG rule relating to registration forms and tags for for registration, taxation and control of dogs. to Senate Judiciary same as HB 4265
HB 4179 Create a felony charge for assault on police officers or police dogs. To Gov. Org.& Judiciary
SB 201 has gotten some interest on FB so here is more detail on it. It has been introduced several times but has not gotten out of committee. NOTE: The purpose of this bill relates to cruelty to animals. The bill creates and defines the felony offense of cruelty to animals; modifies and clarifies applicability of the section; defines terms; and creates criminal penalties.
According to a news article on WDTV, Senate Bill 201, sponsored by Senator Weld, would significantly expand animal cruelty laws and penalties.
WVVAW comment: This looks like a good bill initially until you get to the penalty section and it is the deal breaker which makes one not to support. This is the deal breaker with this bill that the ‘shall’ is replaced with ‘may’ allowing for the violator to again acquire animals. That is completely unacceptable.
HB 4130 has been introduced before. It is a sweeping bill : The purpose of this bill is to provide increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals in the care of animal shelters, breeders, and private individuals.