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West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4138

Changes to West Virginia Abuse and Sex Offender Registries

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law creates one annual fee for people who must register on both abuse and sex offender lists, adds new crimes that require registration, and directs how the State Police use the collected money.

What it does

  • Creates a Central Abuse Registry to hold information about convictions involving child or adult abuse, neglect, or property theft by workers in care facilities.
  • Requires people convicted of nonconsensual sharing of private intimate images to register on this list.
  • Clarifies that people who must pay fees for both the abuse registry and the sex offender registry only need to pay one $125 annual fee.
  • Directs the State Police to use these collected funds first for mental health services for current and former police employees, then for general operations.
  • States that failing to pay this specific registration fee cannot be used as a reason to say someone violated their supervised release.

Who it affects

  • People convicted of crimes involving abuse or neglect in care settings who must register on the Central Abuse Registry.
  • Sex offenders required to register under West Virginia law.
  • Individuals convicted of nonconsensual disclosure of private intimate images.
  • The West Virginia State Police, which manages the registries and collects fees.

Limits and unknowns

  • The text does not list every single crime that requires registration, only mentioning specific sections of law.
  • The bill states funds are used for police mental health first but does not specify exact amounts or how many people will receive services.

Plain language

Terms to know

Central Abuse Registry
A list kept by the State Police containing information about people convicted of abuse or neglect crimes against children or vulnerable adults.
Supervised release
The period after prison where a person must follow specific rules set by the court while living in the community.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Relating to persons convicted of a crime

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter 102, Acts, Regular Session, 2026H
  2. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026H
  3. To Governor 3/25/2026H
  4. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House JournalH
  5. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalS
  6. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalS
  7. Effective ninety days from passageS
  8. Completed legislative actionS
  9. Communicated to HouseS
  10. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 687)S
  11. House Message receivedS
  12. Communicated to SenateH
  13. Effective from passage (Roll No. 598)H
  14. House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment (Roll No. 597)H
  15. House received Senate messageH
  16. Senate requests House to concurS
  17. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 394)S
  18. Read 3rd timeS
  19. On 3rd readingS
  20. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)S

Changes

Amendments

8 stored

hb4138 hfa mcgeehan 3-12 _1 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4138 hfa mcgeehan 3-12 _1.htm

Filed

hb4138 hfat akers 1-30 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4138 hfat akers 1-30.htm

Filed

hb4138 hfat akers 3-14.htm

Filed

hb4138 hfat mcgeehan 3-14 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4138 hfat mcgeehan 3-14.htm

Filed

hb4138 sfat martin 3-14 _1.htm

Filed