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West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4364

HB4364: Shared Legal Authority for Juveniles on Military Land

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law allows the state and federal governments to share legal authority over juvenile cases that happen on military land in West Virginia.

What it does

  • Gives consent for shared jurisdiction between the state and the U.S. government on land used for military purposes, including by the Armed Forces or National Guard.
  • Requires a written request from the principal officer of a military installation to start this shared authority process.
  • Mandates that the Governor must accept the request in writing before it becomes effective.
  • Orders the filing of all requests, acceptances, and land descriptions with the Secretary of State.
  • Allows state or local agencies to make agreements with federal agencies about their specific duties under this shared authority.

Who it affects

  • The Governor of West Virginia
  • Military installations in West Virginia including the U.S. Armed Forces and National Guard
  • State circuit courts, magistrate courts, and municipal courts handling juvenile cases
  • Juveniles under age 18 who commit offenses on military land

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not list specific dates for when this shared authority begins until the Governor accepts a request.
  • The provided text ends before fully explaining how long courts can keep power over juveniles after they turn 18 or 21.

Plain language

Terms to know

Concurrent jurisdiction
When both state and federal governments have the legal power to handle a case.
Metes and bounds
A detailed description of property lines used to define land boundaries, required in requests for shared authority.
Status offense
An act that is illegal only because the person doing it is a minor, such as skipping school or breaking curfew.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Relating to concurrent juvenile jurisdiction on military installations

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter 227, Acts, Regular Session, 2026H
  2. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026H
  3. To Governor 3/25/2026H
  4. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate JournalS
  5. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House JournalH
  6. To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalS
  7. Completed legislative actionS
  8. Communicated to HouseS
  9. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 684)S
  10. House Message receivedS
  11. Communicated to SenateH
  12. House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment (Roll No. 593)H
  13. House received Senate messageH
  14. Senate requests House to concurS
  15. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 458)S
  16. Read 3rd timeS
  17. On 3rd readingS
  18. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)S
  19. Read 2nd timeS
  20. On 2nd readingS

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

hb4364 hfa mcgeehan 3-12 _1 adopted.htm

This amendment changes a rule about military bases so that state officials can choose whether or not to handle juvenile cases there, instead of being required to do it.

hb4364 hfa mcgeehan 3-12 _1.htm

This amendment changes a rule about military bases so that local courts can choose whether or not to handle cases involving young people, instead of being required to do so.