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West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4415

New Law Against Smuggling Items into Federal Prisons

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law makes it a crime to try to smuggle banned items like phones or weapons into federal prisons in West Virginia and sets penalties for people who do so.

What it does

  • Adds federal correctional facilities to the list of places where smuggling contraband is illegal.
  • Defines telecommunications devices as prohibited items that cannot be brought into any prison facility without permission.
  • Sets a penalty of two to ten years in jail or fines for transporting banned items onto prison grounds without permission.
  • Makes it a crime for inmates to possess weapons, drugs, phones, or other dangerous materials inside the facility.

Who it affects

  • People who try to bring banned items into jails, state prisons, juvenile centers, or federal correctional facilities.
  • Inmates currently detained in any of these types of facilities within West Virginia.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not apply to items made in a prison if officials allow them to be sold.
  • Attorneys can still give legal papers to their clients even though other written materials are restricted.

Plain language

Terms to know

Contraband
Items that are illegal to bring into a prison, such as weapons, drugs, alcohol, or phones.
Telecommunications device
Any electronic tool used to send messages or make calls, including cell phones and similar equipment.
Federal correctional facility
A prison run by the national government located within West Virginia state borders.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Creating crime of attempting to smuggle contraband into federal correctional institutions within the state

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter 77, Acts, Regular Session, 2026H
  2. Approved by Governor 3/25/2026H
  3. To Governor 3/18/2026H
  4. Approved by Governor 3/25/2026 - House JournalH
  5. Approved by Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalS
  6. To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate JournalS
  7. House Message receivedS
  8. Completed legislative actionH
  9. Communicated to SenateH
  10. House concurred in Senate amendment and title amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 631)H
  11. House received Senate messageH
  12. Senate requests House to concurS
  13. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 462)S
  14. Read 3rd timeS
  15. On 3rd readingS
  16. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)S
  17. Read 2nd timeS
  18. On 2nd readingS
  19. Read 1st timeS
  20. Immediate considerationS