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West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4755

Adding Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Other Crimes as Qualifying Offenses for Repeat Offenders

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law adds aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury, third-offense DUI, and obstructing emergency personnel causing death to a list of crimes that can lead to harsher prison sentences if committed by someone with prior convictions.

What it does

  • Adds aggravated vehicular homicide as a qualifying offense for repeat offender sentencing under West Virginia law.
  • Includes driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury in the list of offenses used to enhance punishment for recidivists.
  • Lists third-offense driving under the influence as an act that can trigger stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
  • Counts obstructing law enforcement, fire personnel, or emergency medical workers if it causes death as a qualifying offense.

Who it affects

  • People who have been convicted of serious crimes in the past and commit one of these new offenses again.
  • Courts that must apply enhanced sentencing rules for repeat offenders under West Virginia law.
  • Individuals charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, specific DUI cases causing injury or death, or obstructing emergency responders causing death.

Limits and unknowns

  • The text does not specify the exact number of extra years added to a prison sentence, only that enhanced sentencing applies.
  • The law takes effect on June 12, 2026 (90 days after passage), so it may not apply to crimes committed before that date.

Plain language

Terms to know

Qualifying offense
A serious crime listed in the state code that counts toward stricter punishment if a person commits another such crime later.
Recidivism
The act of committing crimes again after having been punished for previous offenses, which can lead to enhanced sentencing under this law.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Adding Aggravated Vehicular Homicide to the list of qualifying offenses

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter 104, 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. House Message receivedS
  8. Completed legislative actionH
  9. Communicated to SenateH
  10. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 688)H
  11. House received Senate messageH
  12. Senate requests House to concurS
  13. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 488)S
  14. Read 3rd timeS
  15. On 3rd readingS
  16. Read 2nd timeS
  17. On 2nd readingS
  18. Read 1st timeS
  19. Immediate considerationS
  20. Reported do pass, with title amendmentS

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

hb4755 hfat akers 2-9 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4755 hfat akers 2-9.htm

Filed