Plain English Breakdown
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HB4048 • 2026
To prohibit placement of children in unlicensed organizations
To prohibit placement of children in unlicensed organizations
Children
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-14
H
To House Judiciary
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2026-01-14
H
Introduced in House
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2026-01-14
H
To Judiciary
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2026-01-14
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
To prohibit placement of children in unlicensed organizations
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 4048 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 4048 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 4048 By Delegate Coop-Gonzalez [Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §49-2-1007, relating to adoption; prohibiting adoption by unlicensed persons or organizations; prohibiting the sale or bartering of children; and creating criminal penalties. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN. §49-2-1007. Sale of barter of child for adoption; prohibition of placement of children for adoption by unlicensed organization; felony offense; penalty. (a) Any person or persons who sells or barters any child for adoption or for any other purpose, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not more 14 years, or both fined and imprisoned. (b) Any person or organization without a valid and unrevoked license to place children for adoption issued by the Department of Human Services or a unrevoked license to practice law in West Virginia is guilty of a misdemeanor if that person or organization: (1) Advertises in any periodical or newspaper, by radio, or by any other public medium that the person or organization will place children for adoption; (2) Accepts, supplies, provides, or obtains children for adoption; or (3) Causes any advertisement to be published in or by any public medium soliciting, requesting, or asking for any child or children for adoption. (c) Any person, organization, association, or corporation without a valid and unrevoked license to place children for adoption issued by the Department of Human Services that places any child for adoption is guilty of a misdemeanor. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to a birth parent. (d) Upon conviction of a misdemeanor for violation of this section, if by an individual, the person shall be fined not less $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined. If the violation is by an organization, association, or corporation, that entity shall be fined not less $5,000 and be subject to revocation of any license or permits received under law. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the crime of sale or barter of a child for adoption and the prohibition of placement of children for adoption by an unlicensed person or organization and create criminal penalties. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: