Plain English Breakdown
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HB4054 • 2026
WV code §19-20-20 apply to all animals, not just dogs
WV code §19-20-20 apply to all animals, not just dogs
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
WV code §19-20-20 apply to all animals, not just dogs
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 4054 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 4054 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 4054 By Delegate Pritt [Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] A BILL to amend and reenact §19-20-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting the keeping any vicious pet and permitting a vicious pet to be killed. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 20. DOGS , AND CATS , and other pets . §19-20-20. Keeping vicious dogs pets ; humane officers may kill such dogs pets . Except as provided in section twenty-one of this article §19-20-21 of this code , no person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog pet known by him or her to be vicious, dangerous, or in the habit of biting or attacking other persons people , whether or not such dog pet wears a tag or muzzle. Upon satisfactory proof before a circuit court or magistrate that such dog pet is vicious, dangerous, or in the habit of biting or attacking other persons people or other dogs or animals, the judge may authorize the humane officer to cause such dog pet to be killed. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the ownership of any vicious pet. 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: