Allowing the concealed carry of firearms on and in Capitol grounds

HB 4370 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 4370 History

|
Email

Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4370
By Delegates D. Smith, Gearheart, Horst, Phillips, Heckert, Pritt, and Ellington
[Introduced January 15, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to concealed weapons; and allowing the concealed carry of firearms on and in Capitol grounds.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE.

§61-6-19. Willful disruption of governmental processes; offenses occurring at State Capitol Complex; penalties.

(a) If any person willfully interrupts or molests the orderly and peaceful process of any department, division, agency, or branch of state government or of its political subdivisions, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined:
Provided,
That any assembly in a peaceable, lawful, and orderly manner for a redress of grievances is not a violation of this section.
(b)
Open carry and concealed carry of deadly weapons, nonlethal agent, disruption:
(1) It is unlawful for any person to bring upon the State Capitol Complex any deadly weapon as defined in §61-7-2 of this code
in an open carry status:

Provided,
That a person who may lawfully possess a firearm may keep a firearm in his or her motor vehicle upon the State Capitol Complex if the vehicle is locked and the weapon is out of normal view:
Provided, however,
That a person may not carry upon the State Capitol Complex
,
a cannister of pepper spray
,
as defined in §61-7-2 of this code, that exceeds one ounce.
(2) (A) A person, who is licensed under §61-7-4 of this code to carry a concealed handgun, is permitted to carry the same on the grounds of the Capitol, and in the Capitol building:
Provided
, That, any person desiring to carry a concealed handgun within the Capitol building must show their permit and handgun upon entry, if requested;
(B) Carry of a concealed handgun is not permitted in:
(1) The Governor's office; and
(2) The chambers of the Supreme Court, including the entirety of the third and fourth floor of the East wing.
(C) The State Senate and House of Delegates may develop firearms rules for the gallery and floor of their respective chambers.
(3)
It is unlawful for any person to willfully deface any trees, wall, floor, stairs, ceiling, column, statue, monument, structure, surface, artwork, or adornment in the State Capitol Complex. It is unlawful for any person or persons to willfully block or otherwise willfully obstruct any public access, stair, or elevator in the State Capitol Complex after being asked by a law-enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity to desist:
Provided
further
,
That in order to preserve the constitutional right of the people to assemble, it is not willful blocking or willful obstruction for persons gathered in a group or crowd if the persons move to the side or part to allow other persons to pass by the group or crowd to gain ingress or egress:
And
Provided,
further
however
,
That this subsection does not apply to a law-enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity.
(2)

(4)
Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the West Virginia code to allow concealed carry on and in Capitol grounds.
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: