Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
SB1026 • 2026
Increasing criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship
Increasing criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: SB1026 HFAT Akers 3-13 Baker 3228 Delegate Akers moved to amend the committee substitute by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: "A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; clarifying that this section does not prohibit conduct protected by the First Amendment; and removing antiquated language." Adopted Rejected
- SB1026 HFAT Akers 3-13 Baker 3228 Delegate Akers moved to amend the committee substitute by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: "A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; clarifying that this section does not prohibit conduct protected by the First Amendment; and removing antiquated language." Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Plain English: SB1026 HFAT Akers 3-13 Baker 3228 Delegate Akers moved to amend the committee substitute by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: "A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; clarifying that this section does not prohibit conduct protected by the First Amendment; and removing antiquated language." Adopted Rejected
- SB1026 HFAT Akers 3-13 Baker 3228 Delegate Akers moved to amend the committee substitute by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: "A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; clarifying that this section does not prohibit conduct protected by the First Amendment; and removing antiquated language." Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Bill History
-
2026-04-01
S
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
-
2026-03-19
S
To Governor 3/19/2026
-
2026-03-14
H
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
-
2026-03-14
S
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
-
2026-03-14
S
To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal
-
2026-03-14
S
Completed legislative action
-
2026-03-14
S
Communicated to House
-
2026-03-14
S
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 661)
-
2026-03-14
S
House Message received
-
2026-03-14
H
Communicated to Senate
-
2026-03-14
H
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
-
2026-03-14
H
Passed House (Roll No. 620)
-
2026-03-14
H
Read 3rd time
-
2026-03-14
H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
-
2026-03-13
H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
-
2026-03-12
H
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
-
2026-03-12
H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
-
2026-03-12
H
Read 2nd time
-
2026-03-12
H
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
-
2026-03-11
H
Read 1st time
-
2026-03-11
H
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
-
2026-03-10
H
With amendment, do pass
-
2026-03-06
H
Markup Discussion
-
2026-03-05
H
To House Judiciary
-
2026-03-05
H
To Judiciary
-
2026-03-05
H
Introduced in House
-
2026-03-05
H
House received Senate message
-
2026-03-03
S
Ordered to House
-
2026-03-03
S
Passed Senate (Roll No. 303)
-
2026-03-03
S
Read 3rd time
-
2026-03-03
S
On 3rd reading
-
2026-03-02
S
Read 2nd time
-
2026-03-02
S
On 2nd reading
-
2026-02-27
S
Read 1st time
-
2026-02-27
S
Immediate consideration
-
2026-02-27
S
Committee substitute reported
-
2026-02-20
S
To Judiciary
-
2026-02-20
S
Introduced in Senate
-
2026-02-20
S
To Judiciary
-
2026-02-20
S
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Increasing criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB 1026 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 Enrolled Version - Final Version Senate Bill 1026 History OTHER VERSIONS - Committee Substitute (1) | Introduced Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature 2026 regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1026 By Senators Willis and Deeds [Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)] AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; clarifying that this section does not prohibit conduct protected by the First Amendment; and removing antiquated language. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: article 6. Crimes against the peace. §61-6-13. Disturbance of religious worship; penalty. (a) If any person willfully interrupts, obstructs, or substantially disturbs any assembly of people meeting for religious worship, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than one year and fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit peaceful picketing, protest, or other expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment that does not willfully interrupt, obstruct, or substantially disturb any assembly of persons meeting for religious worship. The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled. ............................................................... Clerk of the Senate ............................................................... Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate. In effect 90 days from passage. ............................................................... President of the Senate ............................................................... Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................ this the........................................... Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026. ............................................................. Governor 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: