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SB425 • 2026

Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Morris, Deeds , Hamilton , Woelfel
Last action
2026-01-15
Official status
S To Judiciary 01/15/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-15 S

    To Judiciary

  2. 2026-01-15 S

    Introduced in Senate

  3. 2026-01-15 S

    To Judiciary

  4. 2026-01-15 S

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB 425 Text

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Introduced Version

Senate Bill 425 History

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= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 425
By Senator Morris
[Introduced January 15, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-2-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 2. CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON.

§61-2-2. Penalty for murder of first degree.

Murder of the first degree shall be punished by confinement in the penitentiary for life.
Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person imprisoned for a conviction under this section with a sentence of life with mercy is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of 30 years of his or her sentence.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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