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SB705 • 2026
Creating offense of theft by conversion
The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Creating offense of theft by conversion
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: SB705 HFAT Akers 3-13 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: “A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-61, providing definitions; establishing criminal offenses related to theft by conversion; establishing criminal penalties and fines; providing for restitution; and establishing venue.”; Adopted Rejected
Plain English: SB705 HFAT Akers 3-13 Morgan 3345 Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: “A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-61, providing definitions; establishing criminal offenses related to theft by conversion; establishing criminal penalties and fines; providing for restitution; and establishing venue.”; Adopted Rejected
Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026
To Governor 3/19/2026
Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
Vetoed by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal
Completed legislative action
Communicated to House
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 627)
House Message received
Communicated to Senate
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
Passed House (Roll No. 552)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
Amendment reported by the Clerk
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
Read 1st time
Immediate consideration
With amendment, do pass
Markup Discussion
To House Judiciary
To Judiciary
Introduced in House
House received Senate message
Ordered to House
Passed Senate (Roll No. 198)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading
Read 1st time
On 1st reading
Reported do pass
To Judiciary
Introduced in Senate
To Judiciary
Filed for introduction
Creating offense of theft by conversion
SB 705 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 705 History OTHER VERSIONS - Introduced Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Enrolled Senate Bill 705 By Senators Weld, Deeds, and Woelfel [Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)] AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-3-61, relating to providing definitions; establishing criminal offenses related to theft by conversion; establishing criminal penalties and fines; providing for restitution; and establishing venue. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 3. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY . §61-3-61. Theft by conversion; penalties; and restitution. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "Property" includes, but is not limited to, leased or rented personal property; "Personal property" means personal property having a replacement cost value greater than $100, excluding any late fees and penalties, including but not limited to heavy equipment contained within the definition of "heavy equipment rental inventory" in §11-5-15 of this code, tractors, and other farm equipment primarily designed for use in agriculture; and "Funds" means any form of money, including cash, payment instruments such as checks, money orders, or sales drafts, and receipts from electronic fund transfers. (b) A person is guilty of the offense of theft by conversion when, after having lawfully obtained funds or other property of another under an agreement or by some other legal obligation in order to make a specified application of the funds or a specified disposition of the property, he or she knowingly converts the funds or property to his or her own use in violation of the agreement or legal obligation. (c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section involving funds or other property valued in an amount of less than $2,500 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not more than one year, fined not more than $1,000, or both fined and confined. Any person who violates the provisions of this section involving funds or other property valued in an amount of $2,500 or more, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than 10 years, fined not more than $2,500, or both fined and imprisoned. (d) The court, when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense under this section, shall order, in addition to or in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution to any victim in accordance with §61-11A-4 of this code. (e) Venue for prosecution of any violation of this section may be in the county in which the defendant resides, the county in which the victim resides, in the county where the property is located, in the county where the agreement was executed, or in the county where the obligation arose. 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. ............................................................. 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