Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
SB84 • 2026
Prohibiting law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras on private property
Prohibiting law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras on private property
Crime
Privacy
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: SB84 HFA Horst, Anders and Dillon 2-23 #2 CR 3338 Delegate Horst, Anders and Dillon moved to amend the amendment on page 1, line 4, after the words, “warrant” by inserting the following, “or enter or remain upon the private property of a person beyond the land immediately surrounding and associated with a private dwelling without first obtaining either consent from a property owner or a valid search warrant.” Adopted Rejected
- SB84 HFA Horst, Anders and Dillon 2-23 #2 CR 3338 Delegate Horst, Anders and Dillon moved to amend the amendment on page 1, line 4, after the words, “warrant” by inserting the following, “or enter or remain upon the private property of a person beyond the land immediately surrounding and associated with a private dwelling without first obtaining either consent from a property owner or a valid search warrant.” Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Plain English: SB84 HFA Horst, Anders and Dillon 2-23 #2 CR 3338 Delegate Horst, Anders and Dillon moved to amend the amendment on page 1, line 4, after the words, “warrant” by inserting the following, “or enter or remain upon the private property of a person beyond the land immediately surrounding and associated with a private dwelling without first obtaining either consent from a property owner or a valid search warrant.” Adopted Rejected
- SB84 HFA Horst, Anders and Dillon 2-23 #2 CR 3338 Delegate Horst, Anders and Dillon moved to amend the amendment on page 1, line 4, after the words, “warrant” by inserting the following, “or enter or remain upon the private property of a person beyond the land immediately surrounding and associated with a private dwelling without first obtaining either consent from a property owner or a valid search warrant.” Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Adopted
Plain English: SB84 HFAT Akers 2-25 WRV 3133 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 the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-1A-12, relating to prohibitions on surveillance cameras used by law enforcement; prohibiting installation of a surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of a crime; creating exceptions for consent or a valid search warrant; creating inapplicability to cameras placed in other areas where a law-enforcement officer has a right to be; creating inapplicability in certain exigent circumstances; and creating definitions.” Adopted Rejected
- SB84 HFAT Akers 2-25 WRV 3133 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 the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-1A-12, relating to prohibitions on surveillance cameras used by law enforcement; prohibiting installation of a surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of a crime; creating exceptions for consent or a valid search warrant; creating inapplicability to cameras placed in other areas where a law-enforcement officer has a right to be; creating inapplicability in certain exigent circumstances; and creating definitions.” Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Filed
Plain English: SB84 HFAT Akers 2-25 WRV 3133 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 the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-1A-12, relating to prohibitions on surveillance cameras used by law enforcement; prohibiting installation of a surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of a crime; creating exceptions for consent or a valid search warrant; creating inapplicability to cameras placed in other areas where a law-enforcement officer has a right to be; creating inapplicability in certain exigent circumstances; and creating definitions.” Adopted Rejected
- SB84 HFAT Akers 2-25 WRV 3133 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 the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-1A-12, relating to prohibitions on surveillance cameras used by law enforcement; prohibiting installation of a surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of a crime; creating exceptions for consent or a valid search warrant; creating inapplicability to cameras placed in other areas where a law-enforcement officer has a right to be; creating inapplicability in certain exigent circumstances; and creating definitions.” Adopted Rejected
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Bill History
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2026-03-14
S
Approved by Governor 3/14/2026
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2026-03-09
S
To Governor 3/9/2026
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2026-03-09
H
House received Senate message
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2026-03-06
S
Completed legislative action
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2026-03-06
S
Communicated to House
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2026-03-06
S
Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 360)
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2026-03-06
S
House Message received
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2026-02-26
H
Communicated to Senate
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2026-02-26
H
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
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2026-02-26
H
Passed House (Roll No. 196)
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2026-02-26
H
Read 3rd time
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2026-02-26
H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
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2026-02-25
H
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
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2026-02-25
H
Amendment rejected (Roll No. 195)
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2026-02-25
H
Postpone one day rejected (Roll No. 194)
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2026-02-25
H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
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2026-02-25
H
Read 2nd time
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2026-02-25
H
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
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2026-02-24
H
Read 1st time
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2026-02-24
H
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
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2026-02-23
H
With amendment, do pass
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2026-02-19
H
Markup Discussion
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2026-01-30
H
To House Judiciary
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2026-01-30
H
To Judiciary
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2026-01-30
H
Introduced in House
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2026-01-30
H
House received Senate message
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2026-01-29
S
Ordered to House
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2026-01-29
S
Passed Senate (Roll No. 18)
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2026-01-29
S
Read 3rd time
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2026-01-29
S
On 3rd reading
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2026-01-28
S
Read 2nd time
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2026-01-28
S
On 2nd reading
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2026-01-27
S
Read 1st time
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2026-01-26
S
On 1st reading
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2026-01-23
S
Committee substitute reported
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2026-01-14
S
To Judiciary
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2026-01-14
S
Introduced in Senate
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2026-01-14
S
To Judiciary
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2026-01-14
S
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Prohibiting law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras on private property
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB 84 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 84 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 84 By Senators Thorne, Rose, Rucker, and Hart [Passed March 6, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 4, 2026)] AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-1A-12, relating to prohibitions on surveillance cameras used by law enforcement; prohibiting installation of a surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of a crime; creating exceptions for consent or a valid search warrant; creating inapplicability to cameras placed in other areas where a law-enforcement officer has a right to be; creating inapplicability in certain exigent circumstances; and creating definitions. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 1A. SEARCH AND SEIZURE. §62-1A-12. Prohibitions on surveillance cameras on private property. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a law-enforcement officer may not install any surveillance camera on private land for purposes of gathering information or evidence of criminal activity of the owner or occupant of the private land without first obtaining either consent of an owner of the private land or a valid search warrant. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not prohibit a law-enforcement officer from: (1) Installing a surveillance camera in any area not specified in subsection (a) of this section where the law-enforcement officer has a lawful right to be and facing a location on any private land that is open to public view; or (2) Installing a surveillance camera on private property where exigent circumstances exist and there is insufficient time to obtain a valid search warrant. (c) For purposes of this section: “Law-enforcement officer” has the same meaning as that term is defined in §30-29-1 of this code. "Private land" means posted land, cultivated land, or fenced land, as those terms are defined in §61-3B-1 of this code, that is owned by an individual or entity other than a federal, state, or local government or a political subdivision thereof. “Property owner” means an individual or entity, other than a governmental entity, who owns, leases, licenses, or possesses real property or an employee or agent of that individual or entity. “Surveillance camera” means a device installed on private land that permits observing, photographing, videotaping, recording, or transmitting visual images of private land or a person’s activities on private land and includes, but is not limited to, a game camera: Provided , That a law-enforcement officer’s vehicle dash camera or body camera shall not be considered a surveillance camera. 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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