West VirginiaWest Virginia shares authority over military land through written requests
Federal officials may ask the Governor to share authority over military land, and state courts handle some juvenile cases there when federal courts waive exclusive authority.
What it does
Federal officials may ask the Governor to share authority over military land with the state. The Governor accepts after a detailed written request, and the agreed land boundaries and terms are recorded.
West Virginia circuit courts share authority with federal courts over certain juvenile cases involving alleged federal law violations on military land. The federal court must waive its exclusive authority, and the alleged offense must also qualify under state law.
Argument forWritten requests and recorded land boundaries could help state, local, and federal agencies coordinate their roles on military land.
Argument againstYoung people and families could face uncertainty about which court will handle a case when federal and state authority overlap.
More detail
The Governor accepts a federal request to establish shared state and federal authority over military land. This covers land in West Virginia acquired by the United States for military purposes, including land used for those purposes by the Armed Forces, the West Virginia National Guard, or another federal agency. A military installation's principal officer or another authorized federal representative with control over the land must send the Governor a written request. The request must identify the subjects and land boundaries covered, and say whether it includes future adjoining land. The Governor sends a written acceptance, then records and indexes the request, acceptance, and land description with the Secretary of State. The law took effect June 12, 2026. Shared jurisdiction is established after the request is accepted and the required documents are filed.
West Virginia circuit courts share authority with the relevant U.S. District Court over certain juvenile cases involving alleged federal law violations on military land. This covers juvenile proceedings over alleged federal law violations on West Virginia land acquired by the United States for military purposes. The U.S. District Court with jurisdiction must waive its exclusive authority. The alleged federal law violation must also qualify as juvenile delinquency or a status offense under West Virginia law. The law took effect June 12, 2026. The shared court authority applies when both stated conditions are met.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 227, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 30Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026Major
- Mar 25To Governor 3/25/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - Senate JournalMajor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE-SENATE AMENDED HB. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - House JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 684)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment (Roll No. 593)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 11Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 458)Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11On 3rd reading
- Mar 10Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10On 2nd reading
- Mar 9Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 9Immediate consideration
- Mar 9Reported do pass, as amended by MilitaryMinor
- Mar 6To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 6Reported do pass with amend and title amend but first to JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 30To Military
- Jan 30To Military then Judiciary
- Jan 30Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 28Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Passed House (Roll No. 26)Passed House
- Jan 28Read 3rd timeMinor
- Jan 27On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Jan 27Read 2nd timeMinor
- Jan 27On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Jan 26On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Jan 23Read 1st timeMinor
- Jan 23On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Jan 22By substitute, do pass
- Jan 20Markup Discussion
- Jan 19To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 19Markup Discussion
- Jan 19To House Homeland SecurityMinor
- Jan 15To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 15Introduced in HouseMinor
- Jan 15To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 15Filed for introductionIntroduced
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