West VirginiaWest Virginia agencies may share temporary law-enforcement help
West Virginia law allows agency heads to arrange temporary help for crime investigations, including help from adjoining states after a written request, with an emergency exception.
What it does
West Virginia agency heads may receive temporary help from adjoining-state law-enforcement agencies to investigate crimes or possible criminal activity, usually after a written request.
Officers temporarily assigned to another agency or task force have its powers while working there. Their home agency remains responsible for their pay and employee benefits.
West Virginia agency heads may temporarily send help to another West Virginia or federal law-enforcement agency investigating crime, usually after a written request.
Argument forSharing officers and investigative resources across agency and state lines could help agencies work together on crimes that involve more than one area.
Argument againstOfficers may use another agency’s powers and follow its commands while assigned there, which could make it harder for the public to understand who directs their work.
More detail
West Virginia agency heads may temporarily receive help from an adjoining-state law-enforcement agency to investigate crimes or possible criminal activity. This covers West Virginia law-enforcement agency heads and campus police heads receiving help from an adjoining-state law-enforcement agency. The request must be in writing and follow this section. In an emergency involving imminent risk of loss of life or serious bodily injury, it may be made without first being written down. Agency heads must follow applicable laws, rules, policies, and any conditions or limits set by their agency or local government. The enrolled text says the law takes effect from passage. Legislative action was completed on March 14, 2026.
Officers temporarily assigned to another agency or task force have that agency’s jurisdiction, powers, privileges, and protections, alongside those retained from their own agency. This covers criminal justice enforcement personnel and other state or local law-enforcement officers temporarily assigned to another agency or a multijurisdictional task force. Assigned officers must follow the lawful commands of the agency or task force where they are working. Their home agency keeps control over personnel matters, including pay, and continues their employee rights and benefits. These rules apply while officers are assigned to the other agency or task force.
West Virginia agency heads may temporarily provide help to another West Virginia or federal law-enforcement agency investigating crimes or possible criminal activity. This covers assistance from a West Virginia law-enforcement agency or campus police to another West Virginia or federal law-enforcement agency. The other agency’s head must request help in writing, except in an emergency involving imminent risk of loss of life or serious bodily injury, when a written request is not required first. Agency heads must follow applicable laws, rules, policies, and any conditions or limits set by their agency or local government. The help is temporary; the text gives no specific time limit.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 206, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Mar 27Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026Major
- Mar 19To Governor 3/19/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - Senate JournalMajor
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- 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 3/19/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Effective from passage (Roll No. 650)
- Mar 14Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 649)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 12Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded EFFECT FROM PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Effective from passage (Roll No. 493)
- Mar 12Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Passed House (Roll No. 441)Passed House
- Mar 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 11Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 10Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 10Immediate consideration
- Mar 10With amendment, do passMinor
- Mar 9Markup Discussion
- Mar 5To House JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in HouseMinor
- Mar 5House received Senate message
- Mar 4Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective from passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Effective from passage (Roll No. 342)
- Mar 4Passed Senate (Roll No. 341)Passed Senate
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2Immediate consideration
- Mar 2Committee substitute reported
- Feb 3To JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 3Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 3To JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety