West VirginiaWest Virginia law sets penalties for assaulting sports players and officials
Effective June 12, 2026, West Virginia law sets fines and possible jail time for assaulting or battering sports players and officials, and allows some boards to ban people convicted of those offenses.
What it does
A person convicted of assaulting a player, referee, coach, or other covered person while they are acting in that role faces a fine of $250 to $500, up to six months in jail, or both.
A person convicted of battering a player, referee, coach, or other covered person while they are acting in that role faces a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
After an assault or battery conviction, an education board or state college board may give written notice banning the person from covered school sports events for at least one year. Refusing to leave when asked may lead to a trespass prosecution.
A player in the game is exempt from prosecution under this section for conduct within the sport's rules or nature, including hard fouls.
Argument forMinimum fines and possible jail time could discourage people from assaulting or battering players and sports officials while they are acting in those roles.
Argument againstA ban lasting at least a year could keep a convicted person from attending any state school or school-sponsored sports event.
More detail
A person convicted of assaulting a covered person faces a fine, jail time, or both. Covered people include players, people who enforce sports rules, and people who supervise participants, including coaches and school administrators. A conviction is required. The assault must happen while the victim is acting as a player or athletic official.
A person convicted of battering a covered person faces a fine, jail time, or both. Covered people include players, people who enforce sports rules, and people who supervise participants, including coaches and school administrators. A conviction is required. The battery must happen while the victim is acting as a player or athletic official.
An education board or state college governing board may give written notice banning a convicted person from certain school sports events. The ban may cover all state school sports events or school-sponsored sports events. The ban may follow a conviction for assault or battery under this section. A person who refuses to leave an event when asked may be prosecuted for trespass. The ban lasts at least one year.
A player taking part in a game is exempt from prosecution under this section for conduct within the sport's rules or nature. The exception covers players who are playing in the game. The conduct must be within the scope of the sport's rules or nature; hard fouls are one example.
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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 107, 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
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 3/27/2026 - House JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 642)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 10Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Passed Senate (Roll No. 409)Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10On 3rd reading
- Mar 9Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 9Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 6Laid over on 2nd reading 3/6/2026, com. amend pending
- Mar 6Committee amendment reported
- Mar 6Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 6On 2nd reading
- Mar 5Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 5On 1st reading
- Mar 4Reported do pass, with amendmentMinor
- Feb 18To JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 18To JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 18Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 17Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded SUSPEND RULE. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Passed House (Roll No. 111)Passed House
- Feb 17Delegate Hornbuckle's request to suspend rules to be added as a co-sponsor failed (Roll No. 110)
- Feb 17Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 17On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 16Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 16On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 13Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 13On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 12By substitute, do pass
- Feb 10Markup Discussion
- Feb 9To House JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 5Markup Discussion
- Feb 5To House CourtsMinor
- Jan 30To House JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 30Introduced in HouseMinor
- Jan 30To JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 30Filed for introductionIntroduced
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