West Virginia HB4996: Relating to bail in cases involving terroristic threats to schools or children

What the bill says

An act to amend and reenact §61-6-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to creating a crime of making threats of a crime of violence; defining terms; specifying fines and penalties; creating pre-trial and post-conviction residency restrictions; providing that inability is not a defense; and providing that the offenses are distinct offenses. ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE. §61-6-20. Falsely reporting an emergency incident; making threats of a crime of violence. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Crime of violence" means any criminal offense, whether classified as.

From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:

AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-6-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to creating a crime of making threats of a crime of violence; defining terms; specifying fines and penalties; creating pre-trial and post-conviction residency restrictions; providing that inability is not a defense; and providing that the offenses are distinct offenses. ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE. §61-6-20. Falsely reporting an emergency incident; making threats of a crime of violence. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Crime of violence" means any criminal offense, whether classified as a felony or misdemeanor under the laws of this state, that requires as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against another person. (2) "Threat" means any communication that a reasonable person, in view of the totality of the circumstances, including the context, the medium of transmission, and the relationship between the communicator and the recipient, would interpret as a serious expression of intent to commit a crime of violence against another person and that would cause the recipient to be placed in reasonable apprehension of such harm. (3) "Severe public alarm or inconvenience" means the (B) The substantial disruption of public services, including but not limited to emergency response, law enforcement activities, or transportation; (C) Widespread fear or panic among members of …

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