West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5170: Relating to Capitol Carry
Status: Introduced, February 4, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §61-6-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing the constitutional right to open carry firearms on and in Capitol grounds. ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE. §61-6-19. Willful disruption of governmental processes; offenses occurring at State Capitol Complex; penalties. (a) If any person willfully interrupts or molests the orderly and peaceful process of any department, division, agency, or branch of state government or of its political subdivisions, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not.
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing the constitutional right to open carry firearms on and in Capitol grounds. ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE. §61-6-19. Willful disruption of governmental processes; offenses occurring at State Capitol Complex; penalties. (a) If any person willfully interrupts or molests the orderly and peaceful process of any department, division, agency, or branch of state government or of its political subdivisions, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined: Provided, That any assembly in a peaceable, lawful, and orderly manner for a redress of grievances is not a violation of this section. (b) Open carry of deadly weapons, nonlethal agent, disruption: (1) It is unlawful for any person to bring upon the State Capitol Complex any deadly weapon as defined in §61-7-2 of this code: Provided, That a person who may lawfully possess a firearm may keep a firearm in his or her motor vehicle upon the State Capitol Complex if the vehicle is locked and the weapon is out of normal view: Provided, however, That a person may not carry upon the State Capitol Complex, a cannister …
Sponsors
- Anders, S. Chris (R, 097) · primary sponsor