West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5436: Make it a felony to kill a canine officer
Status: Introduced, February 11, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §30-29-1, of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend and reenact §61-2-10b of the code, relating to classifying police canine units as "law enforcement officers" in relation to their standing as victims and the level of force able to be used in their protection. chapter 30. professions and occupations article 29. law-enforcement training and certification. §30-29-1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the (2) "Chief executive" means the Superintendent of the State Police; the chief Natura.
From the introduced text, February 11, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §30-29-1, of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend and reenact §61-2-10b of the code, relating to classifying police canine units as "law enforcement officers" in relation to their standing as victims and the level of force able to be used in their protection. chapter 30. professions and occupations article 29. law-enforcement training and certification. §30-29-1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the (2) "Chief executive" means the Superintendent of the State Police; the chief Natural Resources police officer of the Division of Natural Resources; the sheriff of any West Virginia county; any administrative deputy appointed by the chief natural resources police officer of the Division of Natural Resources; or the chief of any West Virginia municipal law-enforcement agency; (3) "County" means the 55 major political subdivisions of the state; (4) "Exempt rank" means any noncommissioned or commissioned rank of sergeant or above; (5) "Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction" or "Governor's committee" means the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction established as a state planning agency pursuant to §15-9-1 of this code; (6) "Law-enforcement officer" means any duly authorized member of a law-enforcement agency who is authorized to maintain public peace and order, prevent and detect crime, make …