West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB197: Relating to crime of sexual abuse by parent, guardian, custodian, or person in position of trust to child
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §61-8B-5, §61-8B-9, §61-8D-4a, §61-8D-5 and §61-8D-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for crimes against minors; increasing criminal penalties and fines for the offenses of sexual assault in the third degree; increasing criminal penalties and fines for sexual abuse in the third degree; increasing criminal penalties and fines for child neglect resulting in death; increasing criminal penalties and fines relating to the crime of when any parent, guardian, or custodian of or other person in a positio.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-8B-5, §61-8B-9, §61-8D-4a, §61-8D-5 and §61-8D-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for crimes against minors; increasing criminal penalties and fines for the offenses of sexual assault in the third degree; increasing criminal penalties and fines for sexual abuse in the third degree; increasing criminal penalties and fines for child neglect resulting in death; increasing criminal penalties and fines relating to the crime of when any parent, guardian, or custodian of or other person in a position of trust in relation to a child under his or her care, custody or control, engages in or attempts to engage in sexual exploitation of, or in sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion or sexual contact with, a child under his or her care, custody or control; creating the crime of when any parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust in relation to the child who knowingly attempts to procure, authorize, or induce another person to engage in or attempt to engage in sexual exploitation of, or sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion or sexual contact with, a child under the care, custody, or control of such parent, guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust when such child is less than 16 years of …