West Virginia SB944: Expanding categories of eligible federal law-enforcement officers authorized to enforce state laws

What the bill says

An act to amend and reenact §15-10-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding the categories of eligible federal law-enforcement officers authorized to enforce the laws of this state if certain circumstances exist. Article 10. Cooperation Between Law-Enforcement Agencies. §15-10-5. Federal officers' peace-keeping authority. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any person who is employed by the United States government as a federal law-enforcement officer and is listed in subsection (b) of this section has the same authority to enforce the.

From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:

AN ACT to amend and reenact §15-10-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding the categories of eligible federal law-enforcement officers authorized to enforce the laws of this state if certain circumstances exist. Article 10. Cooperation Between Law-Enforcement Agencies. §15-10-5. Federal officers' peace-keeping authority. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any person who is employed by the United States government as a federal law-enforcement officer and is listed in subsection (b) of this section has the same authority to enforce the laws of this state, except state or local traffic laws or parking ordinances, as that authority granted to state or local law-enforcement officers, if one or more of the following circumstances (2) The federal law-enforcement officer is requested by a state or local law-enforcement officer to provide the officer temporary assistance when the state or local law-enforcement officer is acting within the scope of the officer's authority and jurisdiction and where exigent circumstances exist; or (3) A felony is committed in the federal law-enforcement officer's presence or under circumstances indicating a felony has just occurred. (b) This section applies to the following persons who are employed as full-time federal law-enforcement officers by the United States government and who are authorized to carry firearms while performing their (2) Drug Enforcement Administration …

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