Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act
Summary
West Virginia enacted HB5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, creating and increasing criminal penalties for domestic violence offenses and modifying bail requirements for domestic violence cases. The bill passed with near-unanimous support in both chambers before receiving gubernatorial approval.
What to do next
- Law enforcement agencies should prepare to implement updated procedures for domestic violence arrests and investigations
- Courts should prepare to apply new penalty schedules and bail conditions for domestic violence cases
- Criminal justice professionals should review the new statutory provisions
Penalties
New and enhanced penalties for domestic violence offenses including increased jail time and fines for repeat violations and serious bodily injury cases
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / West Virginia / HB5101 Signed by Governor HB5101 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-14
The Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act
The purpose of this bill is to create the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act; create and increase penalties for certain acts of domestic violence; and change bail requirement for domestic violence.
Bill Details
State West Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.wvlegislature.gov/BillStatus/Billshi...
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Sponsors
Tristan Leavitt (Rep - R) James Akers (Rep - R) David Cannon (Rep - R) Carl Roop (Rep - R) Erica Moore (Rep - R) Jordan Maynor (Rep - R) Tresa Howell (Rep - R) Sarah Drennan (Rep - R) Dana Ferrell (Rep - R) Lori Dittman (Rep - R) Laura Kimble (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-01 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 2026-03-14 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal 2026-03-14 S Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-25 H To Governor 3/25/26 2026-03-14 S To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-14 S Completed legislative action 2026-03-14 S Communicated to House 2026-03-14 S Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 683) 2026-03-14 S House Message received 2026-03-14 H Communicated to Senate 2026-03-14 H House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 645) 2026-03-14 H House received Senate message 2026-03-13 S Senate requests House to concur 2026-03-13 S Title amendment adopted 2026-03-13 S Com. title amendment withdrawn by unanimous consent 2026-03-13 S Passed Senate (Roll No. 557) 2026-03-13 S Amended on 3rd reading (Voice vote) 2026-03-13 S Unanimous consent to amend on 3rd reading 2026-03-13 S Read 3rd time 2026-03-13 S On 3rd reading 2026-03-12 S Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-03-12 S Read 2nd time 2026-03-12 S On 2nd reading 2026-03-11 S Read 1st time 2026-03-11 S Immediate consideration 2026-03-11 S Reported do pass, with amendment 2026-02-18 S To Judiciary 2026-02-18 S To Judiciary 2026-02-18 S Introduced in Senate 2026-02-17 H Communicated to Senate 2026-02-17 H Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-02-17 H Passed House (Roll No. 112) 2026-02-17 H Read 3rd time 2026-02-17 H On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-16 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-16 H On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-13 H Read 1st time 2026-02-13 H On 1st reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-12 H By substitute, do pass 2026-02-06 H Markup Discussion 2026-02-05 H To House Judiciary 2026-02-04 H Markup Discussion 2026-02-04 H To House Legal Services 2026-02-03 H To House Judiciary 2026-02-03 H Introduced in House 2026-02-03 H To Judiciary 2026-02-03 H Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-02-17 Passed House (Roll No. 112) Yea: 93 Nay: 0 2026-03-13 Passed Senate (Roll No. 557) Yea: 34 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 House concurred in Senate amendment with amendment and title amendment (Roll No. 645) Yea: 97 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 683) Yea: 33 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-03 H Judiciary 2026-02-04 H Legal Services 2026-02-05 H Judiciary 2026-02-18 S Judiciary
Amendments
2026-02-17 hb5101 hfat aker 2-17 2 2026-02-17 hb5101 hfat akers 2-17 2 adopted Adopted 2026-02-17 hb5101 hfat akers 2-17 2026-03-11 hb5101 s jud am _1 2026-03-11 hb5101 s jud amt 2026-03-11 hb5101 s jud amt adopted Adopted 2026-03-11 hb5101 s jud am _1 adopted Adopted 2026-03-13 hb5101 sfat garcia _1 3-13 2026-03-13 hb5101 sfat garcia _1 3-13 adopted Adopted 2026-03-13 hb5101 sfa garcia _1 3-13 2026-03-13 hb5101 sfa garcia _1 3-13 adopted Adopted 2026-03-13 hb5101 s jud am _1 as amended 2026-03-13 hb5101 s jud amt withdrawn 2026-03-14 hb5101 hfa mcgeehan 3-14 _1 2026-03-14 hb5101 hfat mcgeehan 3-14 2026-03-14 hb5101 hfa mcgeehan 3-14 _1 adopted Adopted 2026-03-14 hb5101 hfat mcgeehan 3-14 adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Comm Sub 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
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Named provisions
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