The bill amends West Virginia's Code to establish the crime of making threats of a crime of violence, defining key terms such as "crime of violence," "threat," and "severe public alarm or inconvenience." It specifies that a person is guilty of communicating a threat if they intentionally convey a threat that causes severe public alarm or recklessly disregard the risk of such alarm. The penalties for violating this provision include felony charges with fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 and imprisonment for one to ten years. Additionally, the bill introduces residency restrictions for individuals charged or convicted under this section, prohibiting them from living or working within 1,000 feet of the location of the threatened violence or the residence of any threatened individual.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the inability to carry out the threatened violence is not a valid defense in court, and it establishes that the offenses related to making threats are distinct from other offenses in the code. It also allows courts to order offenders to reimburse law enforcement or emergency service providers for costs incurred during emergency responses related to false threats. The bill is set to take effect 90 days after its passage, which is on June 12, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 62-1C-17d
Committee Substitute: 62-1C-17d
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 62-1C-17d
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 61-6-20