House 4596

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4596

By Delegates T. Howell, Mazzocchi, Coop-Gonzalez, White, Kimble, Crouse, Clay, Ferrell, Brooks, Holstein, and Browning

[Introduced January 20, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §15-16-10, relating to prohibiting subdivisions and local entities from adopting policies that prohibit or restrict cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 16. Federal Immigration Enforcement.

§15-16-10. Denial of state funds; rule-making authority.

(a) A state entity, local entity or law enforcement agency may not receive state funds if the entity adopts or maintains a policy in violation of this article and does not come into compliance with this article within 90 days of receiving notice.

(b) State funds for a state entity, local entity, or law enforcement agency shall be denied for the state fiscal year following the year in which a final judicial determination in an action brought under §15-16-5 of this code is made that the entity has intentionally violated this article.

(c) The State Auditor shall adopt rules to implement this section among state agencies from which state funds are distributed to a municipality or county pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit subdivisions and local entities from adopting policies that prohibit or restrict cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.