Senate 1026

WEST virginia legislature

2026 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 1026

By Senators Willis and Deeds

[Reported February 27, 2026, from the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties and fines for disturbing religious worship; and removing antiquated language.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 6. Crimes against the peace.

§61-6-13. Disturbance of religious worship; penalty.

If any person wilfully interrupt, molest or disturb willfully interrupts, molests, or disturbs any assembly of people met meeting for the worship of God, he or she shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than six months one year and fined not less than $25 $1,000 nor more than $100 $5,000 for each violation. Any officer may put such the offender under restraint during religious worship, and the court trying the case may require bond or recognizance of him or her for not more than one year to be of good behavior.