House 4052

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4052

By Delegates Pritt, Holstein, Brooks, and Green

[Introduced January 14, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §17C-14-9b, relating to establishing the HALO Act; relating to impeding threatening, or harassing first responders; providing definitions; prohibiting approaching a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty after a warning is issued, from violating such warning and approaching or remaining within a specified distance of the first responder with specified intent; and providing criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 14. miscellaneous rules.

§17C-14-9b. HALO Act.

(a) As used in this section, the term:

(1) "First responder" includes a law enforcement officer as defined in §23-4-1f of this code, or a correctional probation officer and an emergency medical care provider.

(2) "Harass" means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder.

(b)(1)  It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate such warning and approach or remain within 14 feet of the first responder with the intent to:

(A) Interrupt, disrupt, hinder, impede, or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty;

(B) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or

(C) Harass the first responder by interfering with the first responder performing such duty.

(2) A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of obstructing an officer, punishable as provided in §61-5-17 of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the HALO law.

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