2026 Regular Session
Link to Bill History on Legacy Website (Click Here)Summary: Requiring minimum time be served for first degree murder before parole eligibility
PDF: sb425 intr.pdf
DOCX: SB425 INTR.docx
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 425
By Senator Morris
[Introduced January 15, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-2-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
Article 2. CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON.
§61-2-2. Penalty for murder of first degree.
Murder of the first degree shall be punished by confinement in the penitentiary for life. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person imprisoned for a conviction under this section with a sentence of life with mercy is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of 30 years of his or her sentence.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.