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HB 5372WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Lowers Age Requirement for Permitless Concealed Carry to 18

Original title: Creating WV Constitutional Carry Act of 2025

Last action · February 9, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Elías Coop-González and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5372 allows adults aged 18 to 20 to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a permit, matching the existing allowance for individuals 21 and older, provided they are legally eligible to possess a firearm.

Why it matters

Expands concealed carry rights and removes permit requirements for thousands of young adults aged 18 through 20 across West Virginia, altering the legal framework governing firearms possession for this age group.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Persons 18 to 20 years of age

Individuals aged 18 to 20 are newly permitted to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a state license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited.

Directly affected

Law-enforcement officers

Law enforcement personnel retain their specific exemptions from prohibitions against carrying concealed handguns while on duty.

Directly affected

Judicial officers and prosecutors

Judicial officers, judges, and prosecutors are exempt from paying application or licensure fees under the article while still required to meet training standards.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license under this bill?
Any United States citizen or legal resident who is at least 18 years of age and is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.
Are 18-to-20-year-olds required to meet any specific conditions to carry without a permit?
Yes, they must meet all legal requirements for firearm possession and not fall into any prohibited categories such as having certain criminal convictions or domestic violence protective orders against them.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Feb 9, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Judiciary
  2. Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Feb 9, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Judiciary
  4. Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Elías Coop-GonzálezHouse · District 67RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Dave FogginHouse · District 14RepublicanSponsor
Chuck HorstHouse · District 95RepublicanSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Expansion of Permitless Concealed Carry to Younger Adults

The bill bridges the gap between 18-to-20-year-olds and those 21 and older by extending permitless concealed carry privileges to younger adults who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.

West Virginia Legislature

Connected Entities

Elías Coop-González, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Corrections and 2 more
PersonElías Coop-González“Lead sponsor of House Bill 5372”Map →
OrganizationSupreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia“Judicial body referenced regarding senior status and judicial officer exemptions”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Division of Corrections“State corrections agency whose employees are exempt from certain concealed carry”Map →
PersonChuck Horst“Cosponsor of House Bill 5372”Map →
PersonDave Foggin“Cosponsor of House Bill 5372”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
  • Controversy90
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz75
    Current news / social attention level

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