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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Criminalizes Unauthorized Federal Enforcement of Firearms Decrees and Prohibits State Commandeering
Last action · January 29, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Chris Anders and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 4921 prohibits state and local agencies and employees from being to enforce federal firearms laws or executive orders, and establishes a misdemeanor penalty for federal agents or employees attempting to enforce unauthorized federal decrees or writs in the state.
Federal agents attempting to enforce unauthorized federal decrees face up to a $500 fine and one year and a day in jail, with enforcement handled by the state Attorney General.
- The West Virginia Legislature is the state lawmaking body responsible for considering and passing statutory changes. context
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.
State and local law enforcement agencies
State and local agencies and their employees are prohibited from being commandeered by the federal government to enforce federal firearms laws.
Federal officials, agents, and employees
Federal personnel attempting to enforce unauthorized decrees or writs in West Virginia face misdemeanor criminal penalties.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is given the explicit duty of enforcing the misdemeanor provisions against unauthorized federal agents.
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
What does House Bill 4921 do regarding federal firearms laws?
Who is responsible for enforcing the misdemeanor penalties against federal agents?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Judiciary
- Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State Penalties for Federal Enforcement
The bill attempts to establish direct misdemeanor criminal liability and fines for federal employees attempting to enforce unauthorized federal decrees.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment25Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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