West Virginia Bill Establishes Civil and Criminal Penalties for Financial Exploitation of Persons in Recovery

Original title: Relating to financial exploitation of a person in recovery

Last action · February 24, 2026: To JudiciarySponsors: Matthew Rohrbach and 7 others

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Floor Vote

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5105 creates civil causes of action and criminal penalties for the financial exploitation of persons in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, elderly persons, protected persons, and incapacitated adults. The measure allows victims to seek asset-freezing protective orders, return of property, and increased civil damages, while increasing criminal fines and prison terms for repeat offenders and thefts valued at $1,000 or more.

Why it matters

Victims gain new legal tools to freeze assets, void exploitative contracts, and recover double or triple damages, while individuals convicted of financial exploitation face steeper prison sentences and fines up to $10,000.

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 in recovery

Individuals in addiction recovery receive explicit legal protections against financial exploitation, along with civil causes of action and protective order remedies.

Directly affected

financial institutions and employees

Financial institutions and their employees are explicitly permitted to report suspected financial exploitation and disclose suspicious activity reports to county prosecutors.

Directly affected

caregivers and relatives

Caregivers, relatives, and concerned persons are authorized to report suspected exploitation to law enforcement or protective services and receive civil immunity for good-faith reports.

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 qualifies as a 'person in recovery' under this bill?

A person in recovery is defined as someone who is actively seeking or receiving treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol, or who has done so within the past 24 months.

What civil remedies are available to victims of financial exploitation?

Victims can seek the return of improperly obtained property, actual damages, asset-freezing injunctions, escrow placement of funds, appointment of a receiver, and double or triple damages depending on whether the offender held a position of trust.

Are family members or caregivers protected if they report suspected exploitation?

Yes, any person or entity that reports a suspected case of financial exploitation in good faith is granted immunity from civil liability based on that report.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

21 actions

Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
To Judiciary
Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
To Judiciary
Feb 24, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Feb 23, 2026House
Communicated to Senate
Feb 23, 2026House
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
Feb 23, 2026HouseFloor
Passed House (Roll No. 163)

Show 15 earlier actions

Feb 23, 2026House
Read 3rd time
Feb 23, 2026House
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Feb 20, 2026House
Read 2nd time
Feb 20, 2026House
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
Feb 19, 2026House
Read 1st time
Feb 19, 2026House
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
Feb 18, 2026House
By substitute, do pass
Feb 16, 2026House
Markup Discussion
Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 12, 2026House
Markup Discussion
Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Courts
Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary
Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

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