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HB 5156WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill HB 5156 Creates Second Look Sentencing Act for Inmates Serving Over 10 Years

Original title: Second Look Sentencing Act

Last action · February 3, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsor: Kayla Young

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

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5156 establishes the Second Look Sentencing Act, allowing judges to modify or reduce prison sentences for individuals who have served at least 10 years and meet specific rehabilitation criteria. The measure includes a for defendants aged 50 or older upon application and mandates up to five years of for those granted modifications.

Why it matters

Inmates serving long prison terms gain a legal mechanism to petition courts for sentence reductions after 10 years, potentially altering state prison populations and county prosecutor workloads.

Background
  • West Virginia operates under the Code of West Virginia, 1931, which governs criminal sentencing and correctional facilities in the state. context
  • Second look sentencing legislation has been introduced in various U.S. states to allow courts to review and potentially modify lengthy prison sentences after a significant portion of time has been served. 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.

Directly affected

Inmates serving 10 or more years in prison

Inmates who have served at least 10 years gain the legal right to apply for sentence modifications and benefit from a presumption of release if aged 50 or older.

Directly affected

State prosecutors

County prosecutors are required to provide a report and recommendation to the court regarding a defendant's sentence modification petition.

Directly affected

Victims and victim family members

Victims or family members of deceased victims are permitted to submit a statement for consideration during the sentence modification proceeding.

Directly affected

Commissioner of Corrections

The Commissioner must provide a report and recommendation detailing the defendant's prison compliance and completion of educational or vocational programs.

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 apply for a sentence modification under HB 5156?
Any person who has served at least 10 years of a prison sentence may apply for a sentence modification.
What happens if an initial application for sentence modification is denied?
The person may reapply a second time five years after the first order is entered (if they did not appeal), a third time two years after the second order, and a final time when they are 50 years or older.
Are older inmates treated differently under the proposed act?
Yes, there is a for defendants who are 50 years or older on the date of application for resentencing.

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Judiciary
  2. Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Judiciary
  4. Feb 3, 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

Kayla YoungHouse · District 56DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift95% confidence

Introduction of Judicial Sentence Review for Long-Term Inmates

HB 5156 introduces a structured statutory pathway for reviewing and modifying prison sentences after 10 years served, incorporating specific judicial criteria and age-based presumption rules.

West Virginia Legislature

Connected Entities

House of Delegates, Commissioner of Corrections, West Virginia Legislature and 1 more
OrganizationHouse of Delegates“Origin chamber for HB 5156”Map →
OrganizationCommissioner of Corrections“Required to submit a report and recommendation on the defendant”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Legislative body introducing and enacting the bill”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on the Judiciary“House committee assigned to review the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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