West Virginia Bill Grants Municipal Fire Marshals Authority to Assist Law Enforcement

Original title: Granting municipal fire marshals authority to assist in lawful execution of law-enforcement officer's official duties

Last action · January 30, 2026: To House Government OrganizationSponsors: Vince Deeds and 3 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Senate Bill 443 authorizes s to assist law enforcement officers in carrying out their official duties when requested, provided the fire marshal works under the requesting officer's direct supervision.

Why it matters

Expands the operational scope of s across West Virginia by allowing them to participate in general law enforcement activities upon request, subject to specified supervision and training standards.

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

Municipal fire marshals

Municipal fire marshals gain the statutory authority to assist other law-enforcement officers in their official duties upon request.

Directly affected

Law enforcement officers

Federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers are newly empowered to request assistance from municipal fire marshals while retaining direct supervision.

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

Can municipal fire marshals act independently when assisting law enforcement?

No, the bill specifies that the shall at all times work under the direct supervision of the requesting officer.

Which law enforcement officers can request assistance from a municipal fire marshal?

Federal law-enforcement officers, state police officers, natural resources police officers, and any county or municipal law-enforcement officers can request assistance.

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 Senate · in House committee.

Procedural history

17 actions

Jan 30, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Government Organization
Jan 30, 2026HouseCommittee
To Government Organization then Judiciary
Jan 30, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 30, 2026House
House received Senate message
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Ordered to House
Jan 29, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Senate (Roll No. 23)

Show 11 earlier actions

Jan 29, 2026Senate
Read 3rd time
Jan 29, 2026Senate
On 3rd reading
Jan 28, 2026Senate
Read 2nd time
Jan 28, 2026Senate
On 2nd reading
Jan 27, 2026Senate
Read 1st time
Jan 26, 2026Senate
On 1st reading
Jan 23, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported do pass
Jan 16, 2026SenateCommittee
To Government Organization
Jan 16, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Jan 16, 2026SenateCommittee
To Government Organization
Jan 16, 2026SenateIntroduced
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.

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