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HB 4898WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Requires Division of Corrections to Provide Inmates Birth Certificates and Social Security Cards Upon Release

Original title: Requiring the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide an inmate with one physical copy of their birth certificate and social security card upon release

Last action · January 28, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Pritt and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 4898 requires the Division of Corrections to provide every probationer with a physical copy of their birth certificate and Social Security Administration card upon release from any division facility.

Why it matters

The measure establishes a mandatory requirement for correctional facilities to issue essential identification documents to individuals upon their release, impacting how former inmates transition into community supervision and seek employment.

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

probationers

Directly affected

Division of Corrections

The division is required to provide physical copies of birth certificates and Social Security cards to every probationer upon release.

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 documents must be provided to a probationer upon release?

The Division of Corrections must provide a physical copy of the probationer's birth certificate and a physical copy of their Social Security Administration card.

When are these identification documents required to be given to the individual?

Upon release from any Division of Corrections facility.

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

Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary then Finance
Jan 28, 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.

Connected Entities

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, State Treasurer, Social Security Administration

OrganizationSupreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia“Adopts the standardized risk and needs assessment.”Map →

OrganizationState Treasurer“Receives collected probation fees for deposit in the state General Revenue Fund.”Map →

OrganizationSocial Security Administration“Issuing agency for social security cards.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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