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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill 1068 permits the death penalty for first-degree murder or sexual assault of minors aged 16 or younger
Last action · February 23, 2026: To JudiciarySponsor: Mike Azinger
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 1068 permits for individuals convicted of first-degree murder or first-degree sexual assault of a minor 16 years of age or younger, establishing specific sentencing procedures, jury requirements, and evidentiary standards.
Changes criminal sentencing guidelines by re-establishing for specific felony convictions involving child victims, altering the maximum penalties from life imprisonment or fixed prison terms to the death penalty.
- Capital punishment was previously abolished in West Virginia prior to the introduction of this bill. context
- Senate Bill 1068 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature by Senator Azinger. 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.
Defendants convicted of first degree murder or first degree sexual assault of minors
Subject to potential imposition of the death penalty instead of life imprisonment or fixed prison terms.
West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Required to establish a mechanism to impose capital punishment in coordination with the Supreme Court of Appeals.
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Required to coordinate with the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish capital punishment mechanisms.
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 crimes are eligible for the death penalty under this bill?
What kind of evidence is required to prove aggravating circumstances?
What happens if a jury cannot reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty?
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 Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 23, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 23, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Feb 23, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary then Finance
- Feb 23, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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.
Reinstatement of Capital Punishment
The bill formally repeals §61-11-2, which previously established that capital punishment was abolished in West Virginia.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 90)
- Controversy95Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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