# West Virginia HB 4725: Clarifying the disposition of animal subject to animal cruelty treatment.

West Virginia HB 4725, Clarifying the disposition of animal subject to animal cruelty treatment., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-13 (Introduced in Senate); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4725-2026rs
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: West Virginia HB 4725
- State: West Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Clarifying the disposition of animal subject to animal cruelty treatment.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-02-13, Introduced in Senate
- Sponsor: James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: §61-8-19, Senate Judiciary
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 1 (93 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Ferrell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joe Funkhouser (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Laura Kimble (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Carl Martin (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 82) | pass | 93 | 1 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-02-13: Introduced in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House)
- 2026-02-12: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House)
- 2026-02-12: Amendment withdrawn (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Passed House (Roll No. 82) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Communicated to Senate (House)
- 2026-02-11: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House)
- 2026-02-11: Advanced to 3rd with Amendments pending (House)
- 2026-02-11: Amendments pending (House)
- 2026-02-10: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read 1st time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Do pass (House)
- 2026-02-05: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-02-04: To House Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-03: To House Courts (House)
- 2026-02-03: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-01-22: Filed for introduction (House)
- 2026-01-22: To Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-22: Introduced in House (House)
- 2026-01-22: To House Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 eng.pdf)
- Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 intr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed)
- HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed)
- HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed)
- HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law)
- HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime (signed)
- HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 eng.htm)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 eng.pdf)
- [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 intr.htm)
- [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4725 intr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs)
- [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs)
- [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs)
- [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs)
- [HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4138-2026rs)
- [HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4106-2026rs)
- [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills)
- [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4725-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).