# West Virginia SB 137: Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter

West Virginia SB 137, Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Vince Deeds (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-25 (Chapter 98, Acts, Regular Session, 2026) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB137-2026rs
- 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 SB 137
- State: West Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Modifying parole eligibility for crime of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-06-25, Chapter 98, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
- Sponsor: Vince Deeds (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: §61-2-3, §61-2-4, §62-3-15, §62-12-13
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (203 yes, 50 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger parole hearings and planning: benefit, low. When you reach parole eligibility, you get a timely hearing. If the Board denies parole, it must tell you when you can ask again, with at least yearly reconsideration. You must submit a written home plan, and the Division must approve it before you are released. The Division creates rehab plans usi…
- Longer parole waits for homicides: cost, low. The law sets fixed prison terms for two homicide crimes. Second-degree murder is 15 to 60 years, and parole is not possible until at least 15 years or the general minimum, whichever is longer. Voluntary manslaughter is 5 to 25 years, and parole is not possible until at least 5 years or the general…
- Faster parole path, firearm limits: mixed, low. You are eligible for parole after the minimum of an indeterminate sentence, or after one fourth of a definite term. You can also be eligible if the corrections commissioner accepts you into an accelerated parole program. To qualify for the accelerated path, you must have no prior violent felony, no…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vince Deeds (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 420) | pass | 33 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 361) | pass | 95 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Amendment rejected (Roll No. 360) | fail | 45 | 47 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 7) | pass | 30 | 2 |   |

## Actions (40)

- 2026-06-25: Chapter 98, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-04-01: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal (House)
- 2026-03-12: To Governor 3/12/2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: House Message received (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 420) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Communicated to House (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Completed legislative action (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed House (Roll No. 361) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Communicated to Senate (House)
- 2026-03-06: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-06: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House)
- 2026-03-06: Amendment rejected (Roll No. 360) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-03-05: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-03-05: Read 1st time (House)
- 2026-03-04: With amendment, do pass (House)
- 2026-03-02: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-01-27: House received Senate message (House)
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House (House)
- 2026-01-27: To Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-27: To House Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-23: On 3rd reading (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Read 3rd time (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed Senate (Roll No. 7) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Ordered to House (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: On 2nd reading (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Read 2nd time (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: On 1st reading (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Read 1st time (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Committee substitute reported (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Filed for introduction (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Introduced in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: To Judiciary (Senate)

## Bill text

- Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1.pdf)
- Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1 enr.pdf)
- Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 intr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313. (signed)
- HB 5353: To bring virtual currency kiosks within the purview of money transmission licensure and create disclosure requirements and daily transaction limitations for ne… (signed)
- HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed)
- HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed)
- HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed)
- HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law)

## Sources
- [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1.htm)
- [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1.pdf)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1 enr.htm)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 sub1 enr.pdf)
- [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 intr.htm)
- [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/sb137 intr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 5694: Supplemental appropriation to Department of Education, fund 0313.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5694-2026rs)
- [HB 5353: To bring virtual currency kiosks within the purview of money transmission licen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB5353-2026rs)
- [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs)
- [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 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs)
- [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs)
- [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills)
- [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB137-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).