WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 425

By Senator Morris

[Introduced January 15, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend and reenact §61-2-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 2. CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON.

§61-2-2. Penalty for murder of first degree.

Murder of the first degree shall be punished by confinement in the penitentiary for life.  Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person imprisoned for a conviction under this section with a sentence of life with mercy is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of 30 years of his or her sentence.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a minimum time to be served upon a conviction of first degree murder with a sentence of life with mercy.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.