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HB 4456

Relating to clarification of a law enforcement agency and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and personnel of states bordering this state

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Flanigan and 7 co-sponsors

West Virginia clarifies law enforcement agency definitions and authorizes interstate cooperation agreements with bordering states' law enforcement personnel for joint operations.

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Bill Summary · HB 4456

Legislative bill overview

HB 4456 clarifies the definition and scope of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia and establishes legal frameworks for cooperative agreements and joint operations between West Virginia law enforcement and personnel from bordering states. The bill appears designed to remove ambiguities in existing law that may have hindered interstate law enforcement coordination.

Why is this important

Interstate law enforcement cooperation is operationally critical for addressing crimes that cross state lines, managing shared border security concerns, and coordinating responses to regional emergencies. Clarifying which entities qualify as "law enforcement agencies" and under what conditions they can work together removes legal obstacles that could prevent effective collaboration on drug trafficking, human trafficking, fugitive apprehension, and other interstate criminal matters.

Potential points of contention

  • Jurisdictional scope: Questions about whether out-of-state officers operating in West Virginia maintain full law enforcement authority or face restrictions, and how liability and accountability are handled
  • Interstate authority limits: Concerns that broad cooperation language could inadvertently allow other states' officers powers beyond what West Virginia intends to grant them
  • Definitional clarity: The bill's success depends entirely on how "law enforcement agency" and "cooperation" are specifically defined in the statutory language, which isn't detailed in available summaries

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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