2026 Regular Session

HB 4433

Prohibiting Human Smuggling and Trafficking

Law

Jurisdiction

West Virginia

Session

2026 Regular Session

Official source

Chamber

House of Delegates

Session

2026 Regular Session

Jurisdiction

West Virginia

Bill overview

This bill creates and strengthens criminal penalties for human smuggling and trafficking in West Virginia. It defines key terms like ‘coercion,’ ‘debt bondage,’ and ‘forced labor,’ and establishes offenses for smuggling adults and minors, as well as for using forced labor or sexual servitude. The bill also authorizes asset forfeiture in certain circumstances and includes provisions regarding restitution and parole eligibility for offenders. Notably, it creates an exemption for medical, mental health, and legal services provided to undocumented individuals.

Key provisions

Defines ‘human smuggling,’ ‘human trafficking,’ ‘debt bondage,’ ‘forced labor,’ and ‘commercial sexual activity.’
Creates new felony offenses for smuggling adults and minors, and for trafficking individuals through coercion, debt bondage, or forced labor.
Establishes criminal penalties, including potential prison sentences and fines, for trafficking and smuggling offenses.
Authorizes asset forfeiture of property used in connection with trafficking or smuggling crimes.
Provides for restrictions on parole eligibility for offenders convicted of trafficking or smuggling.
Creates an exemption for medical, mental health, and legal services provided to undocumented individuals.
Addresses restitution obligations for victims of trafficking or smuggling.
Establishes a rebuttable presumption of victimhood for minors involved in sex trafficking cases.

Who is affected

Undocumented immigrants

Positions across the state

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

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Legislative history

2026-01-16House

Filed for introduction

2026-01-16House

To Judiciary

2026-01-16House

Introduced in House

2026-01-16House

To House Judiciary

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

2/17/2026SenateVoice vote
Weld amends. to com. amendment adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
2/17/2026SenateVoice vote
Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
1/23/2026HouseVoice vote
Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Vote map

House districts

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0 districts with vote data

Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

2/17/2026SenateVoice vote
Weld amends. to com. amendment adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
2/17/2026SenateVoice vote
Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)

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HB 4433

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the state

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Passage without roll call

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Bill text

Notable changes

Positions across the state

Passage without roll call

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Recorded roll calls