WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 3181
By Delegates Howell, Heckert, Ridenour, Masters, Ward, Kelly, Linville, Pinson, Stephens, Marple, and Phillips
[Introduced March 06, 2025; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated ยง15-10-8, related to providing for the purchase of service weapons upon retirement or at the end of service as a law enforcement officer.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## ARTICLE 10. COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
(a) Every law-enforcement officer in the state of West Virginia shall be given the opportunity to purchase their service weapon at fair market value at the time their service ends, upon their retirement, or to have it presented to them at no cost upon retirement if the governing body of an agency decides to.
(b) This shall apply to all law-enforcement agencies in the state, including, but not limited to:
(1) State police
(2) Sheriffs' offices
(3) City or municipal officers
(4) Division of Natural Resources officers
(4) University or campus police officers
(5) Any other law enforcement officers in the state of West Virginia.
(c) The end of an officer's service includes the end of any term of an elected official like a County Sheriff. Upon termination of this elected term of service, the officer is permitted to purchase their service weapon at fair market value.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for the purchase of, or presentation of, service firearms to law-enforcement officers upon retirement or the end of their service.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.