West Virginia House Passes Animal Cruelty Bill with Bestiality Ban

The bill expands definitions and increases penalties for animal cruelty, including a new provision to explicitly prohibit sexual acts with animals.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill to codify crimes against animals, with an amendment that would ban bestiality. While animal cruelty is mentioned in the state code, there was no clear statutory prohibition of sexual acts with animals. The bill expands definitions and increases penalties for animal cruelty, and the amendment to ban bestiality was introduced and ultimately passed with near unanimity.

Why it matters

West Virginia was the only state without a law explicitly banning bestiality. This bill closes that legal loophole and strengthens protections for animals in the state. The passage of the bill and amendment highlights growing awareness and concern around animal welfare and the need for clear laws to prosecute those who commit acts of cruelty or abuse.

The details

The bill, HB 4725, expands definitions of animal cruelty to include riding an animal when it is physically unfit, harassing an animal to make it perform for amusement, and leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle in certain circumstances. The amendment to ban bestiality was introduced by Del. Kayla Young, who said she has been working on this issue for years after receiving calls from Charleston police about prosecutors dropping such cases due to the lack of a clear law. The amendment initially faced some opposition from the bill's sponsor, Del. JB Akers, who claimed it conflicted with the criminal penalties outlined in the bill, but ultimately a compromise amendment was passed.

  • The West Virginia House of Delegates passed the bill on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • Del. Kayla Young has been working to pass a bestiality ban for several years.

The players

West Virginia House of Delegates

The legislative body of the state of West Virginia that passed the animal cruelty bill with the bestiality ban amendment.

Del. Kayla Young

A West Virginia state delegate who introduced the amendment to ban bestiality, which she has been working on for several years.

Del. JB Akers

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the sponsor of the original animal cruelty bill, who initially opposed the bestiality amendment but ultimately agreed to a compromise.

Charleston Police

The police department that has been receiving calls from prosecutors about dropping bestiality cases due to the lack of a clear law in West Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“I've been putting this bill forward, and now this amendment forward, for several years. And I get a call from Charleston police probably once every couple of months about prosecutors that they drop these cases.”

— Del. Kayla Young, West Virginia State Delegate (wowktv.com)

“I'm asking you to vote for my amendment, which, if it passes, would make the other amendment moot to maintain the strength of the bill that's in front of you and not to water it back down.”

— Del. JB Akers, Chairman, West Virginia House Judiciary Committee (wowktv.com)

“I can't imagine why any reasonable prosecutor wouldn't prosecute someone for cruelty of an animal if they commit this type of misconduct. I've heard stories that sometimes that's happened – that some cases have been dismissed, but they shouldn't be. And shame on those prosecutors who've done it.”

— Del. JB Akers, Chairman, West Virginia House Judiciary Committee (wowktv.com)

What’s next

The bill now heads to the West Virginia Senate, where it must be passed before being signed into law by the governor.

The takeaway

This legislation represents an important step forward for animal welfare in West Virginia, closing a legal loophole and sending a clear message that sexual acts with animals will not be tolerated. The bipartisan support for the bill and amendment highlights growing societal concerns about cruelty to animals and the need for robust laws to protect them.