Senate passes bill restricting law-enforcement placement of surveillance cameras on private property
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Summary
Lawmakers approved an engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 84 prohibiting officers from installing surveillance cameras on private property without owner consent or a warrant, with exceptions for lawful presence or exigent circumstances; vote was unanimous on the floor (34–0).
The West Virginia Senate on Jan. 29 approved an engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 84, which forbids law-enforcement officers from placing surveillance cameras on private property without either the property owner’s consent or a valid search warrant.
"The committee substitute for Senate Bill 84 seeks to strike a balance between protecting individual liberty and giving law enforcement the tools that they need to be effective," the junior senator from the fifteenth said during floor remarks. He outlined exceptions ‘‘where the camera is installed, where the officer has a lawful right to be, and the camera is facing land open to public view, and 2, there are exigent circumstances present, such as a missing person or an escaped convict.’’
Sponsors said the substitute reflects work across two committee meetings and mitigates concerns raised by law enforcement while preserving privacy protections. The measure passed on a recorded vote, 34 yays, 0 nays.
What happens next: The clerk will communicate the Senate’s action to the House for its consideration.
Sources and provenance: Senate floor debate and recorded vote on SB84 from Jan. 29, 2026.