Legislation that would have barred magistrates from releasing defendants charged with a felony on a personal recognizance bond, which allows a defendant to be released from jail without posting bail, failed to pass the West Virginia Legislature on the final day of the state's 2024 regular legislative session. House Bill 5257's ban on personal recognizance bond for felony charges was added to the bill by Sen. Jason Barrett, whose wife, Summer Barrett, is a registered lobbyist for the bail bond industry that was expected to benefit from the proposed ban.