In one paragraph
West Virginia's SB 688 (2025 regular session), called the Responsible Use of Facial Recognition Act in its text, would have limited law enforcement use of six listed technologies, including facial recognition, to uses under a warrant based on probable cause, created a facial recognition working group in the Department of Homeland Security to publish a model policy by January 1, 2026, and required agencies to use only U.S.-made facial recognition technology with algorithms tested by NIST. It was sent to Senate Government Organization on March 4, 2025 and went no further.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill did not pass. It would have required law enforcement agencies to adopt facial recognition policies, buy U.S.-made tested systems and obtain warrants for listed surveillance technologies.
Key provisions
- Real-time security monitoring, multimodal vehicle recognition, facial recognition, surveillance drones, license plate readers and digital identity ecosystems usable by law enforcement only under a warrant against a specific person based on probable cause (15-17-4)
- Working group in the Department of Homeland Security to publish a model facial recognition policy by January 1, 2026; agencies would need a use policy before using the technology and would file it, and any revision, with DHS within 30 days of adoption or revision (15-17-5)
- Agencies and political subdivisions could procure or use only facial recognition technology produced entirely in the U.S. by a U.S.-headquartered company not owned or controlled by a foreign company, with algorithms tested under NIST FRTE 1:1 and 1:N (15-17-6)
- Facial recognition should not be the sole support of probable cause for an arrest, search or seizure; only legally collected images may be used and may not be given to private entities
- Consumer products for personal or household use are outside the policy provisions; no penalties, private action or effective date appear in the text
- Introduced March 4, 2025; referred to Government Organization then Judiciary; no later action
Latest legislative action
Mar 4, 2025. To Government Organization
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Rose R | Sponsor | SD-002 |
| Craig Hart R | Sponsor | SD-006 |
| Darren Thorne R | Sponsor | SD-015 |
| Patricia Rucker R | Sponsor | SD-016 |
| Tom Willis R | Sponsor | SD-015 |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error