HB 4137 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Updating the West Virginia Law Institute

This bill updates the West Virginia Law Institute by clarifying its purpose, expanding its membership structure, and adjusting how vacancies are filled. It directs the institute to continue its work of reviewing state laws, recommending reforms, and conducting legal research while adding new elected members from each congressional district and faculty representatives. The legislation also authorizes reimbursement for council members and exempts the institute from open meetings laws, while maintaining its role as an advisory agency located at West Virginia University College of Law.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Committee Substitute → hb4137 hfat akers 2-2 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify its purpose and the composition of the West Virginia Law Institute, specifically increasing the number of practicing attorney members from two to six per congressional district. The amendment also updated the language regarding member compensation to explicitly authorize reimbursement and honoraria based on institute bylaws, and refined the exemption from open meetings laws.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's membership requirements was expanded to include more practicing attorneys, while the scope of financial authorization was clarified to allow for both reimbursement and honoraria.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the number of elected practicing attorney members from two to six per congressional district to broaden representation.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that vacancies in the elected membership must be filled according to the institute's adopted bylaws.

FISCAL

Updated compensation language to explicitly authorize reimbursement for citizen members and honoraria for professional services, contingent on the institute's bylaws.

DEFINITION

Revised the bill title and summary to reflect the new membership numbers and the specific authorization for honoraria.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

88–4

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 99

Feb 3, 2026

D Democratic9

9 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican90

79 Yea 4 Nay 7

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 37)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

By substitute, do pass

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

To House Legal Services

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors