HB 4265 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to authorizing the Department of Agriculture to promulgate a legislative rule relating to registration forms and tags for registration, taxation, and control of dogs.

HB 4265 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to implement a specific rule (61 CSR 01B) governing dog registration forms and tags for registration, taxation, and control. This rule standardizes requirements for dog owners to register their pets and pay associated fees through designated forms and tags. The bill directly affects dog owners across West Virginia who must comply with these registration procedures. It formally approves an existing rule that was developed and modified to address legislative feedback, without creating new requirements.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Jun 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

hb4265 s jud am _1 adopted.htm → Enrolled Committee Substitute · 5 edits · Apr 1, 2026

MODERATE

This bill enacts a comprehensive list of legislative rules for various state agencies and boards, primarily authorizing them to continue or modify existing regulations. The most significant substantive change is the amendment to hemp and kratom regulations, which lowers the allowable THC limit from 2.0 percent to 10 milligrams per dose and clarifies the definition of synthetic products. Additionally, several rules are updated to include sunset provisions requiring them to expire on August 1, 2036, and minor technical corrections are made to other agency rules.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of authorized rules to include new categories for hemp/kratom, agritourism, and senior services, while maintaining the authority for dozens of existing professional licensing boards.

REQUIREMENT

Amended hemp and kratom regulations to lower the THC limit from 2.0 percent to 10 milligrams per dose and updated the definition of synthetic products.

Repealed an outdated interview evaluation rule for the Board of Optometry.

TIMELINE

Added sunset provisions to multiple Attorney General rules, requiring them to expire on August 1, 2036.

SCOPE

Authorized new rules for agritourism, exempted dairy farms, and a shared table initiative for senior citizens.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a typo in the hemp rule by changing 'percentage' to 'milligram' and adding a missing period.

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 13 edits

MAJOR

The bill was expanded from authorizing only one specific rule for the Department of Agriculture to authorizing a wide range of new rules for numerous state agencies, including Boards of Architects, Medicine, Pharmacy, and the Attorney General. This change significantly broadens the bill's scope to streamline the legislative rule-making process for many different sectors, such as healthcare, real estate, and consumer protection, while also adding specific sunset dates for some Attorney General rules to ensure they expire on August 1, 2036.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single department (Agriculture) to include over twenty different state boards and agencies, covering areas like professional licensing, healthcare, and consumer transactions.

SCOPE

Added authorization for the Board of Architects to promulgate rules regarding registration and fees.

Added authorization for the Attorney General to promulgate rules on third-party dispute mechanisms, crime victim treatment, home improvement, damaged goods, and preneed burial contracts.

Added authorization for the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate rules on licensure, mail-order pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, recovery networks, immunizations, permits, and inspections.

Added authorization for the Board of Optometry to promulgate rules on licensure, oral pharmaceutical certificates, fees, and reciprocity, while repealing an old rule on interview evaluations.

Added authorization for the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to promulgate rules on licensing, physician assistants, and emergency temporary permits.

Added authorization for the Board of Physical Therapy to promulgate rules for physical therapists, assistants, and athletic trainers.

Added authorization for the Public Service Commission to promulgate rules regarding customer-provided conduit occupancy.

Added authorization for the Real Estate Commission to promulgate rules on broker licensing and conduct, including a repeal of a specific subsection.

Added authorization for the Secretary of State to promulgate rules on Help America Vote Act loan and grant programs.

Added authorization for Senior Services to promulgate rules on the shared table initiative for senior citizens.

Added authorization for the Board of Social Work to promulgate rules on fee schedules.

Expanded the Department of Agriculture section to include rules on apples, public markets, livestock dealers, milk, hemp/kratom derivatives, agritourism, and dairy farms, in addition to the original dog registration rule.

REQUIREMENT

Added sunset provisions requiring specific Attorney General rules to terminate on August 1, 2036.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Mar 11, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 1, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 689)

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 456)

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported do pass, with amendment

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (Roll No. 199)

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

By substitute, do pass

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Do pass, but first to Judiciary

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To House Government Organization

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To Government Organization then Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors