To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations
HB 4452 removes specific land ownership limits for religious organizations in West Virginia. It eliminates current restrictions that cap church-owned land at 10 acres within cities/towns and 60 acres outside those areas. The bill amends state law to allow religious groups to own any amount of land without these acreage limits. This change directly affects churches, congregations, and religious organizations operating within the state. The policy shift removes a longstanding legal restriction on property ownership by religious entities.
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
Aug 2026
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
Signed Aug 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
hb4452 h fin amt adopted.htm
→
hb4452 h finance am _1 adopted.htm
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to completely replace its original text with a new version that repeals a specific state law restricting how much real estate trustees of religious organizations can own. This change shifts the bill from a partial amendment to a full replacement of the existing statute.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from a partial amendment to a complete replacement of the entire bill text, altering the legislative process from a title substitution to a full statutory rewrite.
SCOPE
The original text proposing to repeal restrictions on property ownership by religious organization trustees was removed.
New text was added to completely repeal the existing law (§35-1-8) regarding the quantity of real estate trustees may take and hold.
PROCEDURE
The amendment method changed from substituting the title to striking out the remainder of the bill and inserting new text.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026
How they voted
32–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Mar 13, 2026
D
Democratic2
50% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
44
Key actions
10
Committee
11
Amendments
1
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 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 537)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
To Government Organization
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 237)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
Amendment reported by the Clerk
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
With amendment, do pass
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Committed to Finance on 2nd reading
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
To House Legal Services
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Rick Hillenbrand
RRepublican
Co
EC
Elías Coop-González
RRepublican
Co
Geno Chiarelli
RRepublican
Co
Robbie Martin
RRepublican
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