Right to Keep Bees

HB 4632 requires beekeepers in West Virginia to register their apiaries (beekeeping operations) with the Agriculture Commissioner within 10 days of acquiring bees and renew annually by June 30. It creates liability protection for registered beekeepers who follow state-approved best practices, shielding them from claims related to beekeeping activities (excluding intentional harm or gross negligence). The bill mandates annual inspections for apiaries producing queens or packaged bees, allows limited inspections during reasonable hours with owner permission, and requires the Commissioner to quarantine apiaries with pest outbreaks - reporting quarantine details publicly online within 30 days. These provisions directly affect commercial and hobbyist beekeepers, focusing on registration, safety standards, and pest management.