HB 5351 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to modernization of fees generated from emergency communication service users

HB 5351 modernizes how counties collect fees from emergency communication service users to cover enhanced 911 systems and address conversion costs. It allows county commissions to impose a single fee per physical address (residential, commercial, or business location) regardless of technology used, including VoIP services for in-state subscribers. The fee must cover system upgrades, city-style addressing conversions, and operational costs, but cannot be charged multiple times for different services at the same location. This update ensures fee collection aligns with modern communication technologies while maintaining transparency for users.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduced version to a committee substitute version, with significant changes to how 911 fees are imposed and collected. The committee version clarifies that fees apply to 911 service user locations rather than individual service subscriptions, prevents double-charging of fees, and adds specific exemptions for certain mobile and internet services. These changes aim to modernize the fee structure while ensuring fair and consistent application across different communication technologies.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to apply fees to specific 911 service user locations rather than individual service subscriptions, preventing multiple fees from being charged to the same location for different types of communication services.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed fee applicability from individual service users to 911 service user locations, regardless of communication technology type used at that location.

Added exemptions preventing fees from being levied on commercial mobile service, private mobile service, and internet access as defined by federal law.

REQUIREMENT

Added prohibition on charging more than one enhanced emergency telephone system fee to the same location, preventing duplicate charges.

DEFINITION

Added explicit definition of 911 service user location as an occupied residential, commercial, or business premises with a physical address.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated billing agent provisions to require that fees be billed to customers whose service addresses correspond to a 911 service user location.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

By substitute, do pass

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

To House Homeland Security

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

To House Judiciary

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

To Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 9 co-sponsors