SB 538 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Increasing compensation for panel attorneys

This bill increases compensation rates for panel attorneys who provide court-appointed legal services to eligible clients in West Virginia. It directly affects public defense attorneys by requiring updated payment rates and mandating detailed time-tracking records (in tenths of hours) for case work. Key provisions include setting 45-day payment timelines after voucher submission, establishing clear appeal processes for rejected or reduced payments, and requiring Public Defender Services to annually report legal services data to oversight bodies like the Legislative Oversight Commission and Supreme Court. The bill also adds new requirements for electronic voucher processing and court review of payment disputes.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
4
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
To Finance
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass, but first to Finance
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary then Finance
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors