HB 4797 creates two ceremonial observances in West Virginia: "First Amendment Freedom of Speech Day" (designated as the Friday following October 14 each year) and "First Amendment Freedom of Speech Appreciation Week" (the week beginning the Sunday before Thanksgiving). The bill amends state law to add these to the list of official legal holidays and special memorial weeks, affecting state government operations, courts, and schools that observe these days. It is a memorial bill honoring Charlie Kirk, with no substantive policy changes beyond the holiday designation. The bill is procedural and does not alter existing laws or regulations.
HB 4721 would amend West Virginia's drug scheduling law to automatically remove a specific form of psilocybin - crystalline polymorph psilocybin - from Schedule I if approved by the FDA and DEA for medical use. This change would apply only to the crystalline form of psilocybin that receives federal approval, not to other forms or uses of psilocybin. The bill creates a direct pathway for this specific approved form to be legally accessible for medical purposes without requiring additional state legislation. It does not change current restrictions on other psilocybin forms or recreational use.
HB 4738 would allow West Virginia counties to impose an annual tax on vacant or mostly vacant commercial, industrial, or institutional buildings (defined as unoccupied for 6+ months or over 50% floor area unused). Counties could set the tax as a percentage of property value or a flat fee, with owners receiving 30 days' notice and appeal rights to court. Exemptions cover properties under renovation, actively listed for sale/lease, or affected by disasters or hardship. The tax would be collected like regular property taxes, creating a lien if unpaid, to encourage property use and reduce blight.
HB 4752 repeals §55-2-1 of West Virginia's Code, which previously limited the time period for filing lawsuits to enter or recover lands. This procedural bill removes an existing legal restriction but does not create new rules or directly affect any specific groups. The change simplifies the legal process by eliminating the specified time limit for land-related court actions. No new provisions or impacted parties are introduced by this repeal.
HB 4761 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of murder or attempted murder in West Virginia. It increases the minimum time inmates must serve before becoming parole-eligible: 20 years for second-degree murder (up from 10), and 10-40 years for attempted first-degree murder (up from 3-15) or 5-20 years for attempted second-degree murder (up from 1-3). The bill also adds provisions allowing prosecutors and victims' families to attend parole hearings remotely or in person. These changes directly affect inmates serving sentences for these specific violent offenses. The bill does not alter sentence lengths but restricts early release opportunities for these crimes.
HJR 25 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how West Virginia's state superintendent of schools is selected. Currently, the superintendent is appointed by the West Virginia Board of Education (a body appointed by the governor). The amendment would require the superintendent to be elected directly by voters in general elections every four years. This change would make the position a publicly elected constitutional officer, shifting selection from an appointment to a direct vote.
SB 584 shortens the required notice period for tax lien sales in West Virginia from 30 days to 15 days before a deed may be issued (amending §11A-3-55). It also reduces the time homeowners have to challenge a tax deed from two years to one year after the deed is delivered (amending §11A-4-4). The bill requires property owners seeking to contest a sale to deposit funds for redemption before court proceedings can begin. These changes directly affect property owners at risk of losing homes to tax sales and tax lien purchasers.
This bill changes when West Virginia holds its presidential primary election. Currently, the law requires the presidential primary to be held on the third Tuesday in February every four years (starting in 2028). HB 4751 would instead move this primary to the second Tuesday in May every two years, beginning in 1986 (though this date appears to be an error, as the bill was introduced in 2026). The change directly affects West Virginia voters participating in presidential primaries by altering the timing of the election. This is a procedural adjustment to election scheduling with no other policy provisions.
SB 285 authorizes the West Virginia State Police to implement a previously drafted rule (81 CSR 05) governing contracted police or security services. This bill specifically approves the rule that was modified after addressing concerns from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee and refiled in September 2025. The rule directly affects private security companies and local entities that hire contracted officers, establishing standards for their operations. This is a procedural bill that clears the way for the existing rule to take effect without creating new policy requirements.
This bill authorizes West Virginia's Board of Optometry to create and implement a specific rule about oral pharmaceutical certificates. It formally approves a rule the Board had previously proposed (documented as 14 CSR 02), which addresses optometrists' authority to prescribe certain medications orally. The rule was modified after feedback from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee and refiled in 2025. This change directly affects optometrists and the Board of Optometry by establishing clear regulatory procedures for prescribing practices. The bill does not create new policy but confirms the Board's authority to enforce an existing rule.
HB 4741 requires oil and gas operators (lessees) to withhold West Virginia personal income tax from royalty payments made to property owners (lessors) and remit the withheld amount to the state Tax Commissioner. Property owners receive credit for the withheld tax against their income tax liability and can claim refunds for overpayments. Operators must provide annual statements detailing withheld amounts to property owners and file reconciliation reports with the Tax Commissioner by January 31 each year, including copies of statements provided to lessors. This law directly affects gas and oil well operators and property owners receiving royalty payments from mineral leases.
HB 4726 requires West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources to prioritize housing applications for foster youth who have turned 18 and are transitioning out of foster care, specifically for those who do not qualify for existing transitional living services. The bill mandates that the department give priority to these young adults for government-assisted housing programs, such as HUD, to improve housing stability during their transition to independence. It directly affects foster youth aged 18 and older leaving the system without qualifying for transitional living placements under current law. This policy change focuses on concrete housing access, not broader outcomes or advocacy.
