HB 5160 prohibits all unauthorized atmospheric modification activities - such as cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injection, and directed-energy heating - within or above West Virginia. The law establishes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as the lead agency to enforce the ban, deny permits for such activities, and pursue penalties for violations. It applies to all individuals, organizations, and government entities conducting atmospheric modification without state authorization. Violations could trigger state enforcement actions, fines, and cooperative investigations with law enforcement agencies. The bill aims to protect public health, agriculture, and environmental integrity by preventing unregulated atmospheric changes.
HB 5195 increases the annual commission paid to West Virginia county sheriffs for collecting property taxes. Starting July 1, 2026, sheriffs who collect at least 85% of all real and personal property taxes will receive a $30,000 annual commission (up from $15,000), paid directly from the tax funds they collect. This change applies specifically to sheriffs serving as county treasurers, who handle tax collection as part of their duties. The commission becomes a regular budgeted part of their compensation, as outlined in the bill's provisions.
HB 5186, the West Virginia Public Participation Act, creates a legal process to dismiss lawsuits filed against individuals or groups for speaking out on public issues. It directly affects citizens, activists, journalists, and organizations who engage in protected speech about matters like health, safety, government, or community well-being. The bill allows defendants to file a motion to dismiss within 60 days if a lawsuit targets their lawful exercise of free speech, petitioning, or association on a public concern, requiring an expedited court hearing. If dismissed, the plaintiff may face penalties including attorney fees. The law aims to prevent "strategic lawsuits" meant to silence public participation, while still allowing valid claims for actual harm.
HB 5175 clarifies how campus police officers at West Virginia state institutions can use earned leave days for retirement credit under the Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System. The bill specifies that these officers may only count leave days earned *after* they joined the retirement system, not leave accrued before participation began. It also corrects outdated language in the law to ensure campus police officers can properly elect to join the retirement system. This change directly affects campus police officers who are members of the retirement system and standardizes their retirement credit calculation.
HB 5170 allows individuals to openly carry firearms on West Virginia Capitol grounds and inside the Capitol building, removing previous restrictions. It permits open carry in most areas but prohibits it in the Governor’s office and specific Supreme Court chambers (third/fourth floors of the East wing). The bill also maintains existing rules against carrying pepper spray over one ounce and defacing Capitol property. This directly affects lawful firearm owners seeking to carry openly while visiting the Capitol complex.
HB 5178 requires employers to deposit 15% of a minor’s gross earnings from artistic/creative work (like acting, music, or content creation) or name/image/likeness (NIL) use into a blocked trust account. It directly affects minors under 18 who earn income through these activities, including social media content creators and student-athletes. The funds remain inaccessible until the minor turns 18, with employers mandated to provide monthly records to parents/guardians and open the account within 7 business days of qualifying activity. The bill also specifies that independent content creators are excluded from these requirements.
HB 5189 establishes a two-county pilot program requiring child protective services (CPS) workers in West Virginia to use mobile devices (like tablets) for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations starting October 2027. The bill mandates that devices must create real-time digital records, automatically upload data daily to a central system, work with existing software, and be used in at least 70% of cases during the pilot. It directly affects CPS workers in the two participating counties and requires the Department of Human Services to report annually on program metrics to the legislature. The pilot will run for five years, ending in 2032, with data used for system-wide quality improvement analysis.
HB 5172 establishes the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Broadband Internet Connection Fund to install LEO satellite equipment at locations already designated for broadband deployment under existing state grant programs. The fund, managed by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, will use state appropriations, grants, and interest earnings to cover installation costs. It provides immediate internet access through LEO connections - though with different speed and latency than traditional broadband - while waiting for full statewide broadband deployment to complete. The fund’s money remains available annually without reverting to general state revenue.
HB 5183 directs West Virginia’s Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a single pilot domestic violence court in Kanawha County. This specialized court would handle specific misdemeanor domestic violence cases involving family or household members, including violations of laws related to assault, protective orders, and related offenses. The Supreme Court must collect data on the court’s effectiveness and report findings to lawmakers by 2027 and 2028. The pilot is limited to Kanawha County and applies only to misdemeanor cases (felony cases require a circuit judge).
HB 5169 would create a state tax deduction for West Virginia parents who make payments related to their children's eligibility for a "Trump Account" under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 530A). The bill specifies that only parents whose children qualify for this federal account would be eligible, and payments made for the account would be deductible similarly to existing 529 college savings plan contributions. This deduction would apply to state income tax returns for qualifying families. The bill references a non-existent federal provision (26 U.S.C. § 530A), making the policy mechanism based on a fictional federal program.
HB 5173 creates the West Virginia Rural Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention Act, targeting individuals who improperly dispose of litter on public or private property, including near waterways. It establishes tiered penalties based on litter quantity: fines from $100 for small amounts (under 100 lbs) up to $50,000 for large dumps (over 500 lbs), with enhanced fines (50% higher) near protected waters. The bill also allows courts to order community service (cleaning litter for 8-200 hours) instead of or alongside fines, and creates a Rural Illegal Dumping Prevention Fund for cleanup programs. It directly affects anyone who illegally discards litter, imposing specific criminal penalties for repeat offenses and violations near water.
HB 5171 sets new salary schedules for West Virginia county commissioners and other elected county officials (such as sheriffs, clerks, and assessors), effective July 1, 2026. The bill establishes specific annual salary amounts based on county classification (Class I to X), with increases ranging from $5,000 to $17,000 above current rates for commissioners and similar increases for other officials. To receive these raises, counties must first have their auditor certify improved fiscal health, and individual officials must submit a written request for the increase. This directly affects all 55 counties and their elected county officials, with the new rates applying to terms beginning July 1, 2026.
