HB 5193 would abolish West Virginia's legal doctrine of adverse possession, which previously allowed individuals to gain ownership of land by occupying it continuously for a set period without the owner's permission. The bill amends Section 55-2-1 of the state code to explicitly state that "the doctrine and law of adverse possession is abolished" and repeals Section 55-2-3, which previously governed land claims under this doctrine. This change directly affects property owners, who would no longer face claims of ownership by long-term occupants, and occupants who might have sought title through this method. The bill removes a specific legal pathway for acquiring land title, replacing it with a straightforward rule that all land claims must follow standard ownership and transfer processes.
SB 232 establishes a five-year program to place licensed athletic trainers in all West Virginia public secondary schools by 2032, requiring each school to have a trainer on staff or contracted through the county board. It expands existing career and technical education (CTE) sports medicine programs to ensure all high school students have access to accredited training aligned with higher education requirements. The bill mandates annual state funding for trainer recruitment and retention, including using the Underwood-Smith Loan Repayment Program to incentivize trainers who also teach. This directly affects public high schools, student-athletes (through enhanced safety resources), and CTE program participants.
SB 176 amends West Virginia law to increase the number of non-traditional instruction days that count toward the required 180 instructional days from five to ten days per school year. This change directly affects West Virginia school districts and teachers, allowing counties to use up to five days for alternative instruction during closures (e.g., weather-related school shutdowns) and up to five additional days for teacher-led instructional improvement activities without students present. The bill specifies that these days count as full instructional days for both student calendar requirements and teacher employment terms. It does not change the total instructional time needed but provides greater flexibility in scheduling closures and professional development.
SB 450 establishes a 25% state income tax credit for property owners who rehabilitate certified historic buildings in West Virginia. It directly affects residential and non-residential property owners who work on structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or within designated historic districts, after review by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The credit applies to "qualified rehabilitation expenditures" meeting specific criteria, including a requirement that rehabilitation costs equal at least 20% of the building's assessed value. The bill reorganizes existing historic preservation tax rules into a new centralized article (§11-13NN) with defined terms and procedures for claiming the credit.
HB 4994 requires utilities (like power and gas companies) to move or adjust their lines from state highway rights-of-way when needed for road construction projects. It mandates the state’s Highway Division to provide utilities with up to 18 months’ written notice and specific procedures for submitting relocation plans and work schedules. The bill also requires the state to reimburse utilities for work they must redo if highway project plans change after construction begins. Utilities are not held liable for delays caused by state schedule changes, incomplete right-of-way acquisitions, or extreme weather, as outlined in the bill.
This bill establishes the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board and sets specific qualifications for its appointed voting members. It requires board members to be state citizens with experience in public or nonprofit governance, school leadership, or education law, while also mandating geographic diversity and limiting political party representation to no more than three members. The legislation also creates conflict-of-interest rules that prevent appointments for individuals currently employed by charter schools or companies serving them, and it defines the board's duties including authorizing charter schools, investigating complaints, and conducting audits.
HB 4601 expands West Virginia's Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit from a minimum of six to at least 21 members, requiring each of the 21 State Police districts to contribute at least one retired officer. The bill establishes unit offices in every State Police district (located within Human Services offices) and allows honorably retired State Police officers to rejoin under specific conditions - without accruing pension rights and after completing required training in areas like firearms and child abuse investigation protocols. The unit must coordinate with Child Protective Services, maintain statewide statistical data on child abuse/neglect convictions (without identifying individuals), and submit annual reports to the legislature. This directly affects Child Protective Services offices, law enforcement agencies, and retired State Police officers who may rejoin the unit.
This bill updates the West Virginia Law Institute by clarifying its purpose, expanding its membership structure, and adjusting how vacancies are filled. It directs the institute to continue its work of reviewing state laws, recommending reforms, and conducting legal research while adding new elected members from each congressional district and faculty representatives. The legislation also authorizes reimbursement for council members and exempts the institute from open meetings laws, while maintaining its role as an advisory agency located at West Virginia University College of Law.
HB 4629 amends West Virginia's tobacco sales law to allow institutions of higher education to distribute tobacco cessation products to individuals aged 18-21 for research purposes. This directly affects college/university research programs approved by institutional review boards (IRBs) that study tobacco cessation or prevention. The key provision creates an exception to the general 21+ age restriction, requiring all such distributions to occur within medically supervised, IRB-approved research programs. The bill changes the policy by permitting this specific age group access for legitimate medical research, while maintaining penalties for unauthorized sales to minors.
SB 720 establishes the West Virginia Comprehensive Student and Family Support Act to create a coordinated system of services for students facing barriers like emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges that risk academic failure, suspension, or out-of-home placement. It directly affects eligible students in West Virginia public schools who are at risk of dropout, exclusion, or placement, prioritizing those transitioning from juvenile justice or foster care. The bill creates a state fund to pool public resources, requires local teams to coordinate education, health, and social services, and mandates outcome tracking (like attendance and behavioral progress) through a State Oversight Office within the West Virginia Department of Education. This system aims to reduce duplication, improve educational outcomes, and ensure accountability via annual reporting and audits.
HJR 35 proposes adding a constitutional amendment requiring West Virginia to provide free early childhood education for all children in the state. The amendment would create a new Section 8 in Article XII of the state constitution, stating that "the Legislature shall provide, by general law, for a thorough and efficient system of free schools including early childhood education." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this would establish a constitutional right to early childhood education, directly affecting all West Virginia children and requiring the legislature to fund and implement such programs. The resolution is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.
This Senate Resolution designates February 3, 2026, as "Marshall University Day" at the Capitol to honor the university's contributions. It recognizes Marshall University's history, alumni achievements, academic programs (including cybersecurity and health care), economic impact, and student-athlete success. The resolution has no binding policy effect - it is purely ceremonial, with no new requirements or funding for the university. The Senate adopted it unanimously by voice vote on February 3, 2026.
