HB 4661 would allow the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally killing a law enforcement officer or first responder (including firefighters, EMTs, and correctional staff) while they are performing their duties. The bill amends West Virginia's murder sentencing code to add this scenario as an aggravating circumstance requiring physical evidence like DNA or a confession, rather than circumstantial proof. If this aggravating circumstance is proven beyond reasonable doubt and no mitigating factors outweigh it, a jury may impose the death penalty; otherwise, the sentence is life without parole. This directly affects defendants convicted of first-degree murder in these specific cases.
SJR 16 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit state constitutional officers to three consecutive terms. It directly affects the Secretary of State, Auditor, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Attorney General. The amendment would prevent anyone from serving more than three consecutive terms in these offices for terms beginning after January 1, 2029; terms starting before that date do not count toward the limit. This amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.
SB 552 authorizes West Virginia county school boards to designate qualifying rural schools as "rural anchor schools," directly affecting low-enrollment schools in predominantly rural communities. To qualify, schools must meet specific criteria, including being the primary neighborhood school, having enrollment below state averages, and facing transportation or safety barriers if closed. The bill provides these schools with state funding based on a minimum 150-student enrollment for fixed costs (like utilities and staffing), regardless of actual enrollment, while requiring funds to be used only for operational costs, core staffing, or academic programs. County boards must report annually on enrollment, staffing, and fund usage to the state board.
HB 4668 amends West Virginia law to automatically assign fault to drivers operating without a valid license (due to suspension, revocation, or being unlicensed) in any accident. It directly affects drivers whose license privileges have been lawfully suspended or revoked by the state when involved in collisions. The key provision (section f) creates a legal presumption of fault for these drivers, meaning they cannot dispute liability in court for accidents they cause while driving illegally. This changes how fault is determined in accident cases but does not alter existing criminal penalties for driving without a license. The bill focuses solely on liability assignment in accident claims, not on modifying punishment for the underlying license violation.
HB 4707 prohibits counties, cities, towns, and housing authorities from requiring hotels or motels to participate in programs that house homeless individuals or families using housing vouchers. The bill directly affects hotel and motel owners by preventing local governments or housing agencies from mandating their involvement in these programs. Key provisions define "homeless individuals" as those lacking fixed nighttime residence (e.g., living on streets, in shelters, or vehicles) and "hotels/motels" as establishments offering temporary overnight lodging. This bill does not create new housing programs but stops existing or future programs from forcing hotels or motels to join them.
HB 4344, the "Michael Brandon Cochran Act," requires West Virginia hospitals with intensive care units (ICUs) to administer C-peptide blood tests for unconscious patients or those with blood glucose levels at or below 49 mg/dl (regardless of diabetes diagnosis). It also mandates post-mortem C-peptide testing if a patient dies after showing symptoms like brain damage, seizures, or disorientation during ICU care. Hospitals failing to comply face $10,000 fines per violation, while a new grant program helps cover testing costs and staff training for participating hospitals. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to support these requirements, using state funds and private donations.
HB 4657 would allow West Virginia public employees to count unused sick leave toward their retirement benefits. Currently, members who joined the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System after July 1, 2015, cannot use sick leave for retirement credit; this bill would remove that restriction for all members. The bill specifies that each unused sick leave day would count as two workdays toward retirement credit, with credit calculated in monthly increments (20 workdays per month, and 10 or more additional workdays counting as a full month). It directly affects public employees with unused sick leave who are members of the retirement system.
HB 4623 requires West Virginia counties and municipalities to provide public notice at least three months before purchasing land or buildings. The notice must include property size, sale details (date, location, method), inspection periods, and contact information, and can be shared via social media, courthouse postings, or news ads. It also mandates that proposals within 10% of specifications be made publicly available for 10 business days prior to the purchase decision. This bill directly affects local governments buying property, ensuring transparency for potential buyers. The legislation is currently in the introduction phase, having been referred to the Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2026.
HB 4650 modifies when defendants in West Virginia municipal court are entitled to a trial by jury. It specifies that only defendants charged with offenses carrying potential jail time or fines exceeding $5,000 qualify for a jury trial. This change directly affects individuals facing municipal court criminal charges where penalties could reach these thresholds, replacing previous eligibility rules with the new $5,000 fine standard. The bill does not alter jury size (still 12 members) or other procedural rules for municipal court trials.
SB 554 establishes an enrollment stabilizer mechanism to help West Virginia public school districts plan budgets more predictably by smoothing out year-to-year changes in student enrollment. The bill requires school funding calculations to use the highest of three options: actual recent enrollment, 98% of the prior year's enrollment, or a three-year average of enrollment. It also creates a rural stability add-on for qualifying rural counties experiencing significant enrollment volatility, allowing adjustments to the stabilizer for geographic isolation and local funding capacity. This bill directly affects all 55 West Virginia county school boards, with special protections for rural districts, without increasing the total state funding amount for the basic school support program.
HB 4635 requires West Virginia's Public Service Commission to hold hearings on rate adjustment requests from public electric utilities and issue recommendations to the legislature. The bill shifts final approval authority for utility rate changes from the Commission to the state legislature, ending the Commission's prior power to approve such adjustments. It also directly affects coal-fired electricity generators by mandating they maintain a minimum average rate of electricity production. This bill applies specifically to public electric utilities, particularly those operating coal-fired facilities, and changes the process for approving rate increases.
HB 4637 limits teacher aides in West Virginia public schools to no more than 30 minutes per day when they are pulled from their regular job duties to cover other tasks. The bill amends state education code to establish this clear time cap for all aides temporarily reassigned outside their primary responsibilities. It directly affects teacher aides by ensuring they spend most of their workday in their designated roles rather than being diverted for other duties. This policy change creates a concrete, measurable restriction on how often schools can reassign aide time.
