HB 4631, the "Internet Reliability Act," reclassifies Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as telecommunications utilities under West Virginia law. This means ISPs operating in the state would fall under the regulatory authority of the Public Service Commission (PSC), similar to traditional phone and cable companies. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include ISPs in the PSC’s jurisdiction for regulating rates, service standards, and other utility-related matters. It does not create new service requirements but clarifies that ISPs will be subject to the same oversight as other telecommunications providers.
HB 4633, titled "Enrollment Stabilizer for Budget Planning," adds §18-9A-29 to West Virginia law to stabilize school funding calculations. The bill requires county school boards to use the highest of three enrollment measures when calculating state aid: actual enrollment, 98% of the prior year’s enrollment, or a three-year rolling average. This mechanism aims to reduce budget volatility caused by annual enrollment fluctuations for public schools. The change directly affects all West Virginia county school boards and their budget planning under the Public School Support Program.
HB 4643 establishes regulatory requirements for "liability shield products" (medical, pharmaceutical, biological, or technological products already immune from federal liability). It requires manufacturers to conduct five-year placebo-controlled studies, track adverse outcomes using West Virginia's health network and VAERS, and publish safety data publicly. The bill grants individuals the right to refuse these products and imposes civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation for noncompliance with study, reporting, or refusal requirements. Enforcement begins January 1, 2032, with the Attorney General or affected individuals able to pursue legal action. This applies directly to manufacturers distributing such products in West Virginia.
HB 4684 eliminates tax credits for corporations and businesses using solar, wind, or other renewable energy systems after July 1, 2025, while maintaining tax credits for individual homeowners with residential renewable energy systems. It also requires renewable energy projects to be set back at least one mile from residential homes and mandates $400 million in liability insurance per 100 acres for cleanup after disasters. The bill directly affects commercial renewable energy operators by removing financial incentives, but does not impact residential users. These changes aim to reduce state subsidies for large-scale renewable energy operations.
HB 4713 exempts cash tips received by workers from West Virginia's personal income tax. This directly affects service industry employees, such as servers and bartenders, who earn cash tips. The bill adds a new section to the state tax code (§11-21-12o) stating that cash tips from any source are not subject to income tax. The change applies only to cash tips, not digital or non-cash tip payments.
HB 4666 requires medical examiners in West Virginia to review immunization and medical records for any person under 20 who dies suddenly and unexpectedly (including SIDS, SUID, SDY, or SADS cases). Specifically, examiners must document any immunizations or emergency countermeasures given within 90 days before death and report these cases to the national SUID/SDY registry. The bill applies directly to medical examiners and health departments handling such deaths, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 for failing to report. It mandates this review as part of autopsy procedures to improve data collection for sudden deaths in young people.
HB 4682, the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act, prohibits West Virginia law enforcement officers and local government officials from using specific surveillance and artificial intelligence technologies without a warrant. It bans real-time security monitoring, facial recognition, license plate readers, surveillance drones, and other listed tools for law enforcement purposes unless a court issues a warrant based on probable cause. Violators face felony charges with penalties including up to one year in prison and $10,000 fines per violation. The bill also allows individuals to sue officials who violate these restrictions and requires immediate discontinuation of existing use of banned technologies by all local governments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
HB 4686 amends West Virginia law to clarify that landowners (and their immediate family members) do not need a hunting license to hunt on their own private property during open seasons. The bill specifically adds this exemption to existing provisions, while maintaining that licenses are still required if the land is designated as a wildlife refuge or preserve. It directly affects private landowners who hunt on their own property, removing a licensing requirement they previously faced. The change streamlines existing exemptions without altering requirements for public land hunting or other license categories.
SB 551 amends West Virginia law to restore voting rights for faculty, student, and employee members currently serving as nonvoting advisors on boards of governors at 19 public universities and community colleges. The bill changes their status from "nonvoting, advisory" to full voting members, directly affecting institutions like West Virginia University, Marshall University, and West Virginia State University. Key provisions remove the nonvoting designation from statutes governing these positions, allowing faculty (rank of instructor or above), students (in good academic standing), and employees (classified or non-classified) to vote on board decisions. This policy change aims to increase institutional representation without altering board composition or appointment processes.
SB 446 requires West Virginia's Bureau for Public Health and Bureau for Medical Services to integrate support for postpartum depression, anxiety, psychosis, and obsessive-compulsive disorders into existing public health programs. It mandates training health care professionals on early detection using assessment tools during pregnancy, delivery, and up to one year postpartum, and expands public outreach to raise awareness about early signs of these conditions. The bill specifically targets at-risk mothers and health care providers, emphasizing culturally relevant, non-clinical education materials. This policy change updates current programs without creating new services, focusing on prevention and access to care through existing state health infrastructure.
HB 4705 requires all West Virginia public schools to observe a 1- to 2-minute moment of silence at the start of each school day. This applies directly to public school students and teachers, who must refrain from interfering with students' quiet reflection during this time. The bill explicitly prohibits teachers from suggesting what students should reflect on during the silence, while encouraging parents to discuss the purpose of the moment with their children. The law aims to provide students with a daily opportunity for quiet reflection as stated in the legislature’s findings.
SB 550 changes how West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) members are selected by replacing appointments with nonpartisan elections. It requires all future PSC commissioners to be elected statewide on a nonpartisan ballot during primary elections, rather than appointed by the governor. The bill establishes staggered initial elections: three commissioners will be elected to five-and-a-half-year terms, followed by regular six-year terms for subsequent elections. This directly affects the PSC, which regulates utilities like electricity and gas, and sets new filing requirements for candidates seeking these elected positions.
