HB 5228 clarifies West Virginia's definition of "electioneering" to prohibit campaign-related activities near polling places. It bans displaying candidate logos, campaign materials, or verbally advocating for/against candidates or ballot questions within 100 feet of polling entrances on election day. The bill exempts news media conducting exit polls and vehicle bumper stickers parked within 100 feet while voters are entering. Violations carry fines of $100-$1,000 or up to one year in jail, and election officials or law enforcement may enforce these rules.
HB 5273 requires candidates for municipal offices (like city council or mayor) to file campaign financial statements with their county clerk instead of the Secretary of State. It mandates that all campaign finance reports for these candidates be published online by the county clerk within 48 hours of the filing deadline. The bill also updates filing requirements for other offices, specifying electronic submission for certain statewide and county-level candidates, while allowing paper filings for others under defined conditions. This changes where municipal campaign reports are submitted and accelerates public access to this financial data.
HB 4355 creates a new $10 "upland game bird" stamp that hunters can purchase alongside their standard license. It directly affects hunters targeting specific species: ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, woodcock, and snipe. Proceeds from the stamp will fund the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to buy and release these birds into designated Wildlife Management Areas. The bill defines the bird species and requires the Division to administer the program.
HB 4958 establishes the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program to support Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties (the "Southern Coalfield" area), which have suffered economic decline due to coal industry challenges. The bill creates a Revitalization Council - including county commissioners, state agency heads, and college representatives - to coordinate resources, prioritize economic development, and develop strategies for these counties. Key provisions include requiring annual reports, authorizing reduced-cost access to state property/equipment for qualifying businesses, and directing the Division of Economic Development to facilitate incentives. The program operates for five years with no new state positions created, focusing on streamlining existing state and partner resources for community revitalization.
SB 206 would allow sheriffs who are members of West Virginia's public retirement system to retire at age 62 with eight or more years of service as an elected sheriff. Currently, new members (joining after July 1, 2015) require 10 years of service for retirement at 62, but this bill creates a specific exception for sheriffs. The change applies only to sheriffs not participating in another retirement system and directly affects elected sheriffs seeking retirement under the state's public retirement program. This policy adjustment lowers the required service years for sheriffs from 10 to 8, making retirement eligibility more accessible for this group.
SB 549 would increase the daily payment for jurors in West Virginia from a current range of $15 to $40 per day to a new range of $40 to $100 per day. This change applies to both trial jurors (petit jurors) and grand jurors serving on court cases. The bill replaces the previous minimum of $15 with a new minimum of $40 and raises the maximum from $40 to $100. The reimbursement remains determined by the court and paid from the state treasury, but ensures jurors receive at least $40 per day.
HB 5176 creates a searchable online database managed by the West Virginia State Police for individuals convicted of specific animal cruelty offenses, including violations of sections like §61-8-19 (cruelty to animals). The database will include names, birth dates, offense details, and county of conviction for those convicted of listed misdemeanor or felony animal abuse crimes. Convicted individuals must pay a $125 annual fee (to be paid to their county State Police office) to maintain their listing, with fees deposited into a dedicated State Police fund. Removal from the database is possible after 5 years for misdemeanors or 15 years for felonies (with proof of rehabilitation), or immediately if the conviction is expunged or pardoned.
SB 756 allows state spending units (like departments and agencies) to use "best value procurement" when they determine it benefits the state, expanding an existing authority previously limited to the purchasing director. This method requires selecting bids based on total value - including lifetime costs, technical merit, past performance, and quality - not just the lowest price. The bill specifies that awards must go to the highest-scoring qualified bidder whose proposal is deemed most advantageous in writing, while excluding government construction contracts. It does not create new spending but changes how existing procurement decisions are made across state agencies.
This bill provides $25,800 in additional funding from unspent state funds to the Department of Veterans' Assistance for building maintenance and repairs under the Veterans’ Facilities Support Fund (Fund 6703). It directly affects veterans' facilities by supplementing existing resources for facility upkeep, using a balance remaining unappropriated for fiscal year 2026. The funding is drawn from the existing $1,800,000 balance in the fund, not new money. The bill was introduced at the Governor’s request to support veterans' infrastructure needs.
SB 398 removes the requirement that the State Health Officer, Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, and Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services must work full-time and cannot hold other jobs. This bill amends West Virginia law (sections §16-1-5 and §16-5P-4) to eliminate the prohibition on these officials engaging in other business, occupations, or employment. The change aims to make these leadership roles more attractive to qualified candidates by allowing greater flexibility in their employment. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Human Resources committee.
HB 4568 prohibits serving legal documents (like summonses) for civil or Family Court cases on property owned by counties in West Virginia. This directly affects plaintiffs trying to initiate lawsuits against county entities and county governments as defendants. The bill adds a new section to state law (§56-3-35) explicitly banning such service on county-owned land. It does not change existing rules for serving process on private property or in other locations. The law would take effect upon enactment.
HB 4709 gives the West Virginia Legislature legal standing to sue state officials (like the Governor or Secretary of State) who make unauthorized changes to election laws or rules. It also requires courts to allow the Legislature to automatically intervene as a "real party in interest" in any lawsuit challenging election law legality or constitutionality. This directly affects election officials and changes how election-related court cases are handled in West Virginia. The bill clarifies the Legislature’s role in election litigation but does not alter election rules themselves.
