This bill amends West Virginia law to explicitly include federal correctional facilities within the definition of "correctional facilities" for existing laws against smuggling contraband. It makes it illegal to deliver weapons, drugs, alcohol, escape tools, dangerous materials, or telecommunications devices into federal prisons in West Virginia without authorization, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors (up to $500 fines and 1 year in jail) to felonies (up to 10 years in prison). The law directly affects individuals who attempt to smuggle such items into federal correctional institutions within the state, including visitors, staff, or outsiders. It expands existing state penalties - previously limited to state facilities - to cover federal prisons, without creating new exemptions or altering inmate rights.
HCR 27 is a commemorative resolution requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways name a specific 1.5-mile segment of Laurel Dale Road (WV 93) in Mineral County as the "U.S. Army Brigadier General Edmund Francis Roleff Memorial Road." The designated section runs from the southern edge of the James Gilbert Bosley Memorial Bridge to Laurel Dale Community Church. The resolution honors Brigadier General Roleff (1941-2024), a 30-year Army veteran and West Virginia National Guard leader, recognizing his military service, community historical preservation work, and ties to Mineral County. As a naming resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.
HB 2787 permits West Virginia county commissions to lease, rent, or allow the use of county-owned wireless towers (or portions) to private entities, subject to specific security and eligibility requirements. It prohibits leasing to entities associated with foreign adversaries, terrorist organizations, or those engaging in unconstitutional surveillance, and mandates non-compromised cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure like voting systems. Public safety agencies (including 911, law enforcement, and emergency services), the West Virginia Department of Highways, and other state agencies may use tower space without charge, provided they meet the same security standards as other lessees. The bill also restricts the use of foreign-owned or foreign-produced technology that could threaten critical infrastructure, ensuring local control over tower usage while prioritizing security.
HB 2410 (Safeguard the Right-To-Try Cutting-Edge Medicine Act) allows terminally ill or severely debilitated patients in West Virginia to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices not yet approved by the FDA. It defines eligibility for patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments, cannot participate in nearby clinical trials, and receive physician recommendations. The bill requires detailed written informed consent explaining treatment risks, costs, insurance limitations, and potential liability for expenses. It directly affects patients with qualifying illnesses and their physicians, establishing a legal framework for accessing unapproved treatments while clarifying that insurers and hospice care may not cover such treatments.
HB 2566 would transfer authority to set pay scales for magistrate court staff from legislative statutes to the Supreme Court of Appeals' Administrative Director. It directly affects magistrate court clerks, magistrate assistants, and magistrate court deputy clerks across West Virginia counties. The bill amends existing law to replace fixed salary amounts ($54,596 for clerks, $49,232 for assistants) with a pay scale established by the Administrative Director, while maintaining that these staff can still receive general state employee salary increases after July 2023. This change streamlines pay adjustments without altering current salary levels.
HB 2010 amends West Virginia's real estate licensing law to exempt non-resident brokers from maintaining a physical office within the state. Specifically, it creates an exception for brokers who have a definite office in their home state and whose home state has an active reciprocity agreement with West Virginia that doesn't require West Virginia licensees to maintain an office there. This change directly affects out-of-state real estate brokers working in West Virginia who hold licenses in a state with such a reciprocity agreement. The bill removes a prior requirement that would have forced these brokers to establish a separate West Virginia office, streamlining their ability to conduct business across state lines under existing reciprocity terms.
This House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 85) requests that the West Virginia Division of Highways rename a specific bridge in Mingo County - the Wharncliffe Box Beam bridge (coordinates 37.55534, -81.96599) carrying CR 010/01 over Bens Creek - as the "U.S. Army CPL Lavern 'Mousey' Testerman Memorial Bridge." It commemorates CPL Testerman, a WWII veteran who received a Bronze Star for saving his platoon, served in the Philippines, and later worked in the coal industry in the area. The resolution is purely commemorative, with no policy changes or direct effects beyond naming the bridge and installing signage.
SB 726 requires all West Virginia medication-assisted treatment (MAT) centers licensed or registered under state law to adopt an "integrated-care model" by July 1, 2026. This model mandates onsite medical services - including routine health screenings, STD testing, vaccinations, basic illness treatment, and overdose prevention - alongside addiction counseling, all provided by licensed professionals during center hours. Centers must also obtain informed consent from patients at program entry and quarterly, with regular client assessments to support physical and mental well-being. An exemption applies to centers already following specific federal guidelines (like ASAM’s), requiring only consent and assessment compliance, while still referring patients to primary care every three months. The bill also mandates reporting to the Legislature on telehealth services and requires new rules defining professional standards for care providers.
HB 2015 extends a moratorium until July 1, 2026, preventing West Virginia's Board of Risk and Insurance Management from providing new or additional property or liability insurance coverage to certain entities where coverage is optional under state law. It directly affects political subdivisions, charities, public service organizations, and emergency medical services agencies (defined in §29-12-5(b)(1)), but excludes existing coverage or contracts in place as of the bill's effective date. The bill specifically exempts county schools, teachers, school staff, and public charter schools, as they are required to be insured under separate state law (§29-12-5a). This policy change pauses new insurance options for permissive entities while maintaining current coverage for all others.
This bill requires all legal actions against the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to be filed exclusively in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It mandates 30 days’ written notice before filing such lawsuits and establishes procedures for delivering this notice. The bill does not alter WVSSAC’s operational rules but changes the venue and notice requirements for lawsuits brought against the commission. This procedural change directly affects anyone seeking to file a lawsuit against WVSSAC.
HB 2551 increases criminal penalties for livestock owners who negligently let animals run onto others' property and cause harm. It raises fines for second offenses from $50-$100 to $100-$200, and for third or subsequent offenses from $100-$1,000 to $200-$2,000, while extending the window to charge violations from six to twelve months. The bill directly affects livestock owners who fail to properly contain animals, requiring them to pay higher fines if their animals injure people or damage property on neighboring land. A first offense receives only a warning, but repeated violations within a year lead to misdemeanor charges. The law aims to strengthen accountability for property damage and personal injury caused by unsecured livestock.
SJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all voters in West Virginia elections to be U.S. citizens. The amendment would add language to the state constitution stating: "Only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States shall be entitled to vote at all elections." This would codify the existing requirement that voters must be U.S. citizens, which is already enforced under current law. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to take effect.
