HB 2987, titled "Relating to the Consumer Data Protection Act," creates a "safe harbor" for businesses that implement written cybersecurity programs meeting specific standards. It directly affects businesses processing personal data for at least 100,000 consumers or deriving over 50% revenue from selling data for 25,000+ consumers, shielding them from punitive damages in data breach lawsuits if they maintain required administrative, technical, and physical security measures. The bill also grants consumers rights to access, correct, delete their personal data, and opt out of targeted advertising, while exempting government entities and providing limited immunity for universities offering cybersecurity programs. It establishes enforcement by the Attorney General and defines key terms like "personal information" and "data breach" to clarify scope.
HB 3433 amends West Virginia Code §15-11-2 to align its language with W.Va. Code §5H-1-2(b) regarding funeral expense payments for first responders. The bill maintains the existing $8,000 maximum payment for funeral costs of law enforcement, safety, or emergency workers killed in the line of duty, while clarifying that funds supplement other available benefits to ensure at least $8,000 is paid. It specifically affects families of eligible workers - such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional staff - who died while performing official duties. The change ensures consistency between statutes but does not alter the current payment structure or eligibility criteria.
HB 3439 adds a voluntary organ donor registration option to West Virginia voter registration forms. The bill requires all voter registration applications to include a checkbox for organ donation, allowing applicants to join the national organ donor database when registering to vote. The Secretary of State would collect these donor registrations and share the data with the organ donor registry. This change affects all West Virginia voters completing registration forms, making it easier to register as an organ donor while voting.
SB 505 requires West Virginia electric utilities to factor system reliability into their rate-setting decisions, directly affecting utilities and their customers. The bill mandates that utilities consider the "capacity value" and reliability of generation assets when replacing older facilities, ensuring new assets maintain equivalent reliability and affordability. It establishes a legal standard for the Public Service Commission to review rate applications, requiring that only costs for reliable service can be recovered through customer rates. The law applies to all utilities under the Commission's jurisdiction, focusing on maintaining consistent power supply for homes, hospitals, businesses, and critical infrastructure during the energy transition.
This bill increases the required liability insurance coverage for community groups using school property from previous amounts to $1 million per occurrence with $5 million in excess coverage. It directly affects county boards of education and community organizations (like nonprofits or volunteer groups) using school facilities for events, requiring them to maintain this insurance. The insurance must be obtained from a company licensed to operate in West Virginia, and the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management may provide this coverage at the group's cost. The bill does not change liability for unorganized recreation or gross negligence cases.
SB 570 requires state agencies to include a detailed economic impact statement when submitting proposed legislative rules to the Legislative Rule-Making Committee. The statement must analyze specific factors like regulatory costs, business competitiveness, job creation, private investment, and compliance costs calculated at $60 per hour (adjusted for inflation). This bill directly affects state agencies that draft rules, mandating they assess economic impacts before submission. The Legislative Rule-Making Committee will then review these statements as part of its evaluation process. The law aims to ensure rules are economically transparent before adoption.
SB 829 simplifies West Virginia's emergency declaration process by eliminating the current two-tier system for "state of preparedness" (Class I and Class II) and creating a single classification. It sets a 30-day expiration for a Governor-proclaimed "state of preparedness" (previously 60 days for emergencies), requiring legislative extension for longer durations. The bill also limits combined emergency and preparedness declarations to a maximum of 90 days unless extended per standard procedures. This directly affects the Governor and Legislature when declaring or extending emergency-related statuses, streamlining oversight without altering emergency response powers.
SB 871 removes drywall installers from the legal definition of "contractor" under West Virginia's Contractor Licensing Act. This change specifically amends Section 30-42-3(d)(6) to explicitly exclude "persons who perform landscaping, drywall installation and related services" from licensing requirements. As a result, drywall installers working for commercial or residential clients will no longer need a contractor's license for their services. The bill directly affects drywall professionals by eliminating a licensing barrier for their specific work.
SB 820 creates the Whistleblower Protection Fund to support reporting of unethical practices in specific healthcare facilities, including clinical inpatient medical treatment centers, office-based medication-assisted treatment programs, and opioid treatment programs. The fund, administered by the Office of the Inspector General, will finance public awareness campaigns - such as advertisements, social media outreach, and informational materials - to encourage whistleblowers to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. Funding sources include legislative appropriations, donations, and public health grants. The Inspector General must submit annual reports to the Health Committee detailing campaign activities, the number of reports received, and their outcomes. This bill focuses on creating a reporting mechanism, not altering existing legal penalties.
SB 839 requires the West Virginia Division of Labor to propose separate licensing rules for plumbers who work in residential homes versus commercial buildings. The bill amends existing law to mandate distinct standards, examinations, and fees for each work setting, replacing the current unified licensing approach. This change affects how the Division of Labor administers licensing but does not alter the basic requirements for plumbers. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on administrative rule-making rather than changing plumbing work practices.
HB 2646 allows eighth and ninth-grade students in West Virginia to attend summer school specifically to improve their grades and meet academic eligibility requirements for fall sports. The bill amends existing law to explicitly permit this use of summer school programs, which previously focused on general remedial or accelerated instruction. Key provisions ensure counties can operate these programs with tuition limited to actual costs, offer reduced fees for financially needy students, and maintain existing teacher pay structures. This change directly affects middle and high school athletes seeking to qualify for sports participation under current academic standards.
HB 3139 allows public non-charter schools converting to charter schools to apply for charter status after the regular deadline, provided they meet all charter requirements. It requires the approval process to be expedited for these late applications. This bill directly affects school districts seeking to convert to charter status by changing the application timeline and review process. The key provision removes the strict deadline for conversion applications while maintaining all existing charter school criteria. The bill does not alter charter school standards or funding but streamlines the application pathway for converting schools.
