SB 15 requires carbon storage operators to protect mineral owners' interests before permits are issued for underground carbon storage projects in West Virginia. It mandates that applicants must verify if coal, oil, or gas minerals exist in the project area and obtain written agreements ensuring these interests won't be harmed by the carbon dioxide plume. The bill also requires operators to notify mineral owners and lessees, secure written consent from at least 75% of pore space owners, and compensate nonconsenting owners fairly. This directly affects coal and oil/gas mineral rights holders and carbon storage operators by adding legal safeguards to project planning and approval.
HB 4989 establishes a state-funded pilot program offering free cancer screenings to West Virginia's active and retired firefighters. The program provides a comprehensive screening package including a multi-cancer blood test, abdominal/thyroid/liver ultrasound, lung CT if needed, and skin cancer screening, with a $1,300 cost limit per person. Firefighters may self-fund screenings before July 1, 2026, and seek reimbursement, while the state covers costs for the 24-month pilot starting July 1, 2026. A committee will develop the program plan, track participation and results, and report findings to state leaders after 12 and 24 months.
HB 5197 shortens the time homeowners have to challenge a tax deed from two years to one year if they weren't properly notified of the sale. It requires anyone suing to set aside a tax deed to deposit full redemption funds with the court clerk before proceeding. The bill also strengthens the requirement that property purchasers must prove they made "reasonably diligent" efforts to notify potential owners before selling property at tax sale. These changes directly affect property owners who missed tax sale notices and tax deed purchasers seeking to secure title.
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.
SCR 4 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the security and integrity of West Virginia elections. The study must examine the practicality and feasibility of implementing single-member Senate districts (currently used for the House of Delegates) and gather input from the Secretary of State, county clerks, and others on technological, financial, security, and timeline considerations. The committee is required to report its findings, conclusions, and any necessary legislation to the 2027 Legislature. This resolution does not change election laws but directs a study to inform future decisions.
SB 1040, the West Virginia Energy Freedom Act, removes the requirement for certain non-utility power generators to obtain a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" before building or operating facilities. It directly affects solar, wind, and other non-utility electric generation projects, requiring them instead to register with the Public Service Commission and comply with environmental, zoning, and grid interconnection rules. The bill streamlines approvals by waiving the certificate process for projects reviewed and approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. It also exempts intermittent power sources (like solar and wind) from the certificate requirement, shifting oversight to registration and standard grid connection protocols.
SB 1051 creates a Charter School Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans specifically for public charter school facility projects (like building or renovating school buildings) in West Virginia. The fund is administered by the Professional Charter School Board, with loan repayments recycled back into the fund to support future projects. The bill requires the Board to establish rules for the fund's operation and mandates that initial loans be distributed during the 2027 fiscal year, pending state appropriations. This directly affects public charter schools seeking facility funding and the Professional Charter School Board as the fund administrator.
SB 1047 creates a non-criminal system to address homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges by requiring law enforcement to issue verbal warnings, then written warnings, and finally refer individuals to community behavioral health centers after three encounters - replacing arrests or citations. The bill sets standards for recovery housing to be substance-free, trauma-informed, and long-term, with specific provisions for family recovery housing supporting pregnant women and mothers with children. It prohibits criminalizing homelessness or addiction, integrates community behavioral health centers with recovery housing services, and mandates an annual report from a state advisory team, all using existing state resources without new funding. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 1049 would allow retail liquor stores (licensees) in West Virginia to sell low-proof, ready-to-drink distilled alcohol products directly to Class A and Class B retailers (such as grocery stores or convenience stores) instead of only selling to consumers. The bill establishes a maximum markup limit on these wholesale sales, requires separate annual fees for licensees engaging in this activity, and permits retailers to deliver these products directly to Class A/B stores for consumer sales. It defines "low-proof" products and creates new rules for their distribution while amending existing liquor laws. This change specifically affects retail liquor licensees and Class A/B retailers who sell alcohol, but does not alter general alcohol sales or consumption rules.
West Virginia's SB 1041 establishes the "Energy Economic Load Dispatch Act," requiring utilities to follow a new cost-based planning standard for power generation projects. It mandates that utilities comply with this standard to obtain or maintain permits for new power plants, include resource adequacy and reliability in their long-term energy plans, and ensure costs for non-compliant projects cannot be passed to customers. The Public Service Commission gains explicit authority to deny approvals, condition permits, or revoke certificates if utilities fail to meet these requirements. This bill directly affects electric utilities and the commission's review process for energy projects, focusing on cost transparency and regulatory oversight.
SB 1039 (West Virginia Senate Bill 1039) amends the state's indecent exposure law to specifically criminalize biological males who undress in women's locker rooms. The bill adds this behavior to the definition of indecent exposure under §61-8-9(a), making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $250 fine. It directly affects individuals who intentionally undress in women's locker rooms under circumstances likely to cause affront or alarm. The law does not apply to mothers breastfeeding, and penalties increase for repeat offenses or if the exposure was for sexual gratification. This bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia's SB 1054, the Natural Organic Reduction Act, authorizes a new method for final disposition of human remains called "natural organic reduction" (NOR), which uses controlled biological processes to transform remains into soil-like material. The bill directly affects NOR facilities and operators, who are exempt from funeral director licensing requirements but must comply with Department of Health regulations for sanitation, pathogen control, and safety. Key provisions establish the Department of Health as the sole regulator (replacing the Funeral Service Board), prohibit NOR operators from performing embalming or offering licensed funeral services, and set facility standards for containment, odor control, and soil handling. This creates a legally recognized alternative to burial, cremation, or embalming for residents seeking environmentally aligned end-of-life options.
