This bill adds Juneteenth (June 19) as an official state holiday in West Virginia. It directly affects state government operations, including state employees and courts, by designating June 19 as a legal holiday. The bill specifies that if Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on the preceding Friday (unlike most other holidays, which would move to Monday). This change aligns with existing holiday rules for government closures but creates a unique observation rule for Juneteenth. The bill does not alter private business operations or other holiday observances.
HB 5520, the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration and Transnational Repression Act, requires lobbyists representing foreign adversaries (such as PRC-affiliated military companies) to disclose this relationship during West Virginia's lobbying registration process. The bill mandates that lobbyists provide specific details about their principals and include an affirmative acknowledgment if they are lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary. It creates new registration requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and duties for the Attorney General regarding record retention and oversight. This bill directly affects lobbyists and their principals who engage in lobbying activities on behalf of foreign adversaries or terrorist agents within West Virginia.
HB 5494 proposes allowing West Virginia counties to charge a $5-per-night fee on hotel stays (including motels, vacation rentals, and short-term leases) to fund local emergency services. County commissions would set the exact fee amount (up to $5/night), and hotels, operators, and online booking platforms would collect and remit the fee. Proceeds must be used exclusively for emergency medical services, fire protection, law enforcement, and 911 operations. The bill defines "hotel" broadly to cover all temporary lodging under 30 days, ensuring the fee applies to both traditional hotels and platforms like Airbnb.
SB 942, the Advanced-Baseload Energy Development Act, creates a framework to support nuclear reactors and hydrogen energy projects that use carbon capture technology. It establishes a new Advanced Energy Division within the Office of Energy to coordinate development, permit projects, and partner with universities for workforce training. The bill provides tax incentives for qualifying projects, requires community benefit agreements, and allows utilities to recover project costs through rate increases. It specifically targets advanced-baseload energy projects using advanced nuclear reactors or fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen with carbon capture, aiming to leverage West Virginia’s energy infrastructure and workforce.
This bill clarifies that registered nurses in West Virginia may administer anesthetics only when ordered by a physician in an acute care setting, such as a hospital. It does not expand nurses' scope of practice but specifies the limited context where this current authority applies. The change affects registered nurses working in acute care facilities, ensuring they operate within defined parameters. The amendment updates existing law to explicitly restrict this practice to acute care environments.
HB 5512 updates West Virginia's land records system to combat fraud and improve property owner protections. It defines "suspicious documents" (e.g., those with mismatched notary details, false claims about laws, or non-compliance with recording standards) and gives county recorders authority to refuse recording them, report to law enforcement, or notify the involved notary. The bill requires recorders to establish a free property alert system by January 1, 2027, allowing owners to receive notifications about documents affecting their property via mail, text, or email. It also protects recorders from monetary liability when correctly refusing to record suspicious documents and mandates educational materials for notaries on deed fraud prevention.
HB 5497 provides legal immunity to employees of child advocacy centers (CACs) in West Virginia for actions taken during child abuse investigations or while delivering CAC services. This immunity applies to routine work in the investigation process but does not protect against liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional harm. The bill amends West Virginia Code §49-3-101 to explicitly add this immunity provision for CAC staff. It directly affects CAC employees who participate in child abuse response teams, shielding them from personal lawsuits for their professional conduct in these cases.
This Senate Resolution (SR 36) formally recognizes the third week of July as "Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week" in West Virginia. It honors probation officers (who supervise over 12,000 adults and juveniles), parole officers (who supervise over 2,900 offenders), and pretrial supervision professionals for their work in public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community protection. The resolution has no policy or funding changes - it is a symbolic gesture to increase public awareness of these professionals' contributions and challenges. It was unanimously adopted by the Senate on February 13, 2026.
HB 5508 moves Capitol Police officers in the Division of Protective Services into the West Virginia State Police Retirement System. This bill amends retirement system definitions to include Capitol Police members as "employees" eligible for the State Police Retirement Fund, replacing their current retirement coverage. The key change is transferring Capitol Police officers' retirement benefits from their existing system to the established State Police Retirement System. This affects Capitol Police officers directly by changing their retirement plan administration and benefit calculations under the new system. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee for review.
HB 5526 clarifies rules for purchasing tax-abandoned land at public auctions held by West Virginia's State Auditor. It requires all bidders - individuals and businesses - to register in advance or submit a notarized affidavit confirming eligibility, with disqualifications for those with unpaid taxes, code violations, or prior auction defaults. The bill specifically allows 501(c)(3) nonprofit housing organizations to win auctions if their bid is no more than 5% below the highest non-profit bid, excluding for-profit entities or religious groups. It also mandates that businesses (foreign or domestic) must provide proof of valid registration to participate in these land sales.
HB 5501 establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in West Virginia. The bill requires applicants to hold a current NARM certification, complete MEAC-accredited education or a NARM portfolio evaluation, and meet basic qualifications like being 18+ and having a high school diploma. It mandates that licensed midwives renew their licenses every two years by providing proof of current NARM certification and participation in perinatal outcome data reporting. This bill directly affects midwives seeking to legally practice in West Virginia by creating new licensing standards under the state's regulatory authority.
HB 5503 would provide a $5,000 annual salary increase to state mine inspectors, including electrical, underground, and surface mine inspectors, as defined in the existing law. The bill directly affects these specific inspectors by increasing their base pay on the effective date of the law. Key provisions require the salary adjustment to apply to all inspector categories covered under the current mine safety chapter. The bill focuses solely on the concrete policy change of raising salaries, with no additional provisions or program requirements.
