HB 5518, the "Judicial Accountability and Recall Act," establishes a voter-initiated process to remove West Virginia judges from office during their term. It allows registered voters to petition for a recall election by collecting signatures equal to 20% of the votes cast in the last election for that judicial position (within 120-160 days, depending on the court level). A recall election requires a majority "yes" vote to remove the judge, with the ballot including the petition's stated reasons (limited to 200 words) and the judge's 200-word response. This bill directly affects all statewide and local judicial officers (including Supreme Court justices, circuit judges, and magistrates) and creates the first state mechanism for public removal of judges without requiring prior disciplinary findings.
HB 5489 increases the financial threshold requiring a contractor license for residential work in West Virginia from $5,000 to $10,000 per project. This change directly affects small residential contractors who currently must be licensed for projects costing $5,000 or more but would no longer need a license for projects between $5,000 and $10,000. The bill modifies the statutory definition of "contractor" in §30-42-3(d) to reflect this higher threshold for residential work, while commercial work remains at $25,000. This adjustment simplifies licensing requirements for minor residential projects without altering other contractor classifications or exemptions.
HB 5500 exempts open-top farm vehicles transporting hay, straw, silage, and other natural farm products between farms from penalties for load escape. It specifically applies to vehicles carrying loose, bio-degradable materials that pose no environmental hazard (like fall foliage), but excludes fully loaded vehicles with large bales that could cause injury if dislodged. The bill requires farmers to obtain special permits for these vehicles and limits their speed to 45 mph when hauling materials prone to blowing away. This change directly affects farmers using open-top transport for agricultural products, removing fines for incidental escape while maintaining safety standards.
HB 5485 would increase West Virginia's state minimum wage to $11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2027, from the current $8.25 hourly rate as stated in the bill's purpose note. This change applies to all employers in the state, including state agencies and departments, requiring them to pay at least $11.00 per hour to employees. The bill also specifies that employers must follow the federal minimum wage if it exceeds the state rate, though it does not change the federal rate itself. This represents a $2.75 per hour increase in the state's minimum wage.
HB 5490 would provide a 20% discount on golf green fees at all West Virginia state parks for residents on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. To qualify, residents must present a valid driver's license or Real ID. The bill allows park directors to exclude traditional peak periods from the discount and set reasonable usage limits, while requiring rules for implementation through legislative approval. This policy directly affects West Virginia residents who play golf at state parks on specified low-traffic days.
HB 5524 would allow paid county emergency medical services (EMS) workers to join West Virginia's Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. Currently, this system only covers certain EMS personnel, but the bill expands eligibility to include paid county EMS employees under specific circumstances. Key provisions amend retirement code sections to define eligibility, require participating employers to cover related costs proportionally, and address asset transfers. The bill does not change existing retirement benefits but enables new members to participate in the system. This is a policy change affecting county EMS workers' retirement options, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
HB 5506 prohibits lobbyists from receiving payment for lobbying West Virginia state officials on behalf of "foreign adversaries" as defined by the bill. It directly affects lobbyists working for governments or entities designated as hostile to the U.S. or West Virginia, including specific countries like China (excluding Taiwan), Russia, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and others listed in the bill. Key provisions require lobbyists to self-identify if representing such entities, establish civil penalties for violations, and allow authorities to seek disgorgement of funds or injunctive relief. The bill defines "foreign adversaries" broadly to include governments aligned with communist or totalitarian ideologies, state sponsors of terrorism, or entities under their control, with annual updates to the list by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
HB 5519, the "West Virginia Tax Neutrality Act," would modify West Virginia's tax code to exclude capital gains from the sale of investment metal bullion and coins from state taxable income. It directly affects individuals, corporations, and fiduciaries who sell these specific investments. The bill requires taxpayers to subtract net capital gains from such sales (as defined in existing law) from their federal adjusted gross income when calculating their West Virginia state tax liability. This change aims to align West Virginia's treatment of these investments with federal tax rules, though the bill is still in early stages (introduced February 13, 2026, referred to House Finance).
HB 5504 defines "low-proof spirit alcohol products" as non-wine, non-beer beverages containing 0.5% to 15.5% alcohol by volume, packaged in containers of 25 ounces or less. The bill establishes new requirements for manufacturing, selling, and distributing these products, including specific tax rules and a grant of rulemaking authority to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. It directly affects businesses producing or selling such beverages, as well as the commission responsible for enforcement. The law replaces existing regulations to create a distinct category for these lower-alcohol products, which were previously covered under broader alcohol rules.
HB 5491 requires multi-location theatres in West Virginia (operating in more than one location statewide) to provide open captioning for at least two weekly showings of motion pictures that include open captions in their production. It also mandates that these theatres offer audio description upon request, maintaining at least two audio description devices per location. The law does not apply to drive-in theatres, venues with fewer than six screens, non-digital theatres, or films shown infrequently (fewer than eight times weekly) or after 20 days of release. Exceptions include not requiring new equipment purchases if compliance would cause undue financial burden. This bill directly affects accessibility for patrons with hearing or visual impairments in participating multi-location theatres.
HB 5499 creates a system to monitor and address financial and governance issues in West Virginia school districts before they escalate. It requires the state to track specific indicators like over-reliance on temporary funding, declining savings, or repeated audit findings, and place districts meeting thresholds on a public "Watch List" with a requirement to submit a corrective action plan. The bill establishes a new independent Office of School System Performance and Accountability (OSPA) to oversee early intervention, stabilization, and transparency, while mandating detailed documentation before state takeover. This system aims to prevent crises through early transparency, local accountability, and structured support for school districts.
HB 5509, the Mountain Homes Act, establishes a state-funded program to support housing construction for workers in West Virginia as the state's economy diversifies beyond energy. The bill creates the Mountain Homes Fund, which will provide financial assistance for new housing projects targeting the workforce needed to support businesses and economic development. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and submit detailed applications, with the Department of Economic Development administering the fund and reporting to the legislature on its use. The program aims to remove funding barriers for housing construction, directly benefiting workers and businesses by improving housing availability in growing economic sectors.
