HB 4932 amends West Virginia law to allow accounting corporations to use "A.C." as a name ending instead of writing out "accounting corporation." This directly affects accounting corporations formed under West Virginia law, permitting them to use the abbreviation "A.C." in their official names. The bill specifically adds "A.C." to the list of acceptable name endings, replacing the current requirement to include the full phrase. This is a technical naming change with no impact on business operations or regulations.
HB 4978 requires Workforce West Virginia to proactively match unemployment claimants with job openings from private employers based on their prior job history and salary range. This affects individuals receiving unemployment benefits in West Virginia, who will now receive tailored job referrals instead of only general job listings. The bill mandates that claimants apply for referred jobs within one week and accept suitable offers, while employers must report rejections or job acceptances to the state. It also ensures claimants accepting part-time work below their benefit rate retain full unemployment payments without reduction. The policy changes eligibility requirements to prioritize job matching as part of active job search efforts.
HB 4040, the Non-State Owned Roads Improvement Act, grants West Virginia municipalities (cities, towns, and counties) authority to repair and improve roads not owned or maintained by state or federal governments. It allows municipalities to pave, fix potholes, install signage, and enhance drainage on these roads while providing legal protection from lawsuits if improvements are done in good faith and follow safety standards, excluding cases of serious negligence. Municipalities must notify the public through notices, media, or meetings before starting projects and publish details like timelines and funding sources online. The bill permits using existing municipal funds, state/federal infrastructure grants, or private partnerships to cover costs, with immediate effective date upon passage.
HB 5403 establishes fire safety requirements for West Virginia agritourism businesses - such as farms hosting visitors for activities like hayrides, corn mazes, or petting zoos - that use facilities for occasional events. It mandates specific safety measures including multiple exits based on occupancy, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, carbon monoxide detection, and emergency evacuation plans, while prohibiting overnight lodging unless full fire codes are met. The bill applies to businesses using structures for visitor purposes but exempts certain facilities (like educational field trips) from full building code compliance, requiring only minimum fire safety standards. These rules apply to existing and new agritourism operations, with electrical and fire safety standards updated for new constructions.
This resolution designates February 10, 2026, as "Homeschool Day" at the West Virginia legislature to recognize homeschooling families, students, and educators. It acknowledges homeschooling's role in student achievement and citizenship through ceremonial recognition only, with no new policies, funding, or legal requirements. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to share the designation with homeschooling organizations. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on education policy or state operations.
HB 5389 creates a 30% transferable tax credit for nonprofit organizations that convert existing hotels, motels, or commercial buildings into housing for homeless veterans. The credit covers 30% of qualified redevelopment costs (like renovation and infrastructure) but excludes land acquisition, and can be applied against corporate income, personal income, or business franchise taxes. Nonprofits can sell or transfer the unused credit to other taxpayers to generate funding, with credits carrying forward up to 10 years. This aims to incentivize supportive housing without creating new state spending or entitlements, targeting veterans facing homelessness through adaptive reuse of underutilized properties.
HB 5423 would change West Virginia's voting and driver's license requirements to restrict undocumented immigrants. It removes certain identification documents (like out-of-state licenses) from being valid for voting, requiring instead that voters present state-issued IDs with photos or specific federal/military documents. The bill also mandates a special-colored driver's license for documented non-citizens and prohibits the state from recognizing out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants. These changes directly affect undocumented immigrants in West Virginia who currently use non-compliant IDs for voting or driving.
HB 5386 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State and county clerks to post candidate information on the Secretary of State’s website within five business days of receiving a certificate of announcement. It mandates that the displayed information include the candidate’s name, office sought, district or division, gender (if applicable), political party (if applicable), residential city/county/state, and the filing date. The bill applies to all candidates for elected offices, with specific filing requirements depending on whether the office is statewide (filed with the Secretary of State) or county/local (filed with county clerks). This is a procedural update to election filing rules, not a substantive policy change.
This bill requires oil and gas operators to provide financial assurance before drilling new wells that aren’t expected to produce, either through a bond or funds held in an escrow account managed by the State Treasurer. It aims to prevent future "orphan wells" by ensuring money is available to plug wells that become abandoned without a responsible operator. The funds must be used only for plugging the well or, if the operator fails to act, for the state to plug it using the reserved funds. This directly affects operators seeking new permits after July 2026 and protects landowners from property devaluation and environmental risks linked to unplugged wells.
HB 5424 requires employers in West Virginia to verify the U.S. citizenship or legal work authorization of all employees through documentation, defining "unauthorized workers" as non-citizens ineligible for employment. The bill mandates that employers "knowingly" fail to request or review such documentation is considered non-compliant, with the labor commissioner authorized to investigate violations. It establishes "High Risk Industries" for targeted enforcement, preempts conflicting local ordinances, and provides civil protections for employers acting in good faith. The law applies broadly to all employers, including state agencies, and creates new legal mechanisms for compliance verification under the "Worker Citizenship Verification Act of 2026."
This bill prohibits West Virginia state and county agencies from purchasing or using drones made by companies based in China or Russia, or under their control, with a deadline of May 1, 2029, for phasing out existing non-compliant drones. It creates a grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to help agencies replace prohibited drones with U.S.-made models that meet federal safety standards, providing funds based on the drone's current value. Agencies must submit replacement plans and training proposals, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant limited exceptions for urgent needs like counter-terrorism, but must notify the legislature. The law directly affects all public safety and government entities using drones in West Virginia.
HB 5422 makes the Municipal Home Rule Program permanent and prohibits participating municipalities from creating local anti-discrimination ordinances that cover protected classes beyond those defined in state law. Municipalities in the program must pay an annual $2,000 fee to fund the Home Rule Board's operations, with unused funds carrying over to future years. This directly affects cities and towns that have joined the home rule program by limiting their ability to expand local protections beyond state requirements. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund for the Home Rule Board, ensuring ongoing program funding without requiring annual legislative appropriations.
