HB 5380 would remove a current restriction in West Virginia law that limits individuals to one expungement of criminal convictions. Under existing rules, people with multiple eligible convictions could only have one set of charges erased from their records. This bill would allow eligible individuals to seek expungement for multiple convictions, provided they meet other criteria like waiting periods and avoid excluded offenses (e.g., violent crimes or DUI). It directly affects people with multiple qualifying convictions who currently cannot clear all their records. The bill does not change existing waiting periods or the list of ineligible offenses.
HB 5347 requires volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies or departments in West Virginia to be members in good standing with the West Virginia State Firemen’s Association to qualify for funding from the Fire Protection Fund. "Good standing" means having current membership without overdue dues exceeding 90 days and no active suspension or expulsion by the Association. The bill maintains existing requirements like submitting fire loss data, completing firefighter training, and complying with federal/state laws (e.g., NFPA, OSHA). It applies directly to eligible fire companies seeking fund allocations, with temporary exemptions for disaster-affected organizations and a 90-day grace period for compliance.
HB 5334 protects residential tenants in West Virginia who face safety threats. It allows tenants to end leases without penalty if they fear imminent violence from domestic abuse, sexual conduct, stalking, or sexual extortion - without requiring a conviction. Landlords cannot block tenants from calling police or penalize them for doing so, and must keep all related details (like the perpetrator's name or relocation address) confidential. The bill also prohibits landlords from using such information in databases or against tenants in eviction cases, while requiring written notice with proof of the threat before lease termination.
SB 833 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to notify individuals when they are the subject of an election law complaint. It mandates that these individuals submit a written response within 10 business days of receiving the notice. The bill directly affects people or entities named in election law complaints filed with the Secretary of State's office. The key mechanism establishes automatic notification and a strict 10-day response deadline for the complaint process.
This bill requires write-in candidates for most West Virginia elections to pay a filing fee when submitting their candidacy paperwork. It sets a 49-day deadline before elections for submitting the required certificate of announcement and exempts low-income individuals who qualify for fee waivers. The law affects anyone seeking office through write-in votes instead of appearing on the official ballot, with fees applying to all candidates except those meeting poverty-based waiver criteria.
HB 5356 modifies how students in the Mountaineer Challenge Academy are counted toward high school graduation rates for school accreditation purposes. The bill specifies that students who complete the academy program within five years of starting ninth grade will be counted as graduates for accountability metrics, provided this does not conflict with federal law. This change directly affects students enrolled in the Mountaineer Challenge Academy (a designated alternative education program) and the schools that report graduation rates. The key mechanism adjusts the state's calculation method for graduation rates, ensuring these students are included in accountability measures under specific completion timelines. The bill does not alter the academy's funding structure or operations, only the reporting criteria for school accreditation.
HB 5372 would amend West Virginia law to allow individuals aged 18 to 20 to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, currently only permitted for those 21 and older. The bill specifically targets sections of the code governing concealed carry penalties and exceptions, removing the permit requirement for this age group while maintaining existing exceptions (like carrying on personal property or during hunting). It directly affects West Virginia residents aged 18-20 who are not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession. The bill does not change open carry rules or other existing firearm regulations. This is a proposed policy change, as the bill is currently in committee review with no votes taken.
SB 839 would create a nonrefundable personal income tax credit for West Virginia election officials who serve at least half a day during an election. The credit would provide $100 per election, capped at $200 per tax year, and must be certified by the county commission to verify eligibility. Officials must submit this certification to the Tax Commission to claim the credit, which cannot be carried forward to future years. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit a biennial report on the credit’s cost-effectiveness.
HB 5332, the Agricultural Right to Repair Act, requires manufacturers of agricultural equipment (like tractors, combines, and sprayers) to provide farmers and independent repair shops with necessary repair documentation, parts, and tools on "fair and reasonable terms." The bill mandates that manufacturers offer these resources at costs equivalent to what they charge authorized repair providers, without forcing users to become authorized providers or register parts/tools. It specifically prohibits manufacturers from adding unnecessary restrictions or costs that would hinder independent repairs. This bill directly affects West Virginia farmers and local repair businesses by expanding their access to repair resources for farm equipment. The bill is currently in the introduction phase (filed February 9, 2026) and has not yet become law.
HB 5320, the "Welcome Act," aims to address West Virginia's housing shortage by changing how land is taxed during development. It allows property owners to keep their original tax classification for subdivided land until individual lots are sold, directly affecting homeowners and developers. The bill protects property owners' right to further subdivide land after initial sales, requires new parcels to include 24/7 access to a road (without mandating road construction), and limits local governments from imposing stricter road standards than the existing access road. These provisions apply to casual land divisions but not to formally recorded subdivisions with existing deed restrictions.
HB 5358 authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to offer locality pay to Division of Highways employees working in specific areas where competitive wages are needed to recruit and retain staff. The bill allows employees in designated locations to receive an additional $10,000 annually on top of their regular salary, exceeding standard pay ranges for their position. This applies specifically to workers involved in state road projects, including planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and traffic regulation. The commissioner must create a policy to implement this, but the bill does not guarantee funding or specify which areas will be designated.
SB 861 transfers responsibility for certifying DUI testing equipment and standards from the Bureau of Public Health to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. The bill eliminates the Bureau's rule-making authority over DUI testing procedures and grants this authority to the State Police instead. It also updates technical requirements, including removing outdated references to urine testing, adding provisions for trained phlebotomists to draw blood, and correcting juvenile blood alcohol level standards. This change directly affects law enforcement officers administering DUI tests and the forensic process for blood/breath analysis in DUI cases.
