Relating to standards of liability and insurance requirements in certain civil actions
HB 3513 limits liability for businesses serving alcohol in West Virginia by clarifying when they can be held responsible for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. It states that licensees (like bars or clubs) are generally not liable unless they knowingly serve minors or visibly intoxicated customers. The bill also sets a $1 million cap on medical expenses for claims against businesses with at least $1 million in liquor liability insurance and prohibits punitive damages exceeding twice the compensatory award. This directly affects alcohol licensees, private club owners, and property lessors by reducing their legal exposure in alcohol-related injury cases.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Mar 28, 2025
Signed Jul 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
hb3513 s jud am _1 4-9 adopted.htm
→
Enrolled Version
·
4 edits
·
Apr 25, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a committee amendment draft into the final Enrolled Version, adding official legislative text that establishes new liability standards and insurance requirements for private clubs in West Virginia. This version includes the full statutory language defining when club owners or licensees can be held liable for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons, along with specific exceptions and a rebuttable presumption of gross negligence. The text also clarifies that these new rules apply to all cases filed on or after August 1, 2025.
Scope change
The scope expanded from a proposed amendment to include the complete statutory text for two new sections (§60-7-12b and §60-7-12c) that define liability standards, insurance requirements, and effective dates for private club operations.
REQUIREMENT
Added new statutory sections establishing liability standards and insurance requirements for private club owners and licensees.
TIMELINE
Established an effective date of August 1, 2025, for all cases filed under the new liability rules.
DEFINITION
Included formal definitions and specific circumstances under which a private club owner or licensee can be held liable for injuries caused by intoxicated individuals.
TECHNICAL
Added official enrollment certification signatures and standard legislative formatting elements to finalize the bill.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 11, 2025 · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2025
How they voted
31–2
Passed
Total votes 33
Apr 11, 2025
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican31
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 25, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025
lower
Apr 12, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - Senate Journal
upper
Apr 12, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - House Journal
lower
Apr 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 634)
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 511)
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported do pass, with amendment
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
On 2nd reading, rereferred to Judiciary
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Without recommendation, but first rereferred to Judiciary
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
To Judiciary
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 361)
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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