SB 844 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Exempting non-native quail and partridge from game farm requirement if owned for agricultural purposes

SB 844 exempts non-native quail and partridge raised for agricultural purposes from needing a license to operate a private game farm. The bill amends West Virginia law to clarify that these birds, when kept for meat or egg production (like other domesticated poultry), are not subject to the game farm licensing requirement. This exemption applies only to birds used for agricultural activities - such as breeding for food production - excluding birds intended for release into the wild. The change reduces regulatory burden for farmers raising these birds as part of commercial agricultural operations.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Signed Aug 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute Enrolled Committee Substitute · 4 edits · Apr 25, 2025
MODERATE
The bill transitioned from a Committee Substitute to its final Enrolled version, incorporating key procedural updates and clarifying the legislative history. The most significant substantive change is the addition of the official enrollment certification, which formally certifies the text is correct for the Governor's signature. Additionally, the bill's sponsors were expanded to include three Senators, and the effective date was explicitly set to 90 days after passage (July 9, 2025).
Scope change
The scope of the bill's subject matter regarding private game farm licenses remains unchanged; however, the procedural scope was updated to reflect the final passage of the bill by the legislature.
TECHNICAL

Added the official enrollment certification section with signature lines for the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates, confirming the text is final.

Updated the list of bill sponsors to include Senators Rucker, Hart, and Deeds.

Removed the 'Enrolled Version - Final Version' link from the 'Helpful Links' section, likely as it is no longer a draft version.

TIMELINE

Explicitly stated the bill becomes effective 90 days from passage, specifically noting the date July 9, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

310
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Mar 28, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
29 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
34
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Apr 25, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025
upper
Apr 12, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - House Journal
lower
Apr 12, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor 4/25/2025 - Senate Journal
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (Roll No. 467)
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do pass
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
To House Government Organization
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
To Government Organization
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 213)
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
To Agriculture
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors