HB 5173 West Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

To create the West Virginia Rural Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention Act.

HB 5173 creates the West Virginia Rural Littering and Illegal Dumping Prevention Act, targeting individuals who improperly dispose of litter on public or private property, including near waterways. It establishes tiered penalties based on litter quantity: fines from $100 for small amounts (under 100 lbs) up to $50,000 for large dumps (over 500 lbs), with enhanced fines (50% higher) near protected waters. The bill also allows courts to order community service (cleaning litter for 8-200 hours) instead of or alongside fines, and creates a Rural Illegal Dumping Prevention Fund for cleanup programs. It directly affects anyone who illegally discards litter, imposing specific criminal penalties for repeat offenses and violations near water.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026
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Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors