Senate Bill 598 would replace the existing statue of Robert C. Byrd (a former U.S. Senator from West Virginia) in the Capitol rotunda with four new statues: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, and Arthur I. Boreman (West Virginia's first governor), each to be placed in a separate corner of the rotunda. The bill directs the Department of Administration's General Services Division to execute the replacement using funds from a pre-established "capitol renovation and improvement fund." This is a procedural change to Capitol artwork with no policy impact on residents or government operations. The bill does not alter state laws or create new obligations for citizens.
HB 4771 expands access to West Virginia's Controlled Substances Monitoring Database by adding specific healthcare roles: hospital chief medical officers or designated physicians (for patients with hospital admitting privileges), medical school deans (to monitor faculty prescribing), and employer-designated physician reviewers (to track staff prescribing). The bill establishes an advisory committee of medical experts to set parameters for identifying unusual prescribing patterns and reporting them to the Board of Pharmacy. It maintains strict confidentiality rules, requiring data redaction for research sharing and prohibiting civil liability for mandatory reporting. The changes aim to improve monitoring of controlled substance use while limiting access to authorized healthcare and law enforcement personnel.
HB 4788 allows current West Virginia county school board members to run for state legislative seats while retaining their school board position during the campaign. It amends eligibility rules to explicitly permit school board members to seek other public office (including the state legislature) without resigning from the school board, as long as they do not receive compensation for other boards related to public schools. The bill also provides legal protections, requiring county boards to reimburse members for legal costs if they rely on an Ethics Commission advisory opinion confirming eligibility. This directly affects school board members who wish to pursue state legislative office without leaving their current role. The change removes a previous restriction that barred school board members from holding other public office during campaigns.
SB 599 prohibits the use of abortifacients (drugs intended to cause an abortion) in West Virginia, except in medical emergencies that pose a serious risk to a patient's life or major bodily functions. The bill imposes criminal penalties for prescribing, sending, or dispensing abortifacients within the state and allows for revocation of medical licenses for violating healthcare providers. It also requires informed consent for abortions in medical emergencies and mandates the state health department to publish public information and operate a hotline on abortion services. This bill directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and entities involved in distributing abortion-related medications.
HB 4762 amends West Virginia's veterinary licensing laws to create reciprocity for veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed in other states. It allows professionals with active, unrevoked licenses from states with "substantially equivalent" requirements to practice in West Virginia without re-taking exams, provided they submit documentation of good standing. The bill also establishes new pathways for graduates of foreign veterinary schools and creates special permits for participants in international credentialing programs. These changes directly affect licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians seeking to practice across state lines, simplifying the process to meet existing licensing standards.
HB 4773 would increase the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired state employees by 20% - not 15% as the title states - applying to retirees from the Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System who voluntarily retired in good standing. The bill requires the first full payment of this 20% adjustment to be issued by June 30, 2026, with benefits also shared proportionally to eligible beneficiaries. The adjustment is subject to IRS limits and mandates a legislative review every decade to assess future COLA increases.
HB 4787, the Anti-Terrorism Act, creates new felony charges for terrorism in West Virginia, directly affecting individuals or groups committing acts defined as terrorism (including violent protests, riots, or attacks on critical infrastructure). Key provisions include mandatory consecutive prison sentences with no probation, restitution payments to victims up to three times their economic harm (such as lost wages or business shutdown costs), and requiring the Attorney General to designate terroristic entities. The bill also explicitly defines fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and prohibits "terrorist swatting" (false emergency reports to harass targets). It applies to anyone committing terrorism within West Virginia, regardless of where the act occurred.
HB 4789 clarifies the disclosure requirements for out-of-state banks acquiring West Virginia state-chartered banks or their branches. The bill requires such banks to submit written confirmation to the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions that they will comply with state consumer protection laws, maintain proper deposit insurance, and meet capital standards if the resulting bank is state-chartered. This applies specifically to mergers where an out-of-state bank takes control of a West Virginia bank or its branches. The bill does not change existing merger rules but makes the required disclosure process more explicit and standardized. Its purpose is to reduce ambiguity in the application process for interstate bank acquisitions.
HB 4790 amends West Virginia's mortgage licensing requirements to allow mortgage brokers to use non-audited financial statements to demonstrate the $250,000 tangible net worth requirement, instead of mandating only audited statements. This change directly affects mortgage brokers applying for or renewing their licenses in the state. The bill does not alter other existing requirements, such as background checks, surety bond amounts based on annual loan volume, or license fees. The key mechanism expands acceptable documentation for financial stability while maintaining the core net worth threshold.
HB 4792 clarifies that West Virginia mortgage lenders and brokers do not need to provide a separate state-specific closing disclosure if they accurately provide the required federal closing disclosure (such as the HUD-1A or TRID-compliant form). The bill updates state law to align with federal requirements under the Truth-in-Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, ensuring borrowers receive standardized closing information. It specifically removes the need for a duplicate state form as long as all federal disclosure requirements - including late fee details and other loan terms - are fully met in the federal document. This change simplifies compliance for lenders while maintaining borrower protections.
HB 4729 requires West Virginia's Secretary of State to issue state tax identification numbers to businesses during registration, replacing the current process handled by the State Tax Department. This affects all new and existing businesses registering in West Virginia, as they would receive their tax ID number directly from the Secretary of State's office after July 1, 2026. The bill creates a "one-stop" online portal for businesses to handle permits, fees, and tax-related filings (though not tax payments or returns), with the Secretary of State coordinating with the Tax Department to obtain and issue the tax IDs. The change streamlines business registration by centralizing this step under the Secretary of State’s office.
HB 4791 removes the requirement that West Virginia's banking commissioner must approve joint account forms used by banks. This change directly affects banking institutions, allowing them to use standard joint account forms without prior state approval. The bill amends existing law (§31A-4-33) to eliminate this regulatory step while preserving other provisions about joint account rules, such as notice requirements for account holders. The policy change simplifies administrative processes for banks but does not alter how joint accounts operate for consumers.
