SB 751 limits landowner liability for injuries occurring on property leased to government entities for specific noncommercial uses, including military training, law enforcement exercises, wildlife propagation, and recreational activities. It removes the duty of care landowners owe to people entering such land, eliminating distinctions between invitees and licensees as clarified by the Mallet v. Pickens court case. Exceptions apply for deliberate harm or when landowners charge fees for entry beyond government payments. This bill directly affects landowners who lease property for these designated purposes in West Virginia.
HB 5274 would amend West Virginia law to grant the Secretary of State new investigative powers when enforcing the Charitable Solicitation Act. Specifically, it allows the Secretary to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents, involve circuit courts to enforce subpoenas, and request legal assistance from the Attorney General during investigations of charitable organizations, professional fund-raisers, or solicitors. These changes would directly affect the Secretary of State’s ability to conduct investigations and the entities subject to the Charitable Solicitation Act. The bill does not alter penalties for violations but streamlines enforcement procedures.
HB 5268 creates the Mountaineer Games Sports League (MGSL), a state-run program offering low-cost organized sports opportunities for West Virginia adults. The bill directly affects adult residents - particularly those with limited access to recreational activities - by establishing a league featuring sports like basketball, soccer, and flag-football through partnerships with colleges, community groups, and local facilities. Key provisions include forming a Governor-appointed board to manage operations, develop shared-use agreements for sports facilities, and promote partnerships across sectors to increase accessibility. The league aims to improve public health by encouraging physical activity, with the board responsible for scheduling seasons, recruiting volunteers, and securing funding.
SB 750 clarifies how West Virginia fills vacancies in the state Legislature. It requires the Governor to appoint a replacement from a list of three qualified candidates submitted by the relevant party committee (or county committee for single-county districts) within 15 days of the vacancy. If more than three candidates apply, the committee must conduct uniform interviews - potentially virtually - and select three finalists. The bill ensures appointees must belong to the same political party as the previous officeholder and have been affiliated for at least one year, while setting specific deadlines for submissions and appointments. This directly affects the Governor, party committees, and candidates seeking legislative vacancies.
HB 5259 permits qualifying patients with a physician certification and a valid state-issued medical cannabis ID card, or their designated caregivers, to grow up to 10 cannabis plants for personal use. The bill specifically allows cultivation in "plant form" but limits this to no more than five mature, flowering plants at any time. Patients or caregivers must comply with physician certification requirements and cannot grow for commercial purposes or exceed the plant limits. This amendment to West Virginia's medical cannabis law adds Section 16A-5-11 to explicitly authorize home cultivation under these conditions.
SB 747 amends West Virginia law to clarify that individuals legally permitted to carry firearms or pepper spray may do so on public sidewalks and streets directly bordering and surrounding the State Capitol Complex grounds. The bill specifically removes restrictions that previously applied to these adjacent public areas, while maintaining existing rules about carrying weapons *within* the Capitol Complex grounds themselves. It directly affects lawful firearm carriers who use these bordering sidewalks and streets for access to or from the Capitol. The key change is a technical clarification of where existing carry laws apply, without altering the legal status of carrying weapons on Capitol grounds.
HB 5270 requires West Virginia public high schools participating in sports, ROTC, or performing arts to employ at least one licensed athletic trainer full-time. The bill mandates that county school boards fund this position using local budgets, levies, or other available funds, and the trainer must be certified by the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy. Key provisions include requiring trainers to handle specialized health procedures like concussion evaluations and musculoskeletal injury management, while ensuring compliance with state athletic policies on concussions and emergency plans. This directly affects all high school athletic programs across the state by establishing a baseline for on-site medical care during sports activities.
SB 758 would provide extra state funding to West Virginia school districts for students enrolled in schools designated as "extremely remote" under the bill. It prohibits county school boards from closing such schools during the fiscal year they receive the additional aid and requires submission of specific documentation and reporting. The bill also allows waivers for certain documentation requirements. These provisions aim to support remote schools by ensuring stable funding and operational continuity.
HB 5275 clarifies and expands the circumstances under which West Virginia voters can request absentee ballots by mail. It specifically authorizes absentee voting by mail for voters who: (1) have a medical reason, disability, or are confined due to advanced age; (2) are absent due to work, school, or military service; (3) are overseas or uniformed service voters; (4) participate in the Address Confidentiality Program; or (5) are first responders on emergency duty. The bill also establishes emergency absentee ballots for voters hospitalized on election day or confined due to illness after the 7th day before an election, requiring physician verification in some cases. This bill directly affects all registered West Virginia voters who meet these specific eligibility criteria.
HB 5237 creates a mechanism for the Governor to borrow up to $50 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund into the Unemployment Compensation Fund if the fund's balance falls below $50 million within 30 days, as projected by Workforce West Virginia. The borrowed funds must be used solely to pay unemployment benefits and repaid within 180 days without interest from excess funds in the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bill directly affects unemployed workers by preventing benefit payment disruptions during short-term fund shortages. It applies only when the fund balance drops below $50 million, requiring a formal projection and limiting borrowing to $50 million or the amount needed to maintain that minimum balance. The provision expires on September 1, 2027.
HB 5204, the Child Captivity Prevention Act, requires West Virginia county school boards to notify the Department of Human Services (DHS) when a family relocates to the state and plans to homeschool their child. DHS must then schedule a non-intrusive home visit to assess the child's well-being and safety, which may include a brief, private conversation with the child if consent is given. The visit aims to identify immediate safety concerns without interfering with lawful homeschooling or parental rights, and any further investigation would follow standard abuse/neglect protocols. All information collected is confidential, and the law explicitly states it does not require parental relocation approval or diminish constitutional rights.
HB 5253 creates a confidential domestic violence registry maintained by the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau. The registry lists individuals convicted of three or more domestic violence offenses (as defined in state law), allowing authorized entities like childcare facilities, residential care homes, and home care providers to conduct confidential background checks before hiring staff or volunteers who interact with children, incapacitated adults, or adults receiving behavioral health services. Prosecuting attorneys must submit relevant conviction data to the registry, and the bill specifies that only "requesters" (such as employers or care providers) can access the information for employment screening purposes. The law aims to protect vulnerable individuals by enabling confidential verification of a person's domestic violence history prior to placement in caregiving roles.
