SB 720 establishes the West Virginia Comprehensive Student and Family Support Act to create a coordinated system of services for students facing barriers like emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges that risk academic failure, suspension, or out-of-home placement. It directly affects eligible students in West Virginia public schools who are at risk of dropout, exclusion, or placement, prioritizing those transitioning from juvenile justice or foster care. The bill creates a state fund to pool public resources, requires local teams to coordinate education, health, and social services, and mandates outcome tracking (like attendance and behavioral progress) through a State Oversight Office within the West Virginia Department of Education. This system aims to reduce duplication, improve educational outcomes, and ensure accountability via annual reporting and audits.
HJR 35 proposes adding a constitutional amendment requiring West Virginia to provide free early childhood education for all children in the state. The amendment would create a new Section 8 in Article XII of the state constitution, stating that "the Legislature shall provide, by general law, for a thorough and efficient system of free schools including early childhood education." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this would establish a constitutional right to early childhood education, directly affecting all West Virginia children and requiring the legislature to fund and implement such programs. The resolution is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.
SB 728 authorizes West Virginia county commissions to increase pay for elected county officials, including county commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, assessors, and prosecuting attorneys. The bill allows counties to adjust compensation based on new duties imposed since 2015 (such as additional responsibilities from state laws or federal acts) and changes in local property valuations. It modifies existing compensation rules to align with constitutional limits while giving counties flexibility to set pay levels that reflect their specific economic conditions. The bill does not set new pay rates but enables local officials to make these decisions through their commissions. The bill was introduced in the Senate on February 3, 2026, and referred to committees.
SB 722 requires West Virginia's Division of Natural Resources (DNR) officers to obtain a warrant or the landowner's permission before entering private property, except in emergencies. This directly affects landowners, who can deny entry without a warrant, and DNR officers, who must follow this procedure during routine operations. The bill clarifies that DNR officers cannot enter private land without a warrant or consent, with an exception only for immediate threats to public safety, such as accidents or emergencies. This amendment updates existing law to explicitly protect property rights during DNR activities.
SB 732 would permit Child Protective Services (CPS) workers to audio record all investigatory interactions with individuals under investigation for child abuse or neglect allegations. This applies to all CPS interactions, including home visits, but requires either the person’s informed consent or a court order when privacy expectations exist (e.g., in private homes). Recordings must be stored for the entire duration of the case. The bill directly affects CPS workers, families under investigation, and CPS offices, changing how investigations are documented without restricting case types or requiring new court referrals.
SB 727 clarifies disclosure requirements for out-of-state banks merging with or acquiring West Virginia state-chartered banks or branches. The bill mandates that acquiring banks provide written confirmation to the West Virginia Banking Commissioner, committing to comply with all state laws (including consumer protection), maintain proper deposit insurance, and meet capital standards if the merged bank becomes state-chartered. This applies specifically to mergers where an out-of-state bank takes control of a West Virginia bank or its branches. The law does not change existing deposit limits but ensures clearer and more specific disclosure processes for such transactions.
HJR 36 is a constitutional amendment proposal (not a regular bill) that would add a new section to West Virginia's Constitution guaranteeing reproductive rights. It states that every individual has the right to make decisions about contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion, with the state prohibited from interfering unless using the least restrictive means for health. The amendment allows abortion restrictions after fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb with medical care) only if a physician determines it's necessary to protect the patient's life or health. This proposal requires voter approval in the 2026 general election to become part of the state constitution.
SB 721 updates West Virginia's rules for self-storage rental agreements. It clarifies key terms like "occupant," "personal property," and "rental agreement," and requires operators to include specific notices about liens and property removal in all agreements. The bill sets a 30-day default period (instead of 60 days) before operators can remove or sell stored items for unpaid fees, mandates notice via newspaper, email, or online, and states that unsigned agreements bind renters if they use the space for over 30 days after receiving the agreement. These changes directly affect self-storage facility operators and renters using storage units in West Virginia.
HJR 34 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow West Virginia citizens to directly initiate proposed changes to the state constitution through a petition process. To qualify, a petition must collect signatures from at least 10% of voters who cast ballots for governor in each county during the most recent gubernatorial election. If verified, the proposed amendment would appear on the next general election ballot, requiring approval by at least 60% of voters (compared to a simple majority for amendments proposed by the Legislature). This change would shift the power to initiate constitutional amendments from the Legislature to citizens, expanding direct voter involvement in constitutional changes.
This proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 33) would update eligibility rules for serving in West Virginia's legislature by allowing individuals to hold certain state or local government positions while serving as legislators. Specifically, it removes current restrictions on state employees (including those in schools, agencies, or courts), sheriff, constable, or clerk roles, provided they held the job before running for office and obtain Ethics Commission approval. The amendment requires all dual employment cases to be reviewed by the West Virginia Ethics Commission. This change aims to modernize eligibility requirements for legislative service, as stated in the resolution's purpose.
SB 716 would lower the participation requirement for West Virginia's volunteer firefighter tax credit from 30% to 20% of department activities. This change directly affects volunteer firefighters seeking the tax credit, making it easier to qualify by reducing the minimum activity threshold. The bill amends Section 11-13JJ-4 of the state code to update the participation percentage while keeping other eligibility conditions unchanged. Currently, firefighters must participate in 30% of activities; the bill would require only 20%.
HB 5120, the Menstrual Labeling Act, requires all menstrual products sold in West Virginia - including tampons, pads, and menstrual cups (both disposable and reusable) - to display a clear, plain list of all ingredients in order of predominance on their packaging within 18 months of the law taking effect. This applies to manufacturers selling products in the state, adding this requirement to existing labeling rules without replacing them. Violations trigger a civil penalty of up to 1% of a manufacturer’s annual in-state sales or $5 per package, whichever is lower. The law aims to increase transparency about product contents without restricting product availability or making health claims.
