HB 5620 would limit local government authority over "certified high impact data center" projects by blocking counties and municipalities from enforcing zoning, building permits, licensing, or other local regulations for these facilities. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to designate a "Data Economy Liaison" to coordinate with data center developers and mandates that certified projects pay standard municipal business taxes. It applies only to data centers certified by the Commerce Secretary under this law, not all data centers. The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee as introduced on February 16, 2026.
Tags
Local Government
HB 5656 would provide West Virginia county clerks with an annual $15,000 supplement for expanded election-related duties. The bill requires clerks to perform specific new responsibilities, including administering municipal elections (since 2024), maintaining voter registration rolls, meeting cybersecurity standards for voting systems, and fulfilling federal HAVA grant reporting requirements. County commissions must pay this supplement only after the Secretary of State verifies clerks met all performance benchmarks annually. This applies to clerks handling duties transferred from circuit clerks in 2002 and expanded under recent state laws. The bill does not change existing compensation structures but adds this specific supplement for defined election administration responsibilities.
HB 5337, titled "Daniel's Law," protects the personal information of certain West Virginia public officials by prohibiting the disclosure of home addresses and unpublished home or personal phone numbers without written consent. It directly affects active, retired, or former state legislators, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and law enforcement officers, along with their immediate family members living in the same household. The bill requires government agencies and private entities to obtain written permission before sharing this information, and it creates civil liability for violations, including minimum $1,000 damages per incident. This law aims to enhance safety by preventing harassment or harm related to public officials' personal details.
HB 5172 establishes the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Broadband Internet Connection Fund to install LEO satellite equipment at locations already designated for broadband deployment under existing state grant programs. The fund, managed by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, will use state appropriations, grants, and interest earnings to cover installation costs. It provides immediate internet access through LEO connections - though with different speed and latency than traditional broadband - while waiting for full statewide broadband deployment to complete. The fund’s money remains available annually without reverting to general state revenue.
HB 5123, the Consumer Data Protection Act, gives West Virginia consumers new rights over their personal data held by businesses. It requires businesses meeting size thresholds (like $25 million in annual revenue or handling data from 50,000+ consumers) to let consumers access, delete, correct, or opt out of selling their information. The law prohibits businesses from discriminating against consumers who exercise these rights and allows individuals to sue for violations. The West Virginia Division of Consumer Protection will enforce the law and create rules for implementation.
HB 5327, the West Virginia ALS Care Services Act, establishes a state program to provide targeted support for residents living with ALS and their caregivers. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to fund three key services: care coordination and education to help navigate healthcare systems, loan programs for assistive technology and reusable ramps (addressing a common financial barrier as ramps aren't typically covered by insurance), and access to multidisciplinary ALS clinics. These clinics consolidate specialized care, reduce the need for repeated specialist visits and emergency care, and aim to improve patient outcomes while lowering long-term healthcare costs. The program directly affects West Virginia ALS patients and their families by enabling them to remain safely at home longer, reducing reliance on costly institutional care.
HB 5034, the West Virginia Genomic Information Privacy Act of 2026, requires medical facilities, research organizations, and companies collecting genetic data to inform West Virginia residents about how their genetic information is gathered, used, and shared. The bill prohibits these entities from selling, transferring, or using genetic data for foreign adversaries (as defined by federal law) and mandates secure storage of such information. It also establishes a private right of action, allowing individuals to sue if their genetic privacy is violated.
HB 5427, the "Anti-Doxxing and Privacy Protection Act," prohibits publishing another person's personally identifiable information (PII) without consent when intending to harass, threaten, stalk, or cause harm. It directly affects individuals who engage in malicious doxxing (e.g., sharing home addresses, phone numbers, or location data to intimidate) and protects victims, including public officials, healthcare workers, and private citizens. Key provisions establish criminal penalties for violations, allow civil lawsuits for victims, and create procedures for redacting PII from public records when safety is at risk. The bill explicitly excludes lawful public records disclosures, judicial proceedings, and good-faith journalism to preserve constitutional protections.
HB 5547 requires healthcare providers to obtain specific written consent from parents before conducting newborn genetic screening, which cannot be fulfilled by general consent forms signed at hospital admission. It limits blood collection to only what's necessary for screening and mandates destruction of blood samples after three weeks unless parents give additional written consent for retention. The bill also prohibits using newborn blood samples for research, law enforcement, or other purposes without separate consent from parents or the adult who was a minor when the sample was taken. Healthcare facilities must provide written information about screening options and the right to opt out during pregnancy.
HB 5548, the "Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act," prohibits distributing deepfake videos or images that falsely depict a person engaging in non-consensual sexual conduct without their permission. It targets individuals who intentionally share such content to coerce, harass, or damage reputations, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 or up to five years in prison for repeat offenses. The law explicitly excludes constitutionally protected speech like political satire, commentary, or media with clear disclosures that it is manipulated. It also allows affected individuals or officials to seek court orders to stop violations.
