House Judiciary and its subcommittees advanced several bills this morning.

House Bill 4098 would restore a person’s right to sit on a jury upon the expungement of one’s record. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4865 would create a program to allow students who are juniors or seniors, in addition to homeschool students, to work as poll workers. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 4881 would remove the requirement that the loan value of a motor vehicle be less than $9,500 to allow an automobile dealer, licensed automobile auction, motor vehicle repair facility, or towing company to obtain the title and registration for the abandoned motor vehicle. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 4996 would create mandatory bail conditions for people charged with making terrorist threats against a school. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 4997 would prohibit persons convicted of felony terroristic threats towards schools or children from residing within 1,000 feet of a school. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Senate Bill 208 would make certain military records unable to be requested by FOIA in West Virginia. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Courts

House Bill 4850 would provide online training for people to become Executors/Executrixes of an Estate. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4999 would change the criminal and administrative penalties for assault or battery on athletic officials and participants, including, but not limited to, players, scorekeepers, coaches, and referees.

House Bill 4568 would prohibit service of process in Family Court and civil actions on county property. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 4709 would recognize the legal standing of the West Virginia Legislature in court actions in case there are unauthorized changes to election laws and rules. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 5176 would relate to creating the animal abuse database within the West Virginia State Police. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Homeland Security

House Bill 4106 would allow constitutional carry for 18 to 20-year-olds. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 5025 would allow the burning of certain farm structures as long as the Department of Environmental Protection approves said burning. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 5182 would allow the State Treasurer to allow security personnel to carry a concealed firearm while performing their official duties. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

Legal Services

House Bill 4405 would allow for the creation of a second public defender corporation when a public defender company hires six or more assistant public defenders, including the chief public defender. This bill is intended to improve availability and address conflicts of interest. This bill was reported to the judiciary.

House Bill 4452 would remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations. This would allow churches and other religious organizations to hold more real estate. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4638 would include an option to become an organ donor when registering to vote or modifying their voter registration. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4546 would require biennial reports for limited liability and foreign limited liability companies, in addition to increasing filing fees. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4710 would increase the amount of time a candidate could switch parties before filing to run for office from 60 days to 180 days before an election. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Bill 5166 would require a notice to be given to any political committee violating the filing requirements before assessing any civil fines. This bill would also give the Secretary of State authority to grant additional time for compliance, but not exceed an additional 14 days. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

House Government Organization advanced House Bills 4462, 4463, 4561, and 4784 to the floor.

House Bill 4462 would prohibit the sale of cell-cultured products in West Virginia, specifically targeting cell-cultured meat or eggs. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4463 would modify rules for Sanitarians. This bill would allow the Board of Sanitation to have more authority and rulemaking. Under this bill, the board will be allowed to offer online training for sanitarians, allow a person with an associate’s degree or higher to be eligible for licensing, and add reciprocity between states. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4561 would allow county sheriffs to appoint more than one chief deputy, with the consent of their respective county commissioner. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4784 would extend the timeframe of Qualified Opportunity Zones till July 1, 2032. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4088 would change the licensure for certified public accountants. This bill would offer three different pathways. Two of these pathways include those who have been a part of post-bachelor degree programs, and one to expand the certification to those with only a bachelor’s degree. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.

If a person seeking to become a certified public accountant decides to only get their bachelor’s degree, they would need to have two years of work experience to apply for their certification.

House Judiciary and its subcommittees met this morning.

Judiciary

House Bill 4412 would require pornography websites to use some kind of age verification method to prevent minors from accessing the website. This bill would also create liability and penalties against the website if do not follow these procedures. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4725 would allow a court to order a change in the animal’s place of custody and to order the animal euthanized if it is in the animal’s best interests or for public health and safety. The euthanasia of the animal must be based on a sworn testimony of a licensed veterinarian or animal control officer. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4801 would define permissible expenditures for municipalities and counties. This bill was reported to the floor.

Senate Bill 207 would clarify the sheriff’s compensation for tax collection. This bill was reported to the floor.

House Bill 4098 would restore the right of a person to sit on a jury upon expungement of one’s record.

House Bill 5101 would establish the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act. This act would create and increase penalties for certain domestic violence offenses and change bail requirements for domestic violence.

Legal Services

House Bill 4865 would create a program to allow students who are juniors or seniors to work as poll workers. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4881 would remove the requirement that the loan value of a motor vehicle be less than $9,500 to allow an automobile dealer, licensed automobile auction, motor vehicle repair facility, or towing company to obtain the title and registration for the abandoned motor vehicle. This bill was reported to the Judiciary.

House Bill 4405 would allow for the creation of a second public defender corporation when a public defender company hires six or more assistant public defenders, including the chief public defender. This bill is intended to improve availability and address conflicts of interest.

House Bill 4452 would remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations. This would allow churches and other religious organizations to hold more real estate.

House Bill 4638 would include an option to become an organ donor when registering to vote or modifying their voter registration.

Homeland Security

House Bill 4996 would create mandatory bail conditions for people charged with making terrorist threats against a school.

House Bill 4997 would prohibit persons convicted of felony terroristic threats towards schools or children from residing within 1,000 feet of a school.

House Bill 4106 would allow constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds.

House Bill 4624 would permit the county commission of each county to lease, rent or to permit the use of a county-owned wireless tower or any portion thereof, with exceptions.

The House subcommittee on Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology advanced four bills this afternoon.

House Bill 4615 would create the Public Water Supply Reform Act of 2026. This act would require public water systems to provide quarterly operational and financial reports to the appointed board members of the public service district, participate in the Open Checkbooks program, and, when receiving enough complaints about a water system, a forensic audit must be conducted. This act would also require water storage tanks to be equipped with a device to collect data from the water system. This bill was reported to the committee on Energy and Public Works.

House Bill 4563 would require an EZ Pass transponder to be registered to a person rather than a vehicle. This bill was reported to the committee on Energy and Public Works.

House Bill 4471 would require approved sewage systems for all rental properties. This bill was reported to the committee on Energy and Public Works.

House Bill 4537 would require municipalities and public service districts to determine the cost of adding potential customers to the water service and apply for funding through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council. This service will be extended to customers who have made the required deposits and extend the service to possible customers, if the fees have been covered by a grant(s) for the extension. This bill was reported to the committee on Energy and Public Works.

House Government Organization and Subcommittee on Government Administration met this afternoon.

Government Organization

House Bill 4501 would facilitate the practice of dietetics between states to improve public access to dietetic services. This bill preserves the authority of the states to protect public health and safety through state licensure.

House Bill 4025 would prevent new hires and employees who will be promoted within the Departments of Health Facilities, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health from entering the classified civil service system. Employees who are currently employed and stay within their position will remain a part of the classified civil service system. 

House Bill 4561 would clarify a sheriff’s authority to hire within their own office. This bill would allow a sheriff may have and appointt more than one chief deputy with the advice and consent of the county commission.

House Bill 4577 would create reciprocity with the Republic of Ireland for driver’s licenses.

House Bill 4462 would prohibit cell-cultured products.

House Bill 4819 would change the use of criminal records in determinations of whether to allow a person to be issued a license, certification, registration, or other authorization to engage in a profession.

Government Administration

House Bill 4531 would provide identification documents, such as a photo ID, a replacement driver’s license, or a replacement birth certificate, to homeless individuals residing at homeless shelters within this state, at no cost.

House Bill 4612 would require DMV to issue a new title when the old title has been lost, under specific conditions. Regardless of vehicles age, the vehicle cannot appear on any list as stolen. If a title appears as stolen, the issued title will be void, and an investigation will be required to take place.

House Bill 4518 would require DMV and the Parkways Authority to coordinate records for the process of updating a driver’s information when getting a new vehicle and using EZ-Pass.

House Bill 4769 would require the Governor to make crisis plans.

House Bill 4932 would allow “A.C.” to be a name ending for an accounting corporation.

House Bill 4978 would allow Workforce West Virginia to provide people who claim unemployment with information from private employers, including tailored positions based on their previous job experience and skills.

House Bill 4793 would allow fourteen year olds to be able to apply to become apprentices for a barber or cosmetologist.

House Bill 4667 would clarify that hair braiding, threading, blow-dry styling, and makeup application are not regulated. In addition, this bill would create a salon training program that would allow licensed salons to employ trainees to cut and color hair and, after 1,000 hours, sit for the hair styling exam.