Effective 90 Days From Passage: July 10th, 2025 (Senate Bills)

SB 1: Requiring Utility Work and Road Paving Coordination

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Chapman (R-Ohio, SD 1)

• Sponsors: Senators Rose (R-Monongalia, SD 2) and Rucker (R-Jefferson, SD 16)

This bill establishes coordination requirements between the Division of Highways (DOH) and utilities to prevent unnecessary damage to newly paved roads. Utilities must submit annual reports by December 31 listing all planned projects for the next two years that require digging or cutting into paved roads, including construction dates and grant information. The DOH must review these reports when planning paving activities of 300 linear feet or more. Information must also be posted on their website, including district maps, planned paving activities with dates and locations, and utility reports. Utilities can submit "no plans reports" if they have no planned work, but failure to report may result in permit delays.

SB 75: Changing Distribution of Income from Excess Lottery Fund

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Rucker

• Sponsors: Senators Barrett (R-Berkeley, SD 16), Thorne (R-Hampshire, SD 15), and Willis (R-Berkeley, SD 15)

This bill modifies how money from racetrack video lottery and table games is distributed in West Virginia. It cuts certain automatic payments by 100% and redirects that money to the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund, where the legislature now controls how it is spent. Some distributions remain protected under the changes, including payments to the commission, licensees, counties, employees, and development funds. The bill also prioritizes debt service payments and requires proportional sharing when funds are insufficient. The Governor is now allowed to redirect revenues to the General Revenue Fund during budget shortfalls and when workers' compensation unfunded liabilities are resolved.

SB 449: Permitting Compressed Air and Rimfire Shooting Teams in Public Schools

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Tarr (R-Putnam, SD 4)

• Sponsors: Senators Grady (R-Mason, SD 4), Bartlett (R-Kanawha, SD 8), Hamilton (R-Upshur, SD 11), Phillips (R-Logan, SD 7), Woodrum (R-Summers, SD 10), Rose, Hart (R-Mingo, SD 6), Taylor (R-Taylor, SD 14), Morris (R-Randolph, SD 11), and Willis

This bill allows air rifles and rimfire rifles on school property specifically for school shooting teams, and adds them to the list of exceptions to the prohibition against deadly weapons on school property. It permits these rifles on school buses during transportation to team events, on school grounds for team purposes, and at school-sponsored shooting functions in areas owned or leased by education entities. During school hours or non-team activities, the rifles and ammunition must be locked in locations inaccessible to students. On school buses, they must be stored in locked cases in locations determined by transportation directors.

SB 561: Relating to Uniform Special Deposits Act

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Oliverio (R-Monongalia, SD 13)

• Sponsors: Senators Queen (R-Harrison, SD 12), Taylor, Woelfel (D-Cabell, SD 5), and Charnock (R-Kanawha, SD 17)

This bill creates new rules for "special deposits", which is a new type of bank account that holds money for multiple people until certain conditions are met. These accounts are commonly used for things like escrow money in real estate deals, security deposits from tenants, or funds waiting to be distributed after a legal settlement. These deposits are protected from being seized by creditors, except when the bank already owes money to someone. Banks can't take money from these accounts to cover other debts, though they can deduct their own fees and costs. When the bank does owe someone money from the account, it creates a normal debtor-creditor relationship (where the bank owes them money). If there's fraud involved, courts can stop payments from these accounts. Otherwise, banks only have to pay damages they directly cause - not other types of losses. The deposits automatically end after five years unless all parties agree to extend them. If the bank can't locate those who are supposed to get paid when an account closes, the remaining money goes back to the original depositors.

SB 652: Expanding cardiac arrest provisions to be applicable to elementary schools

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Grady

• Sponsors: Senators Woelfel and Deeds (R-Greenbrier, SD 10)

This bill expands cardiac emergency response requirements to all elementary and secondary schools. Schools must develop venue-specific plans that are practiced annually, covering both athletic events and general school activities. Schools have to host annual informational meetings for parents about sudden cardiac arrest warning signs and mandatory student/parent acknowledgment forms. Annual training is also required for coaches on sudden cardiac arrest. Students who experience fainting during or after sports must be medically cleared before returning to athletics. Schools must coordinate with local emergency services regarding response plans, maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and provide ongoing CPR/AED training. It also extends requirements to youth sports league personnel using school grounds. Personnel must receive copies of emergency plans, know AED locations, maintain CPR/AED training, and practice response skills.

SB 677: Increasing fees charged by Commissioner of Securities for each offering

• Lead Sponsor: President Smith (R-Preston, SD 14)

This bill adjusts various fees in West Virginia's securities regulations and changes how fee revenue gets distributed. The State Auditor will now receive 25% of collected securities fees, with excess funds over 25% of gross revenues transferred to the General Revenue Fund at year-end. There are new requirements for certain types of federal securities offerings, including a $375 filing fee, with $200 renewal fees for each additional 12-month period. A 21-day advance notice requirement is established for these offerings before they can begin selling securities in the state. Additionally, annual sales reports are required from registered issuers, with fees calculated as 0.125% of the maximum offering price, ranging from $300 to $1,800.

SB 747: Relating to Real Estate License Act

• Lead Sponsor: President Smith

• Sponsor: Senator Woelfel

This bill creates an exception for out-of-state real estate brokers, allowing them to work in West Virginia without maintaining a physical office within the state. Previously, all brokers had to have a definite place of business within the state. Now, nonresident brokers can operate in West Virginia as long as they maintain a business office in their home state or jurisdiction.

SB 794: Authorizing DOH to erect warning signs

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Maynard

This bill gives the West Virginia Highway Commissioner new authority to put up warning signs along roads. Specifically, the Commissioner can now design and place various types of signs and markers as long as they don't put federal highway funding at risk. This includes warning signs that alert drivers about unimproved or primitive roads and recommend using four-wheel drive vehicles with high ground clearance. This is to help drivers understand when they're approaching roads that might be challenging for regular passenger cars.

SB 883: Providing director of WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training discretion and authority in certain appointments

• Lead Sponsor: Senator Phillips

This bill gives the Director of West Virginia's Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training more control over hiring mine inspectors and requires better reporting to the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety. The director now has the full discretion and authority to appoint all types of mine inspectors: surface, underground, electrical, and safety instructors. They also set the testing requirements. The director must report all appointments and testing information to the board, which can access applications and observe testing. Additionally, the bill removes some age restrictions for certain inspector positions and limits how long candidates can stay on the eligibility register. Names get deleted after being passed over for three years, and candidates who don't indicate continued availability within a calendar year are removed from consideration