2026 Regular Session

HB 5166

To provide notice to any political committees violating the filing requirements prior to assessing any civil fines and giving the Secretary of State authority to grant additional time for compliance not to exceed an additional 14 days.

Passed

Jurisdiction

West Virginia

Session

2026 Regular Session

Official source

Chamber

House of Delegates

Session

2026 Regular Session

Jurisdiction

West Virginia

Bill overview

This bill changes how West Virginia political committees are penalized for filing late or incomplete reports. It requires the Secretary of State to first send a written notice to the committee outlining the issues with their filing, giving them 14 days to correct it. Before any civil fines are assessed, the Secretary of State can grant an additional 14-day period for compliance, provided a valid reason is shown. Additionally, candidates who fail to file statements before a certain deadline may be disqualified from the general election ballot.

Key provisions

Requires the Secretary of State to provide written notice to political committees before assessing civil fines for filing violations.
Allows the Secretary of State to grant an additional 14 days for compliance with filing requirements.
Establishes a civil penalty of $10 per day for delinquent filings.
Specifies that penalties must be paid to the State of West Virginia.
Outlines a process for publishing a list of late filers online.
Disqualifies candidates who fail to file statements by a deadline before the general election.
Prohibits the issuance of a commission or administering of an oath to elected officials who haven't filed statements.
Defines ‘grossly’ as substantive and material, including false or misleading representations.

Who is affected

Political committees
Candidates for office
State Election Commission
County Clerks
The Secretary of State

Positions across the state

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

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Legislative history

2026-02-04House

Filed for introduction

2026-02-04House

To Judiciary

2026-02-04House

Introduced in House

2026-02-04House

To House Judiciary

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

3/13/2026SenateVoice vote
Amendment to committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
3/13/2026SenateVoice vote
Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Vote map

House districts

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0 districts with vote data

Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

3/13/2026SenateVoice vote
Amendment to committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
3/13/2026SenateVoice vote
Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Recorded roll calls

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HB 5166

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Positions across the state

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Passage without roll call

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Recorded roll calls

Bill text

Notable changes

Positions across the state

Passage without roll call

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Recorded roll calls