West Virginia SB1066: Protecting burial rights and lot ownerships for cemeteries and burial grounds

What the bill says

To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §37-13B-1, §37-13B-2, §37-13B-3, §37-13B-4, §37-13B-5, §37-13B-6, §37-13B-7, §37-13B-8, §37-13B-9, §37-13B-10, §37-13B-11, §37-13B-12, §37-13B-13, §37-13B-14, §37-13B-15, §37-13B-16, §37-13B-17, §37-13B-18, and §37-13B-19, relating to cemeteries and burial grounds; the protection of burial rights and lot ownership; ensuring the continuity of responsibility for cemetery care, prevention, abandonment, and evasion of cemetery obligations; burial rights and cemetery operations; cemetery financial respo.

From the introduced text, February 23, 2026:

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §37-13B-1, §37-13B-2, §37-13B-3, §37-13B-4, §37-13B-5, §37-13B-6, §37-13B-7, §37-13B-8, §37-13B-9, §37-13B-10, §37-13B-11, §37-13B-12, §37-13B-13, §37-13B-14, §37-13B-15, §37-13B-16, §37-13B-17, §37-13B-18, and §37-13B-19, relating to cemeteries and burial grounds; the protection of burial rights and lot ownership; ensuring the continuity of responsibility for cemetery care, prevention, abandonment, and evasion of cemetery obligations; burial rights and cemetery operations; cemetery financial responsibility and continuity; endangered and abandoned cemeteries protection; prohibitions and enforcement; and authority of the Attorney General. ARTICLE 13B. CEMETERIES: RIGHTS, CONTINUITY, AND PROTECTION. §37-13B-1. Legislative findings and intent. The Legislature finds that cemeteries and burial grounds implicate fundamental matters of human dignity, religious observance, family rights, and public trust; that burial lots and grave spaces constitute vested property interests or legally protected rights once conveyed; that unreasonable restrictions on burial access and grave preparation have occurred in certain cemeteries unrelated to public health or safety; that some cemetery owners have abandoned cemeteries through insolvency, dissolution, or strategic withdrawal; that many cemeteries in this state are historic, family, or community cemeteries with no living owner or governing entity; and that the state of West Virginia has historically intervened to protect burial grounds where no responsible private party exists. The purpose of this article is to protect …