West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4769: Creating plans to protect West Virginia from major crises
Status: Introduced, January 23, 2026
What the bill says
To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-1-31, relating to requiring the Governor to establish crisis preparedness plans. ARTICLE 1. THE GOVERNOR. §5-1-31. Crisis preparedness plans. (a) To protect West Virginia, the Governor will develop comprehensive whole-of-government plans to deal with crises that can pose existential or major threats to the people and governance of West Virginia. The following types of crises will be (2) Major disruptions of the energy grid in West Virginia, including disruptions resulting from high altitude elec.
From the engrossed text, February 10, 2026:
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-1-31, relating to requiring the Governor to establish crisis preparedness plans. ARTICLE 1. THE GOVERNOR. §5-1-31. Crisis preparedness plans. (a) To protect West Virginia, the Governor will develop comprehensive whole-of-government plans to deal with crises that can pose existential or major threats to the people and governance of West Virginia. The following types of crises will be (2) Major disruptions of the energy grid in West Virginia, including disruptions resulting from high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) attacks, solar coronal mass ejections, cyber-attacks, or physical attacks on key grid systems; (3) Major cyber-attacks creating long term disruptions to West Virginia's communications systems; (4) Invasion; and (5) Insurrection. (b) Plans created under subsection (a) of this section must (2) Mitigation measures; (3) Immediate response; (4) Remediation; and (5) Recovery. (c) The Department of Homeland Security will brief the Interim Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization no later than its first interim meeting of 2027, on tentative plans, and measures the state government is taking to facilitate the plans and additional mitigation measures the state government can take. Final plans should be completed by July 30, 2027. Periodic updates should be completed annually and be briefed to the Interim Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization …