West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4837: Establish time limits on Legislators becoming lobbyists
Status: Introduced, January 26, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §6B-2-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to extending the one-year prohibition on lobbying by former public officials to five years. §6B-2-5. Ethical standards for elected and appointed officials and public employees. (a) Persons subject to section. -- The provisions of this section apply to all public officials and public employees, whether full or part-time and whether compensated or not, in state, county, municipal governments and their respective boards, agencies, departments, and commissions and in any other regional or local governmenta.
From the introduced text, January 26, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §6B-2-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to extending the one-year prohibition on lobbying by former public officials to five years. §6B-2-5. Ethical standards for elected and appointed officials and public employees. (a) Persons subject to section. -- The provisions of this section apply to all public officials and public employees, whether full or part-time and whether compensated or not, in state, county, municipal governments and their respective boards, agencies, departments, and commissions and in any other regional or local governmental agency, including county school boards. (b) Use of public office for private gain. -- (1) A public official or public employee may not knowingly and intentionally use his or her office or the prestige of his or her office for his or her own private gain or that of another person. Incidental use of equipment or resources available to a public official or public employee by virtue of his or her position for personal or business purposes resulting in de minimis private gain does not constitute use of public office for private gain under this subsection. The performance of usual and customary duties associated with the office or position or the advancement of public policy goals or constituent services, without compensation, does not constitute the use of prestige of …