West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5166: 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.
Status: Passed both chambers, March 13, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §3-8-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to elections; requiring notice to be provided 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. ARTICLE 8. REGULATION AND CONTROL OF ELECTIONS. §3-8-7. Failure to file statement; delinquent or incomplete filing; criminal and civil penalties. (a) Any person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer of a political committee who fails to fi.
From the engrossed text, February 4, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §3-8-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to elections; requiring notice to be provided 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. ARTICLE 8. REGULATION AND CONTROL OF ELECTIONS. §3-8-7. Failure to file statement; delinquent or incomplete filing; criminal and civil penalties. (a) Any person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer of a political committee who fails to file a sworn, itemized statement required by this article within the time limitations specified in this article or who willfully files a grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined. Sixty days after any primary or other election, the Secretary of State, county clerk, or municipal recorder, as the case may be, shall give notice of any failure to file a sworn statement or the filing of any grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement by any person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer of a political party committee and forward copies of any grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement …