West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB5665: Change to House rule 49 regarding members present, time and recording.
Status: Introduced, February 17, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §6B-2-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to public officials; and requiring the House and Senate Clerk record all roll call votes in the journal on all questions pertaining to a direct personal or pecuniary interest when more than one-third of the members present vote by voting machine. §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.
From the introduced text, February 17, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §6B-2-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to public officials; and requiring the House and Senate Clerk record all roll call votes in the journal on all questions pertaining to a direct personal or pecuniary interest when more than one-third of the members present vote by voting machine. §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 …