West Virginia HB5680: Relating to establishing a comprehensive regulatory sunset and zero-based review system.

What the bill says

To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §29A-10-1, §29A-10-2, §29A-10-3, §29A-10-4, §29A-10-5, §29A-10-6, §29A-10-7, §29A-10-8, and §29A-10-9, all relating to establishing a comprehensive regulatory sunset and zero-based review system; providing legislative findings; requiring automatic expiration of administrative rules; mandating zero-based justification for renewal; establishing regulatory burden budgets and mandatory net reductions; creating an independent West Virginia Regulatory Review and Sunset Commission; authorizing leg.

From the introduced text, February 17, 2026:

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §29A-10-1, §29A-10-2, §29A-10-3, §29A-10-4, §29A-10-5, §29A-10-6, §29A-10-7, §29A-10-8, and §29A-10-9, all relating to establishing a comprehensive regulatory sunset and zero-based review system; providing legislative findings; requiring automatic expiration of administrative rules; mandating zero-based justification for renewal; establishing regulatory burden budgets and mandatory net reductions; creating an independent West Virginia Regulatory Review and Sunset Commission; authorizing legislative mass repeal and enforcement; eliminating judicial deference; creating citizen enforcement rights; providing remedies; and providing for severability. ARTICLE 10. WEST VIRGINIA REGULATORY SUNSET, ZERO-BASED REVIEW, AND BURDEN REDUCTION ACT. §29A-10-1. Short title. This article may be cited as the "West Virginia Regulatory Sunset and Zero-Based Review Act." §29A-10-2. Legislative findings and purpose. (a) The Legislature finds (2) Many existing rules remain in force for decades without meaningful legislative reconsideration, even when economic conditions, technology, statutory frameworks, and constitutional standards have materially changed; (3) The unchecked accumulation of regulatory requirements imposes significant financial, operational, and liberty-based burdens on citizens, small businesses, health care providers, local governments, and nonprofit organizations; (4) The Constitution of West Virginia vests legislative power in the Legislature and requires that lawmaking authority delegated to administrative agencies remain strictly limited, accountable, and subject to periodic reauthorization; (5) A regulatory system that presumes permanence …