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SB 792

Eliminating requirement that Supreme Court of Appeals supply magistrates with copies of WV Code

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Woelfel

The bill removes the Supreme Court of Appeals’ duty to provide magistrates with copies of the West Virginia Code, shifting access to WV Code to other channels.

To House Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 792

Bill at a glance

  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Session: 2026
  • Title: Eliminating requirement that Supreme Court of Appeals supply magistrates with copies of WV Code
  • Primary sponsor: (Senate) — co-sponsor Mike Woelfel
  • Status trajectory: Passed Senate, moved to House; introduced in House and referred to Judiciary, then to Finance, then to Judiciary again, and subsequently to House Judiciary; received Senate message and introduced in House on 2026-02-25.

Purpose and intent

The bill eliminates a current requirement that the Supreme Court of Appeals must provide magistrates with copies of the West Virginia Code (WV Code). In short, it removes a statutory duty on the Supreme Court to supply magistrates with WV Code texts.

Key provisions and changes

  • Repeal/ modification of duty: The core change is the removal of the obligation for the Supreme Court of Appeals to furnish magistrates with copies of the WV Code.
  • Scope: Applies to magistrates within the state judiciary system who previously received WV Code materials from the Supreme Court under the existing requirement.
  • Administrative implications: The bill shifts responsibility or access arrangements for WV Code texts away from the Supreme Court to other entities or processes (to be determined by implementing language in the bill and subsequent administrative rules).

Note: The specific text of the bill would detail any transition provisions, timelines for cessation of the requirement, and any alternative means of access (e.g., online availability, distribution by other courts or state agencies, or procurement by magistrates).

Affected parties and entities

  • Primary: Justices and staff of the Supreme Court of Appeals (in their capacity to supply WV Code to magistrates)
  • Magistrates: Trial court magistrates who would have previously received copies from the Supreme Court
  • Other potential stakeholders: State judiciary administrative offices, clerks, and magistrate training programs may need to adjust procurement and access processes for WV Code materials
  • General public: Indirectly affected through any changes in how legal codes are distributed to practitioners and court personnel

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • History indicates passage through the Senate with Roll Call No. 213 on 2026-02-24.
  • The bill moved to the House, where it was received as Senate message on 2026-02-25 and immediately introduced, proceeding to Judiciary committee.
  • The House has subsequent steps: referral to Judiciary, then to Finance (as indicated by prior committee routing in the Senate), and later back to Judiciary in the House, culminating in potential floor consideration.
  • Timelines beyond those committee steps are not specified here; final enactment would depend on passage by the House and any reconciled differences between the chambers, followed by signature or gubernatorial action per West Virginia law.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Access and equity: The bill may require magistrates to obtain WV Code texts through alternative channels (e.g., online access, state repository, or procurement), which could affect ease of access and cost.
  • Operational efficiency: If the Supreme Court previously distributed physical copies, the change could reduce its administrative burden but shift it to other departments or to self-service access.
  • Transition and compliance: The bill should include transitional provisions to prevent disruption, such as timelines for when the obligation ends and how current practices will be phased out.
  • Legal practice: Consistency in codification access for judges and magistrates is important; stakeholders will want assurance that magistrates retain timely and reliable access to the WV Code.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, legal practitioners, or the general public) or add a brief section outlining possible implementation questions and likely fiscal considerations based on typical judiciary code distribution changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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