WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HCR 18

Identifying that the People’s Republic of China is conducting an illegal asymmetric war against the U.S. and West Virginia

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elías Coop-González and 6 co-sponsors

West Virginia would adopt a whole-of-government stance against PRC actions, directing state agencies to identify PRC-linked entities and coordinate with others, with symbolic debt-

To House Judiciary
#resolutions
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HCR 18

Overview

  • Type: House Concurrent Resolution (Introduced)
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Session: 2026
  • Title: Identifying that the People’s Republic of China is conducting an illegal asymmetric war against the U.S. and West Virginia
  • Introduced: February 10, 2026
  • Primary sponsors: Delegates Ridenour, Mazzocchi, Kimble, Jeffries, Jennings, Martin, Hillenbrand, B. Ward, Holstein, Coop-Gonzalez
  • Co-sponsors: Elías Coop-González, Buck Jennings, Rick Hillenbrand, Margitta Mazzocchi, Josh Holstein, Bill Ridenour, Laura Kimble

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution asserts that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is waging an illegal, asymmetric war against the United States and West Virginia.
  • It characterizes China’s actions as using unconventional and asymmetric means (e.g., fentanyl, COVID-19 and other biological threats, cyberattacks, influence operations, intelligence activities, drones, and other tactics).
  • It calls for a “whole of government” response within West Virginia and collaboration with the federal government and other states to counter and mitigate these actions.
  • It declares that all public debt of West Virginia entities held since October 1, 2019 by PRC-affiliated entities should be forgiven (a sweeping, yet symbolic, debt-forgiveness provision).

Key Provisions and Provisions-to-Action

  • Formal finding: The PRC is conducting an illegal, asymmetric war against the U.S. and West Virginia.
  • Policy directive: The Governor should take necessary and appropriate executive actions to implement the resolution, coordinating with executive branch agencies.
  • Intergovernmental actions: The State Treasurer, State Auditor, and Attorney General are directed to identify PRC-affiliated entities and undertake appropriate actions related to those entities.
  • Intergovernmental outreach: The Legislature invites other states to join in recognizing the PRC as conducting an illegal war and to take similar actions.
  • Communications: The Clerk of the House must provide certified copies to the Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, and Attorney General; and also share copies with presiding officers of other state legislatures to solicit participation.
  • Financial provision (contentious and symbolic): All West Virginia public debt held since October 1, 2019 by PRC-affiliated entities shall be forgiven “herewith and forever.” This is a declarative or aspirational element rather than an immediately enforceable fiscal action, given the nature of debt obligations and the lack of mechanisms within a concurrent resolution to forgive debt.

Who/What Is Affected

  • State government entities in West Virginia (Executive Branch agencies, and officers including the Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, and Attorney General).
  • PRC-affiliated entities holding West Virginia public debt (per the resolution’s debt-forgiveness language).
  • Other states, which may be invited to join in similar recognitions and actions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Judiciary, then Rules committee (February 10, 2026).
  • Nature: As a concurrent resolution, it expresses the General Assembly’s stance and requests action by state agencies; it does not by itself create new law or allocate funds.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the Governor would be expected to implement actions consistent with the resolution; other states may decide whether to adopt similar resolutions and actions.

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Symbolic and political impact: Signals a strong stance against PRC activities and a push for intergovernmental cooperation.
  • Administrative impact: Could prompt investigations or reviews by the Treasurer, Auditor, and Attorney General to identify PRC-linked entities.
  • Fiscal impact: The stated debt-forgiveness provision could have symbolic fiscal implications, but as a concurrent resolution, it does not automatically cancel debt or create a funding mechanism; actual debt forgiveness would require additional statutory or legislative action and appropriations.
  • Intergovernmental coordination: Opens channels for collaboration with federal authorities and other states, potentially influencing profiling, procurement, or security-related initiatives.
  • Lawmaking dynamics: Sets a framework for a “whole of government” approach, though the specific actions would depend on subsequent agency implementations and any related statutory authorities.

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

Sign in to ask a question.