Relating to authorizing the Board of Architects to promulgate a legislative rule relating to fees for registration of architects.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Smith

Authorizes the Board of Architects to set or modify registration fees via a legislative rule, with public comment and formal rulemaking before any changes take effect.

To House Judiciary

#legislature--rulemaking

Summary of HB 4274 (2026, West Virginia)

Purpose and intent

HB 4274 authorizes the Board of Architects to promulgate a legislative rule governing fees for registration of architects.

The bill directs regulatory action by the Board to establish or modify fee schedules in a manner consistent with the statutory framework for professional registration.

Key provisions and changes

Authorization for rulemaking: The Board of Architects would have the authority to promulgate a legislative rule, specifically addressing fees charged for architect registration.

Scope of rule: The rule is intended to govern the amounts, structure, and potentially the categories of registration-related fees paid by architects seeking initial registration, renewal, or other registration actions as defined by the Board’s regulatory authority.

Legislative rule framework: The term "legislative rule" indicates the rule would undergo the formal WV rulemaking process, including proposed rule publication, public comment, and final adoption, subject to legislative review and potential veto or approval pathways as provided by state law.

No direct fee amounts specified: The bill does not itself set or cap dollar amounts; rather, it authorizes the Board to establish fees through the legislative-rulemaking process.

Persons and entities affected

Primary: Individuals seeking registration as architects in West Virginia, including initial applicants and licensed architects renewing registration.

Secondary: Architectural firms and employers who rely on licensed architects, and institutions that employ or contract with registered architects.

Administrative impact: The Board of Architects would gain the authority to adjust financial requirements tied to registration, which could affect annual dues, application fees, renewal fees, and other registration-related charges.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Bill history highlights:

Filed for introduction on 2026-01-14.
Initial referrals: Government Organization, then Judiciary.
January 30, 2026: Reported out with a “Do pass” recommendation, with a note that it goes to Judiciary first.

Next steps (typical for a legislative rulemaking bill in WV):

The House Judiciary Committee would review the bill, potentially amend or approve it.
If passed by the House, it would advance to the Senate (where similar committee actions would occur) and eventually to the governor for signature.
As a rulemaking authority bill, actual fee changes would occur only after the Board completes the legislative rulemaking process (proposed rule, public comment, adoption) and any required legislative review steps are satisfied.

Practical considerations

Oversight and transparency: Because fees would be set via a legislative rule, there would be public notice and opportunity for comment during the rulemaking process, aligning with standard WV regulatory procedures.

Financial impact: Fee changes could affect the cost of becoming or remaining registered as an architect in WV, potentially influencing applicants’ decisions and firm budgeting.

Alignment with statutes: The rule would operate within existing statutes governing the Board of Architects and professional registration, and would require compliance with state rules governing legislative rules.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to highlight how the proposed rule might interact with existing fee schedules or provide a comparison to fee-setting practices for other WV professional boards.