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Bill

HB 5066

Relating to prohibiting the release of addresses and names of employers of persons who make contributions to political elections

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Holstein and 4 co-sponsors

West Virginia bill would hide political donor names and employer addresses from public disclosure, limiting campaign finance transparency while citing donor privacy concerns.

To House Judiciary
#elections
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5066

Legislative bill overview

HB 5066 would prohibit the public disclosure of names and employer addresses of individuals who make political contributions in West Virginia. The bill restricts access to donor information that is currently part of the public campaign finance record, creating a new privacy protection for political contributors.

Why is this important

Campaign finance disclosure has long been considered essential for transparency and detecting potential corruption or undue influence in politics. This bill would significantly limit public access to donor information, affecting voters' ability to track financial connections between donors and elected officials. The change raises questions about balancing privacy rights against democratic transparency and the public's right to know who is funding political campaigns.

Potential points of contention

  • Transparency vs. Privacy Trade-off: Supporters argue donors face harassment or retaliation; opponents contend that hiding donor identities undermines accountability and allows undisclosed influence on politicians
  • Constitutional Concerns: First Amendment jurisprudence has generally protected donor disclosure as serving compelling government interests; courts may scrutinize restrictions on this information
  • Donor Intimidation Claims: The bill assumes significant donor harassment occurs, but critics question whether this justifies abandoning a core transparency mechanism used across most U.S. jurisdictions
  • Implementation Challenges: Unclear how the bill handles information already in public records or reported to the Federal Election Commission, which operates independently of state law

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

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