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Bill

HB 5166

To provide notice to any political committees violating the filing requirements prior to assessing any civil fines and giving the Secretary of State authority to grant additional time for compliance not to exceed an additional 14 days.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Butler

Bill requires Secretary of State to notify political committees of filing violations before imposing fines and permits up to 14-day compliance extensions.

Senate requests House to concur
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Bill Summary · HB 5166

Legislative bill overview

HB 5166 requires the West Virginia Secretary of State to provide written notice to political committees that fail to meet filing requirements before imposing civil penalties. The bill also grants the Secretary of State discretionary authority to extend compliance deadlines by up to 14 additional days for committees that receive notice.

Why is this important

Political committees must disclose financial information to maintain transparency in campaign finance. This bill affects enforcement mechanisms—currently, committees can face fines without prior warning, but this change creates a grace period that may reduce inadvertent violations while potentially delaying accountability for non-compliance.

Potential points of contention

  • Enforcement effectiveness: Critics may argue that advance notice and grace periods weaken accountability and incentivize committees to delay filings, while supporters contend it prevents unfair penalties for technical or administrative errors
  • Secretary of State discretion: The bill grants significant discretionary authority without clear criteria for when extensions should be granted, potentially creating inconsistent enforcement across different political committees
  • Campaign finance transparency: Opponents may worry that extended deadlines delay public access to donation and spending information, while proponents argue the 14-day window is reasonable for good-faith compliance efforts

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

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