Sine Die 2025: Notable Bills From West Virginia’s Legislative Session
June 3, 2025
By: J. Parker Zopp and Jenna Fonner
As the dust has settled on West Virginia’s latest legislative session, a variety of new laws are poised to impact West Virginia’s businesses and communities. Below are some of the most notable pieces of completed legislation in effect, or that are soon to be effective.
HB 2002 - Establishing One Stop Shop Permitting Process[1]
HB 2002 tasks the Secretary of the Department of Administration with creating a centralized online permitting dashboard to simplify and streamline the application and renewal processes for various state-level permits, licenses, and business registrations. The dashboard aims to assist the industries associated with construction, economic development, infrastructure, and natural resources. In describing its general purpose, the new law explains that the dashboard will “[a]llow individuals and businesses to create private accounts, through which they can view, save, and submit applications; electronically pay all required fees; receive updates on the status of applications; send and receive communications directly to and from the regulatory agencies; and receive electronic copies of approved permits.”
For those applicants that are willing to pay an additional fee, HB 2002 also includes a “fast-track” option to expedite the permitting process. To ensure efficiency, applicants have the ability to receive refunds from an agency issuing a permit past a certain set deadline under certain circumstances. Importantly, this dashboard will also further help government agencies communicate and coordinate processing efforts. HB 2002 is effective from passage (April 9, 2025).
SB 458 - Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025
Under SB 458, holders of out-of-state licenses[2] may apply for a reciprocal professional license where the applicable license in West Virgina would be issued by certain boards governed by Chapter 30 of the West Virginia Code. This law impacts a wide variety of professionals, including, but not limited to, contractors, engineers, doctors, nurses, and realtors.
An applicant must meet the qualifying criteria and establish residency in West Virginia to receive a reciprocal license.[3] Important qualifying criteria includes: having a current license in good standing in a different state at the same practice level in the discipline; passing any examinations required for the license; and having no revocation or voluntarily surrender of a license while under investigation for unprofessional conduct. The applicant can receive his or her license without having to take an examination in the applicable discipline if the applicant fulfills all of the law’s other conditions.
Governor Morrisey signed SB 458, which becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 2008 – Executive Branch Reorganization[4]
HB 2008’s purpose is to merge and reorganize West Virginia’s executive branch of government effective July 1, 2025. Among other changes, this bill eliminates the Department of Economic Development, turning it into the “Division of Economic Development” and placing it as an agency within the Department of Commerce. The bill also provides that starting July 1, 2025, new hires to the Division of Economic Development and the Department of Commerce overall, as well as the current employees who change positions within the division or department, will fall under the classified exempt service system and be exempt from the state grievance procedures.[5]
HB 2014 - Certified Microgrid Program[6]
Set to take effect July 11, 2025, HB 2014 introduces the Certified Microgrid Development Program and the High Impact Data Center Program, designed to attract high-impact data centers to the state and localize power generation for microgrids. The law removes regulatory hurdles by prohibiting municipalities or counties from limiting, in any way, the creation, development, or operation of a certified microgrid district or high-impact data center project.
Additionally, HB 2014 redirects tax revenues collected on certified high impact data center properties and distributes the portion that consists of a positive tax increment accordingly:
50% to the Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund;
30% to the county where the data center is located;
10% to all 55 counties in the state;
5% to the Economic Enhancement Grant Fund; and
5% to the Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund, which will be used to enhance grid reliability with local coal and natural gas.
HB 2451 - To facilitate the creation of home-based businesses[7]
HB 2451 promotes home-based businesses by reducing business registration requirements and providing a more flexible regulatory approach. With respect to the former, the law: (1) exempts businesses from municipality business and occupation or privilege taxes if they have a gross revenue below $2,500; (2) exempts independent contractors and sole proprietors from any municipal license requirement if they earn less than $2,500 in annual gross revenue; and (3) increases the income threshold to pay the state business registration tax from $4,000 to $10,000.
To ease the burden on small businesses, the law allows individuals to operate home-based businesses in residential dwellings. Municipalities are permitted to establish “reasonable” regulations “rationally related to a legitimate government interest” such as protecting public health and safety and limiting the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and other specified regulated activities. However, municipalities may not require businesses to (1) rezone the property for commercial use; (2) install or equip fire sprinklers in a single-family detached residential dwelling; or (3) obtain a license or permit that is not required for similarly situated businesses. Additionally, the law includes the “Small Business Protection Act,” to address the regulatory costs to small businesses, directing state agencies to promulgate rules that do not impose unnecessary burdens on small businesses.
Jackson Kelly’s Government Relations practice group is always ready to assist with any legislative matters you or your organization may have.
[1] HB 2002 adds a new article to the code, W. Va. Code §§ 5A-13-1 et seq.
[2] While the bill references “licenses, registrations, and certificates,” for simplicity, these will be collectively referred to as “licenses.”
[3] The new applicable code section is designated as W. Va. Code § 30-1-27. An applicant may also be married to an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces and have accompanied their spouse to an official permanent change of station to a military installation in West Virgina.
[4] HB 2008 amends multiple sections, including the following: W. Va. Code §§ 5B-1-1, 5B-1-2, 5B-2-1, 5B-2-2, 5B-2-3, 5B-2-3b, 5B-2-4, 5B-2-4a, 5B-2-5, 5B-2-6, 5B-2-6a, 5B-2-9a, 5B-2-10, 5B-2-14, 5B-2-16, 5B-2-17, 5B-2-18, 5B-2-19, 5B-2-20, 5F-1-2, 5F-2-1, 29-1-8d, 31G-1A-1, 31G-1A-4, 31G-1A-5, 31G-1A-6, and 31G-1A-7. It also repeals W. Va. §§ 5F-1-3a and 5F-1-6.
[5] However, the bill clarifies that the Secretary of the Department of Commerce may designate certain employees’ status within the civil service to comply with federal law or to receive federal funds.
[6] HB 2014 amends multiple sections, W. Va. Code §§ 5B-2-21, 24-2-1d, 24-2-1q, 24-2-15, 24-2-19, and 24-2-21a; adds four new sections, W. Va. Code §§ 5B-2-21a, 5B-2-21b, 5B-2N-2a, and 11B-2-22; and adds a new article, W. Va. Code §§ 11-6N-1 et seq.
[7] HB 2451 amends W. Va. Code §§ 8-13-4, 8-13-5, and 11-12-3 and creates two new articles, designated W. Va. Code §§ 8-40-1 et seq. and W. Va. Code §§ 8-41-1 et seq.