West Virginia Legislative Overview – 2023 Session
WEST VIRGINIA
Legislative Overview – 2023 Session
(Adjourned on March 11, 2023)
12 pet related items were proposed during the 2023 legislative session, 7 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| HB 2082 | Local Ordinances – Breed-Specific Prohibition: Amends Chapter 7 (County Commissions and Officers), Chapter 8 (Municipal Corporations) and Chapter 19 (Agriculture), Article 20 (Dogs and Cats) of the Code of West Virginia to prohibit municipalities and counties from enacting ordinances or regulations that base restrictions on the breed of a dog. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 2181 | Statewide Animal Abuser Registry: Amends Chapter 15 (Public Safety) of West Virginia Code by adding a new Article 15 (Animal Abuser Registry) to establish a statewide animal abuse registry. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 2979 | Statewide Animal Abuser Registry: Amends Chapter 15 (Public Safety) of West Virginia Code by adding a new Article 15 (Animal Abuser Registry) to establish a statewide animal abuse registry. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 2983 | Animal Cruelty Definition Amendment: Amends Article 8 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality and Decency), Section 61-8-19 (Cruelty to Animals; Penalties) of the Code of West Virginia to further provide for definitions and penalties for the offense of cruelty to animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 3083 | Local Ordinance Prohibition – Consumer Merchandise/Standards of Care: Amends the Code of West Virginia by adding a new Chapter 8B (Local Government Labor and Consumer Marketing Regulatory Limitation Act) to prohibit political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance, regulation, local policy, local resolution or other legal requirements regulating certain areas of the employer-employee relationship and the sale or marketing of consumer merchandise. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 3345 | Commercial Dog Breeder Disclosure Requirements/Primary Enclosure Standards: Amends Chapter 7 (County Commissions & Officers), Article 10 (Humane Officers) and Chapter 19 (Agriculture), Article 20 (Dogs and Cats) to: 1) Amend Section 19-20-26 (Commercial Dog-Breeding Operations) of the Code of West Virginia to provide primary enclosure standards and commercial dog breeder written disclosure requirements; and 2) Add a new Section 19-20-27 (Dogs unfit for sale and purchaser’s remedies). | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 3380 | Companion Animal Restrictions – Japanese Quail: Amends Chapter 20 (Natural Resources), Article 2 (Wildlife Resources), Section 20-2-47 (License for private game farm for propagating animals and birds for commercial purposes) of West Virginia Code to allow an owner of Japanese quail (Coturnix Quail and Button Quail) to keep them as pets without having to obtain a license for a private game farm. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
View ALL West Virginia legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.