2025 Legislative Session summary Feb. 12 through April 12

Welcome to our 2025  ‘Daily at the State Legislature page’  – scroll down to read about bills introduced opening day!

Here we address animal welfare bills that are introduced during the WV Legislative Session.

We will note if we think it is particularly good or a threat to an existing law on the books that protects animals.  We often leave you to make that determination.   Note that the dates are from newest to oldest as we post east current day to garner support for necessary bills.

Keep in mind, we are all volunteers who provide this information taking time from our busy lives to keep you informed. Our contributors on the bills are WV animal welfare supporters from all over the state providing this information to us.

Here are some hints.  You can go to the WV State Legislature site   https://www.wvlegislature.gov/

You can also track bills through their site.      https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm

We have accumulated a 21-year history of animal bills in the WV State Legislature.  It is a unique history and can be accessed here only.
Legislative Session Detail Animal Welfare 03-2024

Everything following is now in the above file for easy download…..

Here we are again for another session of the WV State Legislature.  We know everyone thinks we need more laws to help animals.  We need some but really not many to do the job well.  First, we need the enforcement of the laws we have.  However, there are areas of ambiguity within the code.  And bills that are just lacking in support of our furry friends.   Often, we just need to remain vigilant to ensure a bill will not do more harm than good.

Often bills get introduced as a courtesy to a local constituent.  If bills do not get helped & nurtured they simply remain in committee and languish like the majority of other bills that never pass.   If you have an interest in a bill, you have to get involved, get others involved, write to your legislators, post on social media, travel to Charleston to see them in person, make phone calls.  Sounds like a lot of effort, doesn’t it?  Well, it definitely is.   That is why only a small portion of bills actually make it through to passage and becoming law.

Read and see if you support or oppose any of these that have been introduced.   If you do nothing, then your argument remains that the law needs changed but you are unwilling to offer effort to get it done.   It may be different this year and you could be that difference.    If we miss a bill, please let us know.    

House committee process chart

Notes these dates of interest for this legislative session:

March 25th will be ‘Spay Neuter Awareness Day’ at the State Legislature.    WVVAW and FOHO WV will have informational tables in the lower rotundra of the capital to help educate all on the benefits of spay neuter.  We will particularly emphasize the importantance of extending our WVSNP funding beyond its sunset date to help control our pet overpopulation in our state.    

2025 Legislative Session:  

March 5

And a great overview of our bill!

 Senate Finance Committee

N/V Not voting

Steele Dist 42 Raleigh

Worrell Dist 23 Cabell HB 2158 Sponsor (sometimes a vote gets missed)

 

SB 578 has moved to the Senate Agriculture Agenda for March 5 at 2 pm.  This caught us by surprise so make sure to contact Senate Agriculture Commiottee Members.   They are listed below.   Scroll dow a little ways and thee  is the list of Senators!

HB 2158 will be on 3rd reading on the House Floor to be passed!  You should have called your delegates already so we can have a unanimous vote in the House on this bill to send it over to the Senate!

March 3

HB 3044  The purpose of this bill is to provide increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals in the care of animal shelters, breeders, and private individuals.   Delegates Mallow, Heckert, Brooks, Marple, DeVault, Miller, and T. Clark Referenced to House Gov. Org.

If we were not so caught up in getting the Spay neuter funding bill passed, these two bills are sure worth another look.  We need to find out more about these bills,   They have good sponsors and look to have good intent for cleaning up some code.   
HB 3130   The purpose of this bill is to provide increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals in the care of animal shelters and private individuals.  By Delegates Ferrell, McGeehan, Crouse, Dean, Stephens, Sheedy, Kimble, T. Howell, and Rohrbach  Referenced to House Gov. Org.  This seems a good bill with a cursory view of it.  

HB 3132 The purpose of this bill is to specify minimum levels of care to be provided by dog breeders; and to define when a dog is unfit for sale by a dog breeder and provide remedies therefor.  Delegates Ferrell, Ward, Sheedy, Pritt, McCormick, McGeehan, Crouse, Dean, Stephens, Kimble, and RohrbachReferenced to House Gov. Org.  This seems a good bill with a cursory view of it.

Feb 24

HB 2158 passed out of HB 2158 in the Local Government Subcommittee on Monday 2/24.

It did have one amendment with an insignificant title change but now it is referenced as committee substitute HB 2158.  It will be on day one in Government Organization Standing Committee on Tuesday 2/25.  Amy Moloney, FOHO Board member will be at the hearing to answer questions about this bill.   The final Government Organization Standing Committee vote will be on Thursday 2/27 and it will go to the House Floor for first reading on Friday 2/28 so long as there are no glitches.  It will then move to the Senate.

Status of HB 2158.  This information came from Del Doug Smith of Mercer.  He is an excellent lead sponsor for our bill.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?  CALL & EMAIL  YOUR HOUSE DELEGATES NOW FOR THE HOUSE FLOOR VOTE!  

SB 578  was introduced today in the Senate.  It is not the same title as HB 2158 but it is exactly the same bill text to remove the sunset clauses to continue the spay neuter funding.

SB 578: The purpose of this bill is to remove the sunset provisions on requiring an additional registration fee for a permit to sell or market commercial pet food, set to expire June 1, 2027, and June 30, 2027.  This bill is referenced to first, Senate Agriculture and then to Senate Finance. The lead sponsor is Senator Amy Grady of Mason, part of Cabell, Putnam and Jackson.   This bill is also sponsored by Sen. Patricia Rucker of Jefferson and part of Berkeley.

Your mission AFTER YOU CONTACT YOUR DELEGATES is to begin to CONTACT the Senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee and your own Senator to seek their support.

Senate Agriculture Committee

Senator Hart – Chair
Senator Thorne – Vice-Chair
Senator Deeds
Senator Hamilton
Senator Queen
Senator Rose
Senator Rucker
Senator Tarr
Senator Woelfel

Craig A. Hart (R – Mingo, 06)
Chair
Room 209W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7843
craig.hart@wvsenate.gov

Darren Thorne (R – Hampshire, 15)
Vice Chair
Room 200W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7980
darren.thorne@wvsenate.gov

Vince Deeds (R – Greenbrier, 10)
Room 200W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7959
District Phone: (304) 992-9305
vince.deeds@wvsenate.gov

Bill Hamilton (R – Upshur, 11)
Room 223W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7906
District Phone: (304) 472-1966
bill.hamilton@wvsenate.gov

Ben Queen (R – Harrison, 12)
Room 204W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7904|
ben.queen@wvsenate.gov

Chris Rose (R – Monongalia, 02)
Room 209W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7902
chris.rose@wvsenate.gov

Patricia Puertas Rucker (R – Jefferson, 16)
Room 214W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7957
District Phone: (304) 279-1619
patricia.rucker@wvsenate.gov

Eric J. Tarr (R – Putnam, 04)
Room 213W, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7901
District Phone: (304) 202-4276
eric.tarr@wvsenate.gov

Michael A. Woelfel (D – Cabell, 05)
Minority Leader
Room 245M, Building 1
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7956
District Phone: (304) 522-6249
mike.woelfel@wvsenate.gov

Feb. 20

Here are the members of the House Government Organization Committee  (You can send emails to them or to the members of the subcommittee (Local Governments) who also reside on both committees.
You can also access the list with links here:

House Government Organization Standing Committee Members (Delegates)   HB 2158 must be voted out of this committee to get to the floor of the House for passage.  Then it will move to the Senate.    

Chris Phillips   Chair Government Organization
District 68 Barbour Upshur
chris.phillips@wvhouse.gov    (304) 340-3192

Doug Smith    Vice Chair Government Organization      This the lead sponsor of HB 2158 -make sure to thank him!
District 39 Mercer
doug.smith@wvhouse.gov   (304) 340-3187

Kayla Young     Minority Chair & Minority Lead Pro Tempore.
District 56 Kanawha
kayla.young@wvhouse.gov   (304) 340-3362

Hollis Lewis     Minority Vice Chair
District 57 Kanawha
hollis.lewis@wvhouse.gov   (304) 340-3183

Stanley Adkins
District 49 Nicholas
stanley.adkins@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3352

Eric Brooks
District 45 Fayette, Raleigh
eric.brooks@wvhouse.gov  (304) 877-8298

Ryan Browning
District 28 Wayne
ryan.browning@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3126

Adam Burkhammer
District 64 Lewis, Upshur
adam.burkhammer@wvhouse.gov   (304) 340-3123

Jarrod Cannon
District 21 Putnam
jarred.cannon@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3324

Wayne Clark
District 99 Jefferson
wayne.clark@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3366

Marshall Clay
District 51 Fayette
marshall.clay@wvhouse.gov    (304) 340-3170

Mark Dean
District 34 Mingo, McDowell
mark.dean@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3304

Michael Devault
District 74 Marion
mike.devault@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3249

Dana Ferrell
District 60 Kanawha
dana.ferrell@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3194

Dave Foggin
District 14, Wood
dave.foggin@wvhouse.gov     Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3136

John Paul Hott
District 85 Grant, Tucker
johnpaul.hott@wvhouse.gov    (304) 340-3399

Tresa Howell
District 52 Kanawha, Fayette
tresa.howell@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3287

Jonathan Kyle
District 66 Pocahontas, Randolph
jonathan.kyle@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3178

Tristan Levitt
District 53 Kanawha
tristan.leavitt@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3156

Patrick Lucas
District 24 Cabell
patrick.lucas@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3280

David McCormick
District 82 Monongalia
david.mccormick@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3127

Jonathan Pinson
District 17 Jackson, Mason
jonathan.pinson@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3146

Charles Sheedy
District 7 Marshall, Wetzel
charles.sheedy@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3111

Bryan Smith
District 73  Marion, Taylor
bryan.smith@wvhouse.gov    Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3139      District Phone: (304)709-0164

George Street
District 83 Preston
george.street@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3160

Bills introduced that may be of interest:

HB 2656  – To prohibit people taking their animals into a grocery store or a store that sells food if that animal is not a registered service animal  Pritt and Clark Referred to Judiciary

HB 2699 – To eliminate the dog tax  Referred to finance   Horst, Ridenour, Hornby, Masters, Crouse, White, Petitto, Bridges and Miller

HB 2715 –  Relating to county dog wardens  / The purpose of this bill is to increase the impoundment period for dogs and modify notice requirements.  Referred to Government Organization and sub committee Local Organization   Ward, Stevens and Sheedy

Feb. 19

HB 2158 was on the agenda of the Sub Comm. On Local Gov.
Listen to the first hearing on HB 2158 our remove the clause to continue the funding of our WVSNP grant program. It starts around 15 seconds into the archived recording.

https://home.wvlegislature.gov/archived-recordings/

Scroll down to Feb. 19 – 2:00 pm Sub. Comm. on Local Government.

Attending today was FOHO Board member Amy Moloney, Norm Bailey of WVDA and our lead sponsor of this bill, Del Doug Smith of Mercer County, all of whom speak to the bill. Lots of good questions that hopefully clear up issues for you too. There are a lot of new legislators since 2017 who are unaware of this bill and its success and how it is funded. That is your job to educate your legislators on this. The next meeting of this committee will be Feb. 25th which will be day 2 for HB 2158.

Make sure to email especially the chair, vice chair and any delegates you have on the Local Gov. comm and the Gov. Org. Comm. All can be found here.  Folks you have to do this. This is only the first step in the house then we move to the Senate. It takes effort to get a bill passed! The animals are worth it.

Feb. 18
Update on HB 2158. It is on the agenda for Loval Gov. Committee today at 2 pm. You should have sent emails to these delegates. They are below halfway down page in red: House Local Governments Subcommittee Members (Delegates)
It will go back to Standing Committee on Gov. Org. (see those delegates below and email them – if you did your job well you have already contacted half of them who are on Local Gov Comm so you only have half to go.  It will need to be passed out of Gov. Org. to the floor of the House where it will be voted on by the entire House.  When it passes out of the House, it will then go to the Senate.  Right now, we have no Senate bill but it is still pending.   

You can listen to the hearing today at 2 pm by linking from the legislative site to videos and audios on the dropdown menu.

Feb. 13

Please note that in talking with FOHO WV they are focused on the HB 2158.  They cannot be distracted by any other bills even those that certainly have merit which many animal welfare bills have.  The legislators will not sweep a lot of bill through this year.  We will be lucky to get one.   We are also focused on HB 2158.  

HB 2158 has already moved out of its Standing Committee, Gov. Organization to Local Governments Sub Committee before we could catch a breath.   This whole structure is new to us too but we are excited that within one day, we have a bill moving.  Let’s keep it going folks!    Here is an email you can alter to send to the members of the Local Governments Sub Committee.  Let’s face it, no one wants to read a canned email so make it personal for your area and pick out a few points to include.

“I am seeking your support for House Bill 2158 which removes the sunset clause for funding the West Virginia Spay Neuter Program.  WVSNP provided dollars to 84 humane organizations and county commissions in 54 counties in 2024.  Since 2018, over 85,000 dogs and cats have been altered with this money.   Please help us to continue this funding by referring this bill out of your committee to the standing committee Gov. Organization for their action to pass.

For your consideration, here are a few points to consider:

Totally funded by Pet food registration fee; no taxpayer dollars involved.

85,000 WV dogs and cats altered.

$4 million awarded, $1.9 million matched by grantees, $4 million from private donors.

Thanking you in advance for your support.”

House Local Governments Subcommittee Members  (Delegates)

Dana Ferrell   Chair of Local Governments

District 60 Kanawha

dana.ferrell@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3194

Charles Sheedy   Vice-Chair of Local Governments

District 7 Marshall, Wetzel

charles.sheedy@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3111

Stanley Adkins

District 49 Nicholas

stanley.adkins@wvhouse.gov     (304) 340-3352

Eric Brooks

District 45 Fayette, Raleigh

eric.brooks@wvhouse.gov     (304) 877-8298

Ryan Browning

District 28 Wayne

ryan.browning@wvhouse.gov    (304) 340-3126

Adam Burkhammer

District 64 Lewis, Upshur

adam.burkhammer@wvhouse.gov     (304) 340-3123

Marshall Clay

District 51 Fayette

marshall.clay@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3170

Michael Devault

District 74 Marion

mike.devault@wvhouse.gov Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3249

Dave Foggin

District 14, Wood

dave.foggin@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3136

Tresa Howell

District 52 Kanawha, Fayette

tresa.howell@wvhouse.gov  Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3287

Jonathan Kyle

District 66 Pocahontas, Randolph

jonathan.kyle@wvhouse.gov   Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3178

Tristan Levitt

District 53 Kanawha

tristan.leavitt@wvhouse.gov  Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3156

David McCormick

District 82 Monongalia

david.mccormick@wvhouse.gov Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3127

Kayla Young     Minority Chair & Minority Lead Pro Tempore.

District 56 Kanawha

kayla.young@wvhouse.gov (304) 340-3362

Feb 12

HB 2158  has been introduced!  relating to removal of a sunset clause for the West Virginia spay and neuter program  This is the bill we have been waiting for that removes the sunset clause from our State Spay Neuter Funding.   The bill has been referenced into Government Organization Committee.  That standing House Committee is listed on the legislative website.   The bill will go from this committee to a subcommitte on Agriculture if it passes Gov. Org.  Above note the flowchart of the committee structure in the house in 2025.

The lead sponsor is Del Doug Smith of Mercer County joined by the following sponsors.  If any are your delegates, give them a shout out of thanks!   Ask them how you can help them to get this passed too!

Here are the other bills of interest that were introduced today, Feb. 12:

SB 174:  On the legislative site, it indicates that the purpose of this bill is to clarify what constitutes shelter for animals exposed to cold weather.  However, the bill was altered last year adding a hot weather extreme also.  The purpose of this bill is to provide added protection for animals exposed to extreme weather.
Sponsor is Sen. Chapman of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall (part)Brooke – referred to Agriculture and Judiciary.

SB 151     The purpose of this bill is to make it unlawful to harm, attempt to harm, or kill a police dog that is under the control of a law-enforcement or corrections officer who is acting in his or her official capacity. The bill also defines the term “police dog” and sets forth penalties.     Sen. Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall (part) – referenced to Judiciary

SB 150 – The purpose of this bill relates to cruelty to animals.  The bill creates and defines the felony offense of cruelty to animals; modifies and clarifies applicability of the section; defines terms; and creates criminal penalties.     Sen. Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall (part) – referenced to Judiciary

HB 2043    The purpose of this bill is to authorize the use of drones and dogs while hunting and describe their administration.   Del. Burkhammer of Lewis and Upshur  – Referenced  to Gov. Organization

HB 2068   The purpose of this bill is to prohibit activities connected with sexual abuse of an animal; establish criminal penalties; provide for forfeiture of animals, payment of associated costs, and restrictions on owning animals upon conviction.  Del Young  Kanawha   – referenced to Judiciary

HB 2204   The purpose of this bill is to establish a state animal abuse register; the bill requires all those convicted of animal abuse to register and directs the State Police to maintain a registry of registered animal abusers; and establishes criminal penalty for failure to register.   Del Steele of Raleigh.  referenced to Judiciary

Sample Letter Ideas for WVSNP Funding for SB 578 and HB 2158 

I would like to ask four important questions whose answers will make one of your many decisions very simple.

1. Would you like to take credit for reducing pet overpopulation and the use of euthanasia as a means of animal control in West Virginia?
2. Would you like to pass a bill that helps thousands of your constituents that love animals without raising their taxes?
3. Would you like to guarantee that a program responsible for paying WV veterinarians $ 4,194,743 to spay and/or neuter more than 85,000 dogs and cats in just 7 years, bringing in over $4 million in grants, will continue beyond 2027?
4. Would you like to boast that West Virginia is one of only five states that address pet overpopulation with a state-wide spay/neuter program?

Of course, you would!   I am asking that you please pass SB 578 out of the Senate Finance committee. This bill will remove the sunset clauses to continue funding for the WV State Spay Neuter program.

84 current grant recipients are asking you to answer yes to all of the questions. Please meet us at the lower rotunda on March 25 for Spay Neuter Awareness Day and be our guests at the Clay Center that evening.  We will all be wearing red t-shirts.

Another one:

I am asking that you please pass SB 578 out of the Senate Finance committee. This bill will remove the sunset clauses to continue funding for the WV State Spay Neuter program.

This program is funded by an increase in the Pet Food Registration Fee which is paid annually to the WVDA for the 12,935 pet food brands sold in WV. The pet food companies sold $356M of products in WV in 2023 – their contribution to WVSNP ($450,000) represented one-tenth of one percent of sales.  There are NO taxpayer dollars used in this funding.

Over $4 million has additionally entered our economy to spay-neuter by an out-of-state donor impressed by our state spay-neuter initiative.  More than $1.9 million has been matched by local groups and county commissions.  It is truly WV tackling a problem successfully and aggressively.

In your Senate district from 2018-2024, WVSNP has awarded this amount to assist your constituents in spaying and neutering their animals.

(I used the chairman here Sen. Barrett. All of you need to email him.  You must personalize by Senate district)

With over 85,000 dogs and cats altered. this funding has had a great impact on underserved communities and rural areas in our great state. Overpopulation of any animal is a public health hazard- it should be noted that every cat not already vaccinated MUST receive a rabies vaccine when spayed/neutered.

Our supporters will be attending the WV Spay and Neuter Awareness Day at the capitol on March 25, 2025. Hopefully, it will be to THANK YOU for assisting us with continuing to help the communities of West Virginia.   Please join us at a reception at the Clay Center on the evening of March 25 at 5:30.  Thank you,

And another few points to incorporate into a letter

• Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars can be saved by reducing pet overpopulation
• 85,115 WV dogs and cats sterilized in 7 years, each guaranteed to also receive a rabies shot
• Lowering pet overpopulation reduces incidents of cruelty, neglect, human/animal conflicts, and community health hazards.
• Euthanasia is down 64% from 2016 to 2023.
• Shelter intake down 22% from 2016 to 2023 saving $2M tax dollars.

This funding has a great impact on underserved communities and rural areas in our great state. Overpopulation of any animal is a public health hazard- it should be noted that every cat not already vaccinated MUST receive a rabies vaccine when spayed/neutered.

It should also be noted that these grant dollars MUST be spent in West Virginia! (An added bonus for our economy!)