West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 1 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 621 — Authorizing digital court records

Last action — Chapter 70, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on August 08, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 92% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

29 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 621 has been revised to clarify the responsibilities regarding court records and procedures. It simplifies the language about how court orders are managed, moving away from specifics about "term time" and "vacation" sessions. This change aims to make the process more efficient and easier to understand, ensuring that all court records are properly preserved and documented, which is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in the judicial system. The bill is set to take effect 90 days after its passage, allowing for a smoother transition to these updated practices.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 621 BYSENATORS W ILL, WOELFE,AND THORNE [Introduced February 27, 2025;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Enrolled Senate Bill 621 BYSENATORS W ILL, WOELFE,AND THORNE [Passed March 24, 2025;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr SB 621 A BILL to amend and reenact §51-1-12 and §51-3-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing digital court records;
in effect 90 days from passage (June 22, 2025)] Enr SB 621 AN ACT to amend and reenact §51-1-12 and §51-3-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing digital court records;
It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals to attend in person, or by deputy designated staff, all the sessions of the court, to obey its orders and directions in term time and in vacation, to take care of and preserve in an office, kept for the purpose, all digital and physical court records and papers of the court, and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or required of him or her by the court.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals to attend in person, or by designated staff, all the sessions of the court, to obey its orders and directions, to preserve all digital and physical court records, and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or required of him or her by the court.
ARTICLE 3.
COURTS IN GENERAL.
The proceedings orders of every court shall be entered in a book or kept digitally by the clerk of court and in the discretion of the court may be caused to be read, and after being corrected, where it is necessary, shall be signed by the judge or presiding officer on the following day, except those of the last day of the term and of the day on which the court may adjourn to a future day as prescribed in article two of this chapter, which shall be drawn up and corrected, where it is necessary, and signed by the judge or officer on the same day:
The orders of every court shall be entered in a book or kept digitally by the clerk of court.
Provided, That where microfilm, photocopies or some other similar reproduction process is used to copy the original orders of such proceedings for entry in the book, and such original orders have been signed by the judge or presiding officer, it shall not be necessary for the judge or presiding officer to personally sign such copies entered in the book.
Enr SB 621 The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate ...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates Originated in the Senate.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
President of the Senate ...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2025.
.............................................................
Governor 3
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Action History

  1. Chapter 70, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/1/2025 - House Journal

  3. Approved by Governor 4/1/2025 - Senate Journal

  4. Approved by Governor 4/1/2025

  5. To Governor 3/26/2025 - House Journal

  6. To Governor 3/26/2025

  7. House Message received

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to Senate

  10. Passed House (Roll No. 164)

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  13. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  14. Read 2nd time

  15. Read 1st time

  16. Immediate consideration

  17. Reference dispensed

  18. Introduced in House

  19. House received Senate message

  20. Ordered to House

  21. Passed Senate (Roll No. 136)

  22. Read 3rd time

  23. On 3rd reading

  24. Read 2nd time

  25. On 2nd reading

  26. Read 1st time

  27. On 1st reading

  28. Reported do pass

  29. To Judiciary

  30. Introduced in Senate

  31. To Judiciary

  32. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Willis

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 90 Yea · 0 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 750010
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 900010
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Kump — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Yea
Clark, T — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Not Voting
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Not Voting
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Cannon Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
David McCormick Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Not Voting
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Funkhouser Republican Yea
Joe Parsons Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Not Voting
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Not Voting
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Not Voting
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Not Voting
Patrick Lucas Republican Not Voting
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Not Voting
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Ryan Browning Republican Yea
S. Chris Anders Republican Yea
Sarah Drennan Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Tresa Howell Republican Yea
Tristan Leavitt Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Passage

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28001
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
STUART — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Amy Grady Republican Yea
Anne B. Charnock Republican Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Bill Hamilton Republican Yea
Brian Helton Republican Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Craig A. Hart Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Scott Fuller Republican Yea
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Not Voting
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 621?
SB 621 is sponsored by Willis, Mike Woelfel (Democrat), and Darren Thorne (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 621?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 621?
Track SB 621 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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