West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 11 R cosponsors

HB 2836 — Relating to wild animal rehabilitation permits

Last action — Chapter 190, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on July 31, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

This bill focuses on the rules for permits needed to take care of injured or orphaned wild animals. It aims to ensure that those who help rehabilitate these animals are properly trained and authorized to do so.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

65 added · 45 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to House Bill 2836 introduce a new framework for wildlife rehabilitation in West Virginia. This includes creating a separate article specifically focused on wildlife rehabilitation, which outlines the qualifications and duties of wildlife rehabilitators and establishes a permit system managed by the Division of Natural Resources. These changes are important as they aim to provide better care for orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife while ensuring that the individuals involved are properly trained and regulated, ultimately protecting wildlife and enhancing conservation efforts.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED Committee Substitute for House Bill 2836 By Delegates Rohrbach, Hornby, Amos, Funkhouser, Browning, Chiarelli, Holstein, Bridges, Pritt, Pinson, and Dean [Originating in the Committee on Government Organization:
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED Committee Substitute for House Bill 2836 BYD ELEGATESR OHRBACH, ORNBY , MOS , FUNKHOUSER , ROWNING, CHIAREL, HOLSTEI, BRIDGES, RITT, INSON,ANDD EAN [Passed April 11, 2025;
Reported March 24, 2025] Eng CS for HB 2836 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §20-2D-1, §20-2D-2, §20-2D-3, §20-2D-4, §20-2D-5, §20-2D-6, §20-2D-7, §20-2D-8, and §20-2D-9, all relating to authorizing rehabilitation of wildlife, establishing a system for issuing permits for persons to provide rehabilitation of orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife;
in effect 90 days from passage (July 10, 2025)] Enr CS for HB 2836 AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §20-2D-1, §20-2D-2, §20-2D-3, §20-2D-4, §20-2D-5, §20-2D-6, §20-2D-7, §20-2D-8, and §20-2D-9, all relating to authorizing rehabilitation of wildlife, establishing a system for issuing permits for persons to provide rehabilitation of orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife;
Eng CS for HB 2836 (2) “Continuing education and training” means instruction, courses of instruction, study guides and other materials determined to be acceptable for use by wildlife rehabilitation permit holders to satisfy the requirements for renewal of permits upon expiration established by the Division of Natural Resources.
Enr CS for HB 2836 (2) “Continuing education and training” means instruction, courses of instruction, study guides and other materials determined to be acceptable for use by wildlife rehabilitation permit holders to satisfy the requirements for renewal of permits upon expiration established by the Division of Natural Resources.
(3)“Facilities” means equipment, housing, or other shelter used in, or necessary for, the rehabilitation of wildlife.
(3) “Facilities” means equipment, housing, or other shelter used in, or necessary for, the rehabilitation of wildlife.
(4)“Federal permit” means a permit for the rehabilitation of migratory birds issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) “Federal permit” means a permit for the rehabilitation of migratory birds issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Eng CS for HB 2836 (13) All other terms have the meaning prescribed in §20-1-2 et seq.
Enr CS for HB 2836 (13) All other terms have the meaning prescribed in §20-1-2 et seq.
(a) No person may keep, hold, or possess in captivity any orphaned, sick, or injured wildlife without receiving a wildlife rehabilitation permit issued by the director.
(a) No person may keep, hold, or possess in captivityany orphaned, sick, or injured wildlife without receiving a wildlife rehabilitation permit issued by the director.
(e) The director may limit the total number of permits which allow a person to rehabilitate wildlife that are issued in certain geographic areas of the state, if in the best interest of the wildlife resource, or if necessary to provide the most efficient management of the permitting process by the division.
(e) The director may limit the total number of permits which allow a person to rehabilitate wildlife that are issued in certain geographic areas of the state, if in the best interest of the wildlife Enr CS for HB 2836 resource, or if necessary to provide the most efficient management of the permitting process by the division.
Eng CS for HB 2836 (f) The director shall have the authority to promulgate emergency legislative rules and legislative rules pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq.
(f) The director shall have the authority to promulgate emergency legislative rules and legislative rules pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq.
(A) Be at least 18 years of age.
Enr CS for HB 2836 (A) Be at least 18 years of age.
Eng CS for HB 2836 §20-2D-5.
§20-2D-5.
(e) Euthanasia of wildlife shall be carried out by the most humane means possible under the direction of the permit holder’s consulting veterinarian according to criteria established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, or the Eng CS for HB 2836 International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council.
Enr CS for HB 2836 (e) Euthanasia of wildlife shall be carried out by the most humane means possible under the direction of the permit holder’s consulting veterinarian according to criteria established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, or the International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council.
(e) A permit holder may not practice veterinary medicine as defined by law unless he or she is actively licensed as a veterinarian in this state.
Enr CS for HB 2836 (e) A permit holder may not practice veterinary medicine as defined by law unless he or she is actively licensed as a veterinarian in this state.
Eng CS for HB 2836 (f) Permit holders may not transfer the possession of a wildlife to anyone except the Director, a designee of the Director, or another permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility.
(f) Permit holders may not transfer the possession of a wildlife to anyone except the Director, a designee of the Director, or another permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility.
(a) The director may revoke all or part of a permit when a permit holder has failed to comply with the provisions of this article, when necessary to protect the interests of the public, or to protect the interests of the wildlife under the permit holder’s care.
(a) The directormay revoke all or part of a permit when a permit holder has failed to comply with the provisions of thisarticle, when necessary to protect the interests of the public, or to protect the interests of the wildlife under the permit holder’s care.
(a) Any person violating any provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction therof, shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1000, which is not subject to suspension by the court, confined in jail not less than 10 nor more than 30 days, or both fined and confined.
(a) Any person violating any provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1000, which is not subject to suspension by the court, confined in jail not less than 10 nor more than 30 days, or both fined and confined.
Enr CS for HB 2836 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................
President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................
this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2025.
.............................................................
Governor 9
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Action History

  1. Chapter 190, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025

  3. To Governor 4/22/2025

  4. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - Senate Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025 - House Journal

  6. To Governor 4/22/2025 - Senate Journal

  7. To Governor 4/22/2025 - House Journal

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to House

  10. Passed Senate (Roll No. 481)

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. On 3rd reading

  13. Read 2nd time

  14. On 2nd reading

  15. Read 1st time

  16. Immediate consideration

  17. Reported do pass

  18. To Finance

  19. Reported do pass, but first to Finance

  20. To Natural Resources

  21. To Natural Resources then Finance

  22. Introduced in Senate

  23. Communicated to Senate

  24. Passed House (Roll No. 236)

  25. Read 3rd time

  26. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  27. Read 2nd time

  28. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  29. Read 1st time

  30. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  31. By substitute, do pass

  32. To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism

  33. To House Government Organization

  34. Introduced in House

  35. To Government Organization

  36. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"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 31 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 26300
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 31300
% of votes cast 91%9%0%0%
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 Nay
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Laura Wakim Chapman Republican Nay
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Nay
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 Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 89 Yea · 3 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 75307
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 89308
% of votes cast 89%3%0%8%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Flanigan — 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 Not Voting
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
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 Not Voting
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Nay
David Cannon Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
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 Yea
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Nay
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marshall W. Clay Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Not Voting
Michael Hornby Republican Not Voting
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
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 Nay
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

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2836 do?
This bill focuses on the rules for permits needed to take care of injured or orphaned wild animals. It aims to ensure that those who help rehabilitate these animals are properly trained and authorized to do so.
Who sponsors HB 2836?
HB 2836 is sponsored by Matthew Rohrbach (Republican), Michael Hornby (Republican), Michael Amos (Republican), Joe Funkhouser (Republican), Ryan Browning (Republican), Geno Chiarelli (Republican), Josh Holstein (Republican), Jordan Bridges (Republican), Vacant1 (Republican), Jonathan Pinson (Republican), and Mark Dean (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2836?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2836?
Track HB 2836 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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