West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 11 R cosponsors

HB 2961 — To amend the law concerning ownership and possession of real property

Last action — Chapter 120, 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 25, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on July 30, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

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 3 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to House Bill 2961 updates the title and specifies the provisions related to real estate ownership by foreign adversaries. Specifically, it aims to prohibit entities from countries identified as hostile, particularly the People's Republic of China and its citizens, from owning or transferring real estate or mineral rights in West Virginia. It establishes a process for affected foreign entities to divest their property within six months and gives the Governor a tie-breaking vote in certain decisions. This change is significant as it strengthens state security measures regarding property ownership and aims to protect local interests against potential foreign influence.

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Previous
Latest
HB2961 HFA Funkhouser 4-1 #2Morgan 33452 Delegate Funkhouser moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 1, line 1, by striking the word “noncitizen of the United States” and inserting in lieu thereof the following language:  “resident alien or citizen” And Delegate Funkhouser moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 2, line 19, by striking the word “lawful”. And  Delegate Funkhouser moved to amend the bill on page 2, section 2, line 20, after the word “alien” by inserting the following language:  “or citizen”   AdoptedRejected 
HB2961 SFAT Stuart #2 4-10Etheredge  7883 Senator Stuart moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:
Eng.
House Bill 2961— A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended by adding a new article, designated §37-3A-1, §37-3A-2, §37-3A-3, §37-3A-4, and §37-3A-5, relating to prohibiting ownership and possession of real property by foreign adversaries;
providing definitions;
prohibiting the People's Republic of China and its citizens who are not resident aliens or citizens of the United States from acquiring, owning, or transferring any real estate or mineral interests in West Virginia;
prohibiting foreign governments, entities, and individuals that have been identified by a majority of Governor, Treasurer, Agriculture Commissioner, Auditor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, as hostile to the interests of the United States or the State of West Virginia from owning real estate or mineral interests in the state;
providing Governor with tie-breaking vote;
requiring forbidden entities that own real estate on effective date of article to divest within six months;
requiring prohibited businesses that acquire property in violation of article to divest that property within six months;
designating judicial sale process to force sale of illegally owned real estate;
requiring notice of judicial sale;
and establishing good faith protections.   AdoptedRejected
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Action History

  1. Chapter 120, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

  2. Approved by Governor 4/28/2025

  3. To Governor 4/21/2025

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

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

  6. To Governor 4/21/2025 - Senate Journal

  7. To Governor 4/21/2025 - House Journal

  8. House Message received

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to Senate

  11. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 605)

  12. House received Senate message

  13. Senate requests House to concur

  14. Title amendment adopted

  15. Passed Senate (Roll No. 482)

  16. Read 3rd time

  17. On 3rd reading

  18. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  19. Read 2nd time

  20. On 2nd reading

  21. Reported do pass, with amendment

  22. On second reading, rereferred to Judiciary

  23. Read 1st time

  24. Immediate consideration

  25. Without recommendation, but first rereferred to Judiciary

  26. To Judiciary

  27. To Judiciary

  28. Introduced in Senate

  29. Communicated to Senate

  30. Passed House (Roll No. 350)

  31. Read 3rd time

  32. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  33. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  34. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  35. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  36. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  37. Read 2nd time

  38. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  39. Read 1st time

  40. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  41. By substitute, do pass

  42. Markup Discussion

  43. To House Judiciary

  44. Introduced in House

  45. To Judiciary

  46. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 1 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-SENATE AMENDED HB

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 82003
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 5001
Total 96004
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Linville — Yea
Steele — Yea
Devault — Not Voting
Flanigan — Yea
Kump — 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 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 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 Not Voting
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 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 Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Not Voting
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
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 Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Ray Canterbury Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
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

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29000
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 34000
% of votes cast 100%0%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 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 Yea
Vince Deeds Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 99 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 84100
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 99100
% of votes cast 99%1%0%0%
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 Yea
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 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 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 Yea
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 Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
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 Yea
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

housing
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

Who sponsors HB 2961?
HB 2961 is sponsored by Bill Ridenour (Republican), Jordan Maynor (Republican), Bryan Ward (Republican), Jim Butler (Republican), Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), Phil Mallow (Republican), Carl "Bill" Roop (Republican), D. Rolland Jennings (Republican), Mickey Petitto (Republican), James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican), and Chris Phillips (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2961?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 25, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2961?
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