West Virginia 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 4 R cosponsors

HB 3274 — Relating to reports of circuit court proceedings

Last action — Chapter 72, 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 March 10, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican) on July 22, 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 80% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

37 added · 18 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill HB 3274 clarify that circuit courts in West Virginia can appoint court reporters or utilize approved electronic means to document court proceedings. The language was simplified, specifically removing the phrase "competent shorthand court reporters," which opens the door for broader use of technology in capturing court cases. This is important because it allows for more flexibility in how court proceedings are recorded, potentially making the process more efficient and accessible.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED House Bill 3274 By Delegates Akers, Leavitt, Flanigan, Funkhouser, and Kelly [Introduced March 10, 2025;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 3274 BY DELEGATES AKERS, EAVITT, LANIGAN, FUNKHOUSER ,AND KELLY [Passed April 10, 2025;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Eng HB 3274 A BILL to amend and reenact §51-7-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reports of circuit court proceedings;
in effect 90 days from passage (July 9, 2025)] Enr HB 3274 AN ACT to amend and reenact §51-7-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reports of circuit court proceedings;
The circuit courts of the several judicial circuits in this state, or the judges thereof in vacation, or the judges of any intermediate, criminal or common pleas court, are hereby empowered and authorized to appoint competent shorthand court reporters, or use electronic means approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals, to take and report, under such regulations as such judges, or any of them, may prescribe, the proceedings had and the testimony given in any case, either civil or criminal, or in any other proceeding had in such court, including the taking of testimony before the grand jury of such court for the use of the prosecuting attorney of the county, and in proceedings before the judge of such court in vacation, and otherwise to aid the judge in the performance of his or her official duties.
The circuit courts of the several judicial circuits in this state, or the judges thereof in vacation, or the judges of any intermediate, criminal or common pleas court, are hereby empowered and authorized to appoint court reporters, or use electronic means approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals, to take and report, under such regulations as such judges, or any of them, may prescribe, the proceedings had and the testimony given in any case, either civil or criminal, or in any other proceeding had in such court, including the taking of testimony before the grand jury of such court for the use of the prosecuting attorney of the county, and in proceedings before the judge of such court in vacation, and otherwise to aid the judge in the performance of his or her official duties.
Enr HB 3274 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 3
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Action History

  1. Chapter 72, 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. 444)

  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 Judiciary

  19. To Judiciary

  20. Introduced in Senate

  21. Communicated to Senate

  22. Passed House (Roll No. 171)

  23. Read 3rd time

  24. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  25. Read 2nd time

  26. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  27. Read 1st time

  28. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  29. Do pass

  30. Markup Discussion

  31. To House Judiciary

  32. Markup Discussion

  33. To House Courts

  34. To House Judiciary

  35. Introduced in House

  36. To Judiciary

  37. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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 33 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28100
Unaffiliated 3000
Democrat 2000
Total 33100
% of votes cast 97%3%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 Nay
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 92 Yea · 1 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 80005
Democrat 8001
Unaffiliated 4101
Total 92107
% of votes cast 92%1%0%7%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Kump — Yea
Linville — Yea
Steele — Nay
Devault — Not Voting
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 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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 3274?
HB 3274 is sponsored by James Robert "JB" Akers II (Republican), Tristan Leavitt (Republican), Flanigan, Joe Funkhouser (Republican), and Betsy Kelly (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 3274?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 10, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 3274?
Track HB 3274 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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