West Virginia 2021 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 R cosponsors

SB 244 — Making it unlawful for public utility to prohibit customers from hiring contractors to construct, install, or maintain connections to public utility

Last action — To House Technology and Infrastructure

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

This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

18 added · 121 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest amendment to SB 244 introduces new requirements for customers and their contractors regarding work related to public utilities. Notably, customers must ensure that their work is available for inspection by the relevant public service district, and they are also required to share their final construction plans with the utility. Additionally, the amendment allows combined water and sewer utilities to create reduced rates for qualifying low-income residential customers. These changes aim to enhance oversight of utility-related work and support affordability for those in need.

→
Previous
Latest
SB 244 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP.
SB244 SFA Martin 2-22 #2 Casey  7988   Senator Martin moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO.
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Engrossed Version « Senate Bill 244 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Committee Substitute (1)  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
Green = existing Code.
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 244 By Senators Martin, Nelson, and Swope [Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure;
reported on February 17, 2021]     A BILL to amend and reenact §24-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to preventing public water and sewer utilities from prohibiting a customer from constructing, installing, or maintaining a connection or other infrastructure necessary for the customer to connect to the public utility to receive service if certain requirements are met;
and specifying requirements and involvement of the Public Service Commission.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
Provided, That the commission may impose such obligations upon any customer or contractor it deems necessary to protect the public utility’s assets.
Provided, That  the commission may impose such obligations upon any customer or contractor it deems necessary to protect the public utility’s assets.
Bill Status  |  Bill Tracking  |  Legacy WV Code  |  Bulletin Board  |  District Maps  |  Senate Roster  |  House Roster  |  Live  |  Blog  |  Jobs  |  Links  |  Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.
  Adopted Rejected
 |  Terms of Use  |   Webmaster   |   © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name:
Email:
Phone:
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against the W. Va. Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the discrimination prohibitions for public utilities and establishes new provisions regarding customer connections to utilities.

  • §24-3-2

    shall → may

    Allows for a less mandatory interpretation of how public utilities must charge for services.

  • §24-3-2

    It shall be unlawful → It is unlawful

    Updates language for clarity without changing the prohibition on unlawful preferences.

  • §24-3-2

    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the commission from: → Nothing in this section shall be construed to does not prevent the commission from:

    Clarifies the non-preventive nature of the commission's authority.

  • §24-3-2

    (a) → (1)

    Renumbers subsection for consistency with other subsections.

  • §24-3-2

    (b) → (2)

    Renumbers subsection for consistency with other subsections.

  • §24-3-2

    a customer or contractor of a customer, at the customer’s expense, from constructing, installing, or maintaining any connections, extensions, or other infrastructure necessary for the customer to connect to the public utility → a customer or contractor of a customer, at the customer’s expense, from constructing, installing, or maintaining any connections, extensions, or other infrastructure necessary for the customer to connect to the public utility if all the following requirements are met:

    Conditions the ability of customers to make connections to utilities on meeting specified requirements.

Action History

  1. To House Technology and Infrastructure

  2. To Technology and Infrastructure then Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Ordered to House

  5. Passed Senate (Roll No. 27)

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. On 3rd reading

  8. Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. Laid over on 2nd reading 2/19/21

  11. On 2nd reading

  12. Read 1st time

  13. On 1st reading

  14. Committee substitute reported

  15. To Transportation and Infrastructure

  16. Introduced in Senate

  17. To Transportation and Infrastructure

  18. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

  • Nelson
  • Swope

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

Subjects

public-safety technology
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 SB 244?
SB 244 is sponsored by Nelson, Swope, and Patrick Martin (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 244?
This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 244?
Track SB 244 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 244

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 244

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →