West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 9 R cosponsors

HB 4522 — Banning Foreign-backed spending on State Ballot Issues

Last action — To Workforce

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

This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Banning Foreign-backed spending on State Ballot Issues

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

6 added · 9 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill HB 4522 has undergone some changes in its wording, replacing older references with new ones. It now focuses on banning foreign-backed spending on state ballot issues. This change is important because it aims to ensure that external influence does not sway local voting matters, potentially protecting the integrity of state elections.

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CS for HB 4522 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for House Bill 4522 By Delegates Ridenour, Martin, Butler, Hillenbrand, B.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSED Committee Substitute for House Bill 4522 By Delegates Ridenour, Martin, Butler, Hillenbrand, B.
Reported on February 3, 2026] CS for HB 4522 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §3-1D-1, §3-1D-2, and §3-1D-3, relating to foreign national contributions and participation in election administration or ballot measures;
Reported on February 3, 2026] Eng CS for HB 4522 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §3-1D-1, §3-1D-2, and §3-1D-3, relating to foreign national contributions and participation in election administration or ballot measures;
or 1 CS for HB 4522 (4) Any entity, such as a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons, that is organized under the laws of, or has its principal place of business in, a foreign country, and which does not do business in West Virginia.
or 1 Eng CS for HB 4522 (4) Any entity, such as a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons, that is organized under the laws of, or has its principal place of business in, a foreign country, and which does not do business in West Virginia.
(b) At least 10 business days before any person other than a government entity enters into any agreement, membership, or program with any government entity to provide funds or in-kind 2 CS for HB 4522 goods or services for election administration, the person shall provide a certification to the Secretary of State stating whether the person is knowingly the recipient, directly or indirectly, of foreign donations.
(b) At least 10 business days before any person other than a government entity enters into any agreement, membership, or program with any government entity to provide funds or in-kind 2 Eng CS for HB 4522 goods or services for election administration, the person shall provide a certification to the Secretary of State stating whether the person is knowingly the recipient, directly or indirectly, of foreign donations.
3 CS for HB 4522 (g) The Secretary of State shall propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
3 Eng CS for HB 4522 (g) The Secretary of State shall propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
and 4 CS for HB 4522 (3) Court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
and 4 Eng CS for HB 4522 (3) Court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to ban foreign backed spending on state ballot issues.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Judiciary

  5. To House Homeland Security

  6. Markup Discussion

  7. To House Judiciary

  8. Markup Discussion

  9. By substitute, do pass

  10. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 1st time

  12. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  13. Read 2nd time

  14. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  15. Read 3rd time

  16. Passed House (Roll No. 58)

  17. Communicated to Senate

  18. Introduced in Senate

  19. To Workforce then Judiciary

  20. To Workforce

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on

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

Subjects

elections
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 4522 do?
Banning Foreign-backed spending on State Ballot Issues
Who sponsors HB 4522?
HB 4522 is sponsored by Ward, Kump, Bill Ridenour (Republican), Carl Martin (Republican), Jim Butler (Republican), Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), Phil Mallow (Republican), D. Rolland Jennings (Republican), Carl "Bill" Roop (Republican), Chris Phillips (Republican), and Ian T. Masters (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4522?
This bill died with 2026 Session. It reached “Introduced” 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 HB 4522?
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Last checked for changes about 1 month ago · updated continuously

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