West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced

SB 65 — Removing persons who perform drywall services from definition of “contractor” in Contractor Licensing Act

Last action — To House Government Organization

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Removing persons who perform drywall services from definition of “contractor” in Contractor Licensing Act

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

27 added · 29 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to SB 65 clarifies that the definition of "contractor" in West Virginia's Contractor Licensing Act no longer includes individuals who perform residential drywall services. This change matters because it simplifies the licensing requirements for drywall workers, potentially reducing bureaucratic hurdles and allowing these professionals to operate without the same level of regulation as other contractors. This could help more drywall workers enter the market and boost competition in the residential construction sector.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 65 By Senator Rucker [Introduced January 14, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 65 BY SENATORUCKER [Reported February 18, 2026, from the Committee on Government Organization] CS for SB 65 A BILL to amend and reenact §30-42-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to professions and occupations;
referred to the Committee on Government Organization] Intr SB 65 2026R1407 A BILL to amend and reenact §30-42-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to professions and occupations;
and providing that the definition of "contractor" in the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act does not include persons who perform residential drywall services.
and providing that the definition of "contractor" in the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act does not include persons who perform drywall services.
(3) A person who is licensed or registered as a professional and who functions under the Intr SB 65 2026R1407 control of any other licensing or regulatory board, whose primary business is real estate sales, appraisal, development, management, and maintenance, who acting in his or her respective professional capacity and any employee of the professional, acting in the course of his or her employment, performs any work which may be considered to be performing contracting work;
CS for SB 65 (3) A person who is licensed or registered as a professional and who functions under the control of any other licensing or regulatory board, whose primary business is real estate sales, appraisal, development, management, and maintenance, who acting in his or her respective professional capacity and any employee of the professional, acting in the course of his or her employment, performs any work which may be considered to be performing contracting work;
Employees of the corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship shall also be exempt from the requirements of this article;
Employees of the corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship shall also be exempt from the requirements of this article;
or (6) A person who performs landscaping, drywall installation and related services, or painting services for commercial or residential customers.
or (6) A person who performs landscaping or painting services for commercial or residential customers or drywall installation and related services for residential customers.
swimming pools;
swimming CS for SB 65 pools;
sewers and Intr SB 65 2026R1407 sewage disposal systems;
sewers and sewage disposal systems;
(h) "Heating, ventilating and cooling contractor" means a person who engages in the business of contracting to install, erect, repair, service, or alter heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment or systems to heat, cool, or ventilate residential and commercial structures.
(h) "Heating, ventilating, and cooling contractor" means a person who engages in the business of contracting to install, erect, repair, service, or alter heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment or systems to heat, cool, or ventilate residential and commercial structures.
(n) "Residential contractor" means a person whose principal business is in connection with construction, repair, or improvement of real property used as, or intended to be used for, Intr SB 65 2026R1407 residential occupancy.
CS for SB 65 (n) "Residential contractor" means a person whose principal business is in connection with construction, repair, or improvement of real property used as, or intended to be used for, residential occupancy.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to provide that the definition of "contractor" in the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act does not include persons who perform drywall services.
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 Government Organization

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Government Organization

  5. Committee substitute reported

  6. On 1st reading

  7. Read 1st time

  8. On 2nd reading

  9. Read 2nd time

  10. On 3rd reading

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. Passed Senate (Roll No. 178)

  13. Ordered to House

  14. House received Senate message

  15. Introduced in House

  16. To Government Organization

  17. To House Government Organization

Sponsors

  • Rucker · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 151 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Rucker

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (151)

151 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 151 →

"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.

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 65 do?
Removing persons who perform drywall services from definition of “contractor” in Contractor Licensing Act
Who sponsors SB 65?
SB 65 is sponsored by Rucker.
What is the current status of SB 65?
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 SB 65?
Track SB 65 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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