West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

SB 493 — Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

Last action — Communicated to House

  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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

Relating to open captioning for motion pictures

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill SB 493 changes the requirement for motion picture exhibitors from operating eight theaters to just six, meaning more businesses will be impacted by the law. It mandates that these exhibitors must provide open captioning for at least one showing each week for all films that offer this option, as well as audio descriptions when requested. This matters because it increases accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring they have more opportunities to enjoy films.

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SB493 SUB2 H GOV AM #1Wilkinson 3909 Delegate Leavitt moves to amend the Senate committee substitute for the committee substitute on page 1, section 47-11D-5, line 1, after the word “operate” by:Striking the word “eight” and inserting the word “six”;
SB493 HFAT Phillips 3-13 REVISEDCasto 3264 Delegate Phillips moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §47-11D-5, relating to motion pictures;
And,On page 1, line 2, after the word “state” by striking the word “may” and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
and requiring exhibitors of motion pictures who operate six or more theaters in more than one location in this state, when  requested,  to provide open captioning during at least one showing per week of each motion picture that is produced and offered with open captioning;
“shall”;And, On page 1, line 2, after the word “least” by striking the word “two” and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
and requiring, when requested, audio description be provided for any motion picture that is produced and offered with audio description.   AdoptedRejected 
“one”;And, On page 1, line 2, in the word “showings” by striking the “s” and making the word singular as:
“showing”;And, On page 1, line 12, after the word “than” by striking the word “eight” and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“six”. Adopted 
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Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Government Organization then Judiciary

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. To Government Organization

  5. Committee substitute reported, but first to Judiciary

  6. To Judiciary

  7. Reported do pass

  8. On 1st reading

  9. Referred to Rules on 1st reading

  10. Com. sub. for com. sub. reported

  11. On 1st reading

  12. Read 1st time

  13. On 2nd reading

  14. Read 2nd time

  15. On 3rd reading

  16. Read 3rd time

  17. Passed Senate (Roll No. 222)

  18. Ordered to House

  19. House received Senate message

  20. Introduced in House

  21. To Government Organization

  22. To House Government Organization

  23. With amendment, do pass

  24. Immediate consideration

  25. Read 1st time

  26. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  27. Read 2nd time

  28. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  29. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  30. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  31. Reported by the Clerk

  32. Amended on 3rd reading (Roll No. 529)

  33. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  34. Amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  35. Read 3rd time

  36. Passed House (Roll No. 530)

  37. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  38. Communicated to Senate

  39. House Message received

  40. Senate refused to concur; requested House to recede (Voice vote)

  41. Communicated to House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 151 not signed on · 29 voted No

Sponsors (1)

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.

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 92 Yea · 4 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 81403
Democrat 9000
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 92403
% of votes cast 93%4%0%3%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — 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 Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Nay
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 Nay
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
Gregory A. Watt Republican Yea
Guy Ward 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 Jordan 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 Nay
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Amos Republican Not Voting
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Not Voting
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
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 →

SUSPEND RULE

Passed 60 Yea · 25 Nay · 14 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 5818012
Unaffiliated 2000
Democrat 0702
Total 6025014
% of votes cast 61%25%0%14%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Flanigan — Yea
Linville — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Nay
Evan Hansen Democrat Nay
Hollis Lewis Democrat Not Voting
John Williams Democrat Nay
Kayla Young Democrat Nay
Mike Pushkin Democrat Nay
Rick Garcia Democrat Nay
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Nay
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Not Voting
Adam Burkhammer Republican Nay
Adam Vance Republican Not Voting
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Nay
Bill Bell Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Smith Republican Not Voting
Bryan Ward Republican Nay
Carl "Bill" Roop Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Not Voting
Charles Sheedy Republican Nay
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Not Voting
Chuck Horst Republican Nay
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 Nay
Dean Jeffries Republican Not Voting
Doug Smith Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Not Voting
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Nay
Gregory A. Watt Republican Yea
Guy Ward Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Not Voting
Ian T. Masters Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeff Eldridge Republican Nay
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Not Voting
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 Jordan Republican Nay
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Kyle Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Nay
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Nay
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lisa White Republican Nay
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 Nay
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Not Voting
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 Nay
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Nay
Tresa Howell Republican Nay
Tristan Leavitt Republican Nay
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Not Voting
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Roll Call

Passed 33 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 28100
Unaffiliated 1000
Democrat 4000
Total 33100
% of votes cast 97%3%0%0%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
Anitra Hamilton Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Mike Woelfel Democrat Yea
Rick Garcia Democrat Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Chris Phillips Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Chris Rose Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Eric Tarr Republican Yea
Glenn Jeffries Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jack Woodrum Republican Yea
Jay Taylor Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Mark R. Maynard Republican Yea
Mike Oliverio Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Patricia Rucker Republican Yea
Robbie Morris Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rollan A. Roberts Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Rupie Phillips Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Ryan Weld Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 493 do?
Relating to open captioning for motion pictures
Who sponsors SB 493?
SB 493 is sponsored by Vince Deeds (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 493?
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 493?
Track SB 493 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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