West Virginia 2026 Session Status: Introduced

SB 799 — Requiring receipt of return of service or return receipt be filed with court

Last action — To House Judiciary

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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Summary

Requiring receipt of return of service or return receipt be filed with court

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

33 added · 34 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of SB 799 updates how tenants are notified about eviction hearings. It clarifies that tenants will receive a notice that allows them to respond with a written defense within five days of getting the notice. This change matters because it ensures tenants have a clear timeframe to prepare their defense and enhances transparency in the eviction process. Additionally, it streamlines the procedures involved in scheduling these hearings, which may improve the efficiency of court processes.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced Senate Bill 799 By Senator Willis [Introduced February 6, 2026;
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 799 BYSENATORWILLIS [Reported February 17, 2026, from the Committee on the Judiciary] CS for SB 799 A BILL to amend and reenact §55-3A-1 and §55-3B-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eviction proceedings;
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] Intr SB 799 2026R3777 A BILL to amend and reenact §55-3A-1 and §55-3B-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eviction proceedings;
(c) Immediately upon being apprised of the time and place for hearing the petitioner shall cause a notice of the hearing to be served upon the tenant in accordance with the provisions of Intr SB 799 2026R3777 Rule 4 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(c) Immediately upon being apprised of the time and place for hearing the petitioner shall cause the petition, the summons, and a notice of the hearing to be served upon the tenant in CS for SB 799 accordance with the provisions of Rule 4 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The receipt of the return of service or return receipt, as the case may be, shall be filed with the court.
The receipt of the return of service or return receipt, as the case may be, shall be filed with the court by the petitioner.
(c) Immediately upon being apprised of the time and place for hearing the petitioner shall Intr SB 799 2026R3777 cause a notice of the same hearing to be served upon the tenant in accordance with the provisions of rule Rule 4 of the West Virginia rules of civil procedure Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
CS for SB 799 (c) Immediately upon being apprised of the time and place for hearing the petitioner shall cause the petition, the summons, and a notice of the same hearing to be served upon the tenant in accordance with the provisions of rule Rule 4 of the West Virginia rules of civil procedure Rules of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
The receipt of the return of service or return receipt, as the case may be, shall be filed with the court.
The receipt of the return of service or return receipt, as the case may be, shall be filed with the court by the petitioner.
NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to clarify procedures for evictions proceedings.
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. House received Senate message

  2. Introduced in House

  3. To Judiciary

  4. To House Judiciary

  5. On 3rd reading

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Passed Senate (Roll No. 169)

  8. Ordered to House

  9. On 2nd reading

  10. Read 2nd time

  11. On 1st reading

  12. Read 1st time

  13. Committee substitute reported

  14. Filed for introduction

  15. To Judiciary

  16. Introduced in Senate

  17. To Judiciary

Sponsors

  • Willis · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 133 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Willis

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (133)

133 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 133 →

"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

Roll Call

Passed 32 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 4000
Republican 27002
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 32002
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Takubo Republican Yea
Tom Willis Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety 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 SB 799 do?
Requiring receipt of return of service or return receipt be filed with court
Who sponsors SB 799?
SB 799 is sponsored by Willis.
What is the current status of SB 799?
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 799?
Track SB 799 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 16 days ago · updated continuously

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