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West VirginiaSB 6172026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Banking and Financial Services Provider Protections for Eligible Adults from Financial Exploitation

Sponsored By: Jimmy Willis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§31A-2C-1§31A-2C-2§31A-2C-3§31A-2C-4§31A-2C-5§31A-2C-6§31A-2C-7

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Banks alert agencies and trusted contacts

The law defines who is an eligible adult: age 65 or older, adults under guardianship, or adults 18+ with a serious mental or functional impairment that the bank knows about. It also defines who counts as a trusted contact, like a written emergency contact, close family, a co-owner, a beneficiary, or a power of attorney. Banks may promptly tell a designated state agency when they believe exploitation happened or is being attempted. Banks may also alert a trusted contact, unless they suspect that person is involved, and they can limit what they share. These disclosures are allowed despite state privacy rules.

Temporary holds to stop exploitation

Banks may delay, refuse, or stop withdrawals, transfers, ownership or beneficiary changes, or power‑of‑attorney instructions when they believe exploitation happened or is being attempted, based on their observations or information from government or law enforcement. A hold can last up to 15 business days, and a state agency can ask for up to 30 more days while it investigates. The bank can release funds sooner if it decides the transaction is safe, and a court can order release. If paying a check would likely help exploitation, the bank can treat it as not collectible under federal rules, and banks are not required to review all checks. When a hold is placed on a funds transfer, the payment order is not treated as received until the hold is removed, and banks must keep internal records of any delay or refusal.

Legal protections for banks that intervene

Banks and their workers are immune from criminal, civil, and administrative claims when they act in good faith under this law. This covers making or withholding reports, taking part in investigations, delaying or refusing transactions, or accepting a trusted contact. A bank’s authorized refusal is not treated as wrongful dishonor.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jimmy Willis

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Vince Deeds

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Oliverio

    Republican • Senate

  • Patricia Rucker

    Republican • Senate

  • Jay Taylor

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 162 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/14/2026

Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 642)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 3/13/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 542)

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/27/2026

Passed Senate (Roll No. 256)

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026

    3/27/2026Senate

  2. To Governor 3/19/2026

    3/19/2026Senate

  3. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  4. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 642)

    3/14/2026Senate

  5. Communicated to House

    3/14/2026Senate

  6. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2026Senate

  7. To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  8. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  9. Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  10. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    3/13/2026House

  11. Read 3rd time

    3/13/2026House

  12. Passed House (Roll No. 542)

    3/13/2026House

  13. Communicated to Senate

    3/13/2026House

  14. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    3/12/2026House

  15. Read 2nd time

    3/12/2026House

  16. Amendment reported by the Clerk

    3/12/2026House

  17. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026House

  18. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

    3/11/2026House

  19. Read 1st time

    3/11/2026House

  20. With amendment, do pass

    3/10/2026House

  21. House received Senate message

    3/2/2026House

  22. Introduced in House

    3/2/2026House

  23. To Finance

    3/2/2026House

  24. To House Finance

    3/2/2026House

  25. On 3rd reading

    2/27/2026Senate

Bill Text

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