# West Virginia HB 4477: To give the Secretary of State authority to refer allegations of violations of election laws to West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute.

West Virginia HB 4477, To give the Secretary of State authority to refer allegations of violations of election laws to West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Gary G. Howell (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-03-04 (Introduced in Senate) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4477-2026rs
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: West Virginia HB 4477
- State: West Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: To give the Secretary of State authority to refer allegations of violations of election laws to West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-16
- Last action: 2026-03-04, Introduced in Senate
- Sponsor: Gary G. Howell (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Subjects: §3-1A-6, §5-3-7, Senate Judiciary
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (94 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Gary G. Howell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ray Canterbury (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Lori Dittman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joe Ellington (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Walter Hall (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Roger Hanshaw (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Michael Hite (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ian T. Masters (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Pat McGeehan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bill Ridenour (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher W. Toney (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 222) | pass | 94 | 0 |   |

## Actions (27)

- 2026-03-04: Introduced in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: To Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-27: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Passed House (Roll No. 222) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Communicated to Senate (House)
- 2026-02-26: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-02-26: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House)
- 2026-02-26: Amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House)
- 2026-02-25: From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Postponed on 2nd reading, Special Calendar, until 2/26/2026 (House)
- 2026-02-02: On 2nd reading, House Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-30: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-30: Placed on House Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-29: Read 1st time (House)
- 2026-01-28: By substitute, do pass (House)
- 2026-01-23: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-01-21: To House Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-20: To House Courts (House)
- 2026-01-20: Markup Discussion (House)
- 2026-01-16: Filed for introduction (House)
- 2026-01-16: To Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-16: Introduced in House (House)
- 2026-01-16: To House Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1.pdf)
- Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1 eng.pdf)
- Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 intr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed)
- HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (signed)
- HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed)
- HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally (became law)
- HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds (signed)
- HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime (signed)

## Sources
- [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1.htm)
- [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1.pdf)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1 eng.htm)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 sub1 eng.pdf)
- [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 intr.htm)
- [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4477 intr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs)
- [HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs)
- [HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to tha…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4390-2026rs)
- [HB 4191: Relating to providing child care generally](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4191-2026rs)
- [HB 4106: Allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4106-2026rs)
- [HB 4138: Relating to persons convicted of a crime](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4138-2026rs)
- [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills)
- [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4477-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).