# West Virginia HB 4538: Regarding fines in DOH work zones West Virginia HB 4538, Regarding fines in DOH work zones, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Gary G. Howell (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-29 (Chapter 198, Acts, Regular Session, 2026); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4538-2026rs - 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 4538 - State: West Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Regarding fines in DOH work zones - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-19 - Last action: 2026-06-29, Chapter 198, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 - Sponsor: Gary G. Howell (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: §17C-3-4a, §17C-3-4b - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (225 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clearer signs required at road work: benefit, low. Road work crews must post signs and traffic devices where work is being done. Signs must show where the work starts, the speed limit, and any other traffic rules. Beginning June 12, 2026, these posting rules apply. - Double fines for listed offenses in work zones: cost, medium. If you commit any offense covered by §17C-14-15 inside a construction site while any worker is present, the law doubles the maximum fine for that offense. This applies only within the posted work area and only when workers are present. Beginning June 12, 2026, the higher maximums apply. - Higher fines for ignoring work‑zone orders: cost, medium. It is a misdemeanor to ignore traffic-control orders from an officer or authorized work‑zone flagger at a road work site. Fines are up to $100 for a first conviction, $200 for a second within one year, and $500 for later convictions. If any worker is present, fines rise to up to $250, $500, and $1,… - Tougher speeding penalties in work zones: cost, medium. Speeding over posted work‑zone limits is a misdemeanor. Less than 15 mph over: fine up to $200, or up to $500 if any worker is present. 15 mph or more over: fine up to $200 and/or up to 20 days in jail; if any worker is present, up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days in jail. Beginning June 12, 2026, th… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Gary G. Howell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Charles Sheedy (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | House | House concurred in Senate amendment and title amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 637) | pass | 97 | 0 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 519) | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 287) | pass | 94 | 0 | | ## Actions (45) - 2026-06-29: Chapter 198, Acts, Regular Session, 2026 (House) - 2026-04-01: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: To Governor 3/31/2026 (House) - 2026-03-14: House received Senate message (House) - 2026-03-14: House concurred in Senate amendment and title amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 637) (House) - 2026-03-14: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2026-03-14: Completed legislative action (House) - 2026-03-14: House Message received (Senate) - 2026-03-14: To Governor 3/31/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal (House) - 2026-03-12: On 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Deferred until foot of 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Unanimous consent to amend on 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Amended on 3rd reading (Voice vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Passed Senate (Roll No. 519) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Title amendment adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate requests House to concur (Senate) - 2026-03-11: On 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Reported do pass (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Immediate consideration (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Read 1st time (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Introduced in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-05: To Transportation and Infrastructure (Senate) - 2026-03-05: To Transportation and Infrastructure (Senate) - 2026-03-04: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-03-04: Read 3rd time (House) - 2026-03-04: Passed House (Roll No. 287) (House) - 2026-03-04: Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House) - 2026-03-04: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2026-03-03: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-03-03: Read 2nd time (House) - 2026-03-03: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House) - 2026-03-03: Amendment adopted (Voice vote) (House) - 2026-03-02: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2026-03-02: Read 1st time (House) - 2026-02-28: By substitute, do pass (House) - 2026-02-26: Markup Discussion (House) - 2026-01-19: Filed for introduction (House) - 2026-01-19: To Judiciary (House) - 2026-01-19: Introduced in House (House) - 2026-01-19: To House Judiciary (House) ## Bill text - Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1.pdf) - Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 enr.pdf) - Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 intr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations (signed) - HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent (signed) - HB 4354: Relating to necessity allowance (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/hb4538 sub1.htm) - [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1.pdf) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 eng.htm) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 enr.htm) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 sub1 enr.pdf) - [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 intr.htm) - [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4538 intr.pdf) ## Related - [HB 4452: To remove Mortmain restrictions on religious organizations](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4452-2026rs) - [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 4354: Relating to necessity allowance](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB4354-2026rs) - [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-HB4538-2026rs (as of 2026-11-04).