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West VirginiaHB 45772026 Regular SessionHouse

Relating to driver’s licenses

Sponsored By: Michael Hornby (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§17B-2-7

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Voter sign-up built into DMV visits

When you apply for, renew, or change address on a West Virginia driver’s license or ID, the DMV collects voter registration info at the same time. This does not apply to visits about recognized foreign licenses. Unless you say no, your signature counts as consent and the DMV sends your info to the Secretary of State, who sends it to your county. DMV offices and the Secretary must forward applications within 5 days. If you change address in the same county, you can ask the DMV to update your voter record by signing consent. A DMV registration updates your record and allows cancellation of old registrations in other counties or states, and you can cancel your registration anytime. Unsigned forms are kept, a refusal to sign is confidential, and the Secretary must protect DMV data. These rules take effect January 1, 2025.

Rules for using foreign driver licenses

The DMV commissioner can make license‑recognition deals with Ireland and Japan if their licensing rules are at least as strict as West Virginia’s. If such a deal exists, a citizen of that country who is lawfully present in the U.S. and holds a valid license from that country may drive in West Virginia without getting a WV license, subject to the deal’s terms. Drivers using a recognized foreign license must carry West Virginia‑required auto insurance and meet financial responsibility rules. The commissioner may charge fees for recognition. Recognizing a foreign license does not register you to vote.

Citizenship checks and first-vote rules

The DMV and the Secretary of State must set up a regular process to confirm U.S. citizenship for DMV-based registrations. The DMV must quickly share any citizenship documents it has with the Secretary. If you register in person at the DMV and show ID and proof of age, you do not need to make your first vote in person or show ID again. If you mail a DMV form or a third party delivers it, your first vote must be in person with ID—unless you were already registered and the form only updates your name, address, party, or other corrections. The citizenship-check process must be in place no later than 90 days after the January 1, 2025 effective date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michael Hornby

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • James Robert "JB" Akers II

    Republican • House

  • Vernon Criss

    Republican • House

  • Kathie Hess Crouse

    Republican • House

  • Bill Flanigan

    Republican • House

  • Roger Hanshaw

    Republican • House

  • Scot C. Heckert

    Republican • House

  • Jonathan Kyle

    Republican • House

  • Jordan Maynor

    Republican • House

  • Pat McGeehan

    Republican • House

  • Charles Sheedy

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 11

House vote • 3/14/2026

House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 675)

Yes: 92 • No: 4

Senate vote • 3/13/2026

Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 538)

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 2/20/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 144)

Yes: 88 • No: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026House

  2. To Governor 3/31/2026

    3/31/2026House

  3. House received Senate message

    3/14/2026House

  4. House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 675)

    3/14/2026House

  5. Communicated to Senate

    3/14/2026House

  6. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2026House

  7. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  8. To Governor 3/31/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  9. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  10. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  11. On 3rd reading

    3/13/2026Senate

  12. Read 3rd time

    3/13/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 538)

    3/13/2026Senate

  14. Senate requests House to concur

    3/13/2026Senate

  15. On 2nd reading

    3/12/2026Senate

  16. Read 2nd time

    3/12/2026Senate

  17. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026Senate

  18. Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment

    3/11/2026Senate

  19. Immediate consideration

    3/11/2026Senate

  20. Read 1st time

    3/11/2026Senate

  21. Introduced in Senate

    2/21/2026Senate

  22. To Transportation and Infrastructure

    2/21/2026Senate

  23. To Transportation and Infrastructure

    2/21/2026Senate

  24. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    2/20/2026House

  25. Read 3rd time

    2/20/2026House

Bill Text

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