West VirginiaHB 55102026 Regular SessionHouse

Eliminate the requirement for private wedding venues to own or lease 2 acres in rural location.

Sponsored By: Michael Hornby (Republican)

Failed

§60-7-2

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 7 mixed.

Wedding venues lose rural acreage barriers

West Virginia removes the two-acre rural-location rule for private manufacturer clubs hosting weddings and large events. Private wedding venues and barns also no longer need two acres or a remote location. Operators must still control enough space to operate safely; manufacturer-club property must be contiguous, bounded, or fenced. Wedding venues still need at least 25 members, advance event reservations or contracts, and qualifying food service or catering. Required premises records, approved age checks, and other private-club rules still apply.

Parks and airports can lease club space

Eligible public entities operating parks or airports can lease space for a private club. They can lease a building, part of a building, or other limited premises to a corporation or unincorporated association. The club must operate under West Virginia's private-club law. This authority does not include an appropriation.

Markets and food courts gain alcohol licenses

West Virginia creates private-club licensing paths for farmers market and food court associations, each requiring at least 100 members. Farmers markets need two unrelated vendors applying, more than one contiguous acre, and qualifying restaurant and food service. Market businesses must accept written responsibility for alcohol sales, service, furnishing, and consumption throughout indoor and outdoor licensed areas. Food courts need a qualifying private-club restaurant member and a separate, unrelated business applying; only employees, independent contractors, or volunteers can handle alcohol purchases and service. Both require premises and ownership records, food-service safeguards, adequate restrooms, security plans, and approved age checks.

College stadiums gain regulated alcohol sales

Qualifying college stadiums and coliseums can hold a private-club license in the institution's or contracted primary food-and-beverage vendor's name. The institution must belong to the NCAA and use the venue for Division I, II, or III sports. The venue needs 100 members, two contiguous acres, a qualifying restaurant and full kitchen, premises records, and approved age checks. Alcohol sales stay inside the stadium or an approved outside area secured against entry without the institution's permission. The law also allows sales at hosted non-collegiate sporting events, but the venue cannot keep daily or regular bar or restaurant hours.

Professional stadium alcohol sales face limits

West Virginia creates a private-club license for qualifying professional sports stadiums with at least 1,000 members and three contiguous acres. The venue also needs a qualifying restaurant, approved age checks, and other private-club safeguards. Licensees can sell alcohol at professional sporting events and special events reserved in advance. Alcohol sales are prohibited during non-professional sporting events. The venue cannot keep daily or regular bar or restaurant hours.

Event venues gain regulated alcohol licenses

Temporary festivals, fairs, and other events can seek private-club approval with 100 members and written local government sponsorship, endorsement, or approval. Organizers must provide freshly prepared food, adequate restrooms, a safely bounded event area, and approved age checks. They cannot use third parties to buy or serve alcohol and must provide required premises plans. A private coliseum or center needs 5,000 members, 80,000 square feet of enclosed event space, and two contiguous acres. These centers must mainly host events reserved in advance and provide a restaurant, full kitchen, premises and ownership records, and approved age checks.

Hotels gain minibars with size limits

West Virginia's private hotel license requires 2,000 members, 30 short-term bedrooms, a conference center, and a restaurant with a full kitchen. The hotel needs more than one but fewer than three contiguous acres, premises records, and approved age checks. Secured in-room minibars are available to members and guests verified as 21 or older, with at least $50 in packaged food. Each minibar is limited to 1.6 cubic feet, 72 ounces of beer in 12-ounce containers, 750 milliliters of wine or hard cider, and 750 milliliters of liquor combined. Hotels must buy from specified licensed suppliers, apply required markups, fees, and taxes, and check and replenish minibars daily.

Resorts gain minibars and brewery access

West Virginia's private resort hotel license requires 5,000 members, 50 short-term bedrooms, and at least 10 contiguous acres. Resorts need a restaurant and full kitchen serving freshly prepared food at least 25 hours weekly, plus approved age checks. Minibars for members and guests verified as 21 or older are capped at 3.2 cubic feet, 144 ounces of beer, 1.5 liters of wine or hard cider, and 1.5 liters of liquor combined. Liquor containers must be 50, 100, 200, or 375 milliliters; licensed sourcing, required markups, fees, taxes, and daily checks apply. A separately licensed resident brewer with a brewpub license can connect through an approved passage for limited-access tours and samples during permitted hours.

Sports clubs gain regulated alcohol licenses

West Virginia's golf-club license requires 100 members, 80 contiguous acres, a clubhouse, and 18 distinct holes—not nine holes played twice. A nine-hole course license requires 50 members, 30 contiguous acres, and at least nine distinct holes. A tennis-club license requires 100 members, four separate indoor or outdoor courts, two contiguous acres, and a clubhouse or similar facility. An open-air multi-sport complex needs 100 members and 50 contiguous acres; it can sell alcohol from its own or leased, operated golf cart or food truck on licensed property. These categories require a qualifying restaurant and full kitchen, premises and ownership records, approved age checks, and other private-club safeguards.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Michael Hornby
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Ryan Browning
Republican • House
Marshall W. Clay
Republican • House
Joe Ellington
Republican • House
Joe Funkhouser
Republican • House
Michael Hite
Republican • House
Jordan Maynor
Republican • House
Chris Phillips
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 166 • No: 10

House vote • 3/4/2026

Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 326)

Yes: 83 • No: 6