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West VirginiaSB 7942026 Regular SessionSenate

Relating to appeals of orders or decrees of adoption

Sponsored By: Tom Willis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§51-11-4

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More appeals go to intermediate court

The Intermediate Court of Appeals now hears many appeals. It takes final civil circuit‑court cases and family‑court final orders entered after June 30, 2022. Domestic‑violence cases must first go to a circuit court. It also takes guardianship and conservatorship orders entered after that date. Appeals of agency or ALJ decisions that used to go to Kanawha County now go here for decisions entered after June 30, 2022. It hears workers’ compensation Board of Review decisions after that date, and Office of Judges final orders issued after June 30, 2022 and before that Office ends. Health Care Authority certificate‑of‑need orders issued before June 30, 2022 move here once the Office of Judges is terminated. The Supreme Court of Appeals can still take any civil case on its own. If you properly file, the court must review the full record and let you be heard.

Cases the intermediate court cannot hear

The Intermediate Court of Appeals does not hear some cases. It cannot take criminal, juvenile, child abuse and neglect, or civil commitment cases. It cannot review lawyer or judicial discipline, final Public Service Commission decisions, interlocutory appeals, certified questions, or extraordinary writs. It also cannot review circuit‑court rulings on family‑court domestic‑violence cases, or any adoption orders or decrees. If the Supreme Court later allows discretionary review of criminal appeals, criminal cases can come to this court.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tom Willis

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 127 • No: 0

House vote • 3/13/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 565)

Yes: 93 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

Passed Senate (Roll No. 227)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 84, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

    6/25/2026Senate

  2. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026Senate

  3. To Governor 3/18/2026

    3/18/2026Senate

  4. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  5. To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

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

    3/14/2026Senate

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

    3/14/2026House

  8. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    3/13/2026House

  9. Read 3rd time

    3/13/2026House

  10. Passed House (Roll No. 565)

    3/13/2026House

  11. Communicated to Senate

    3/13/2026House

  12. Completed legislative action

    3/13/2026House

  13. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    3/12/2026House

  14. Read 2nd time

    3/12/2026House

  15. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

    3/11/2026House

  16. Read 1st time

    3/11/2026House

  17. Do pass

    3/10/2026House

  18. Markup Discussion

    3/6/2026House

  19. House received Senate message

    2/26/2026House

  20. Introduced in House

    2/26/2026House

  21. To Judiciary

    2/26/2026House

  22. To House Judiciary

    2/26/2026House

  23. On 3rd reading

    2/25/2026Senate

  24. Read 3rd time

    2/25/2026Senate

  25. Passed Senate (Roll No. 227)

    2/25/2026Senate

Bill Text

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