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HB 4651WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia House Bill 4651 permits debt fee collection when authorized by agreement or statute

Original title: Relating to unfair or unconscionable debt collection practices

Last action · February 6, 2026: To House CourtsSponsor: Joe Funkhouser

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 4651 allows debt collectors to collect interest, fees, or charges if authorized by either the underlying agreement or by statute or regulation, changing a requirement that previously required both.

Why it matters

Consumers facing debt collection could see incidental fees and interest added to their obligations under broader legal conditions than before.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Consumers

Debtors face modified standards for fee collection and receive mandatory disclosures regarding time-barred debts and attorney representation.

Directly affected

Debt collectors

Collectors face altered authorization rules for assessing fees and interest, alongside strict disclosure and communication mandates.

Directly affected

Institutions of higher education

Higher education institutions retain specific allowances for recovering attorney's fees and collection costs up to statutory percentage caps on delinquent educational loans.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers the new allowance for debt fees under this bill?
A fee, charge, or interest can be collected if it is authorized by either the agreement creating or modifying the obligation or by a statute or regulation.
What disclosures are required for debts past the statute of limitations?
Collectors must provide written disclosures stating that the law limits how long a debtor can be sued, that the owner cannot sue due to the age of the debt, and detailing credit reporting restrictions depending on dates.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

5 actions
  1. Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Courts
  2. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Judiciary
  3. Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  4. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Judiciary
  5. Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Joe FunkhouserHouse · District 98RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

House of Delegates, Fair Credit Reporting Act, West Virginia Secretary of State
OrganizationHouse of Delegates“Origin chamber and committee reference”Map →
otherFair Credit Reporting Act“Federal statute governing credit reporting obsolescence dates”Map →
OrganizationWest Virginia Secretary of State“Office where debt collectors' registered agents are identified”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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