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SB 85WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill SB 85 reduces deadlines for contract and bond lawsuits

Original title: Reducing statute of limitations on actions to recover on oral and written contracts

Last action · January 14, 2026: To JudiciarySponsors: Mike Oliverio and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Senate Bill 85 shortens the deadlines for filing lawsuits to recover money on written contracts, oral agreements, fiduciary bonds, and s. Under the measure, the time limit drops from 10 years to 5 years for written contracts and official bonds, and from 5 years to 2 years for oral contracts.

Why it matters

Parties seeking to enforce contracts or recover funds through legal action face a significantly shorter window to file claims in court, limiting the timeframe during which legal liability remains active.

Background

The West Virginia Legislature is the state's bicameral lawmaking body consisting of the Senate and the House of Delegates. context

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

Contract parties

Parties involved in written or oral contracts face a shorter timeframe to bring legal action for money recovery.

Directly affected

Fiduciaries and personal representatives

Executors, administrators, guardians, and other fiduciaries are subject to a reduced 5-year limit for liability suits following account confirmations and bond claims.

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

How does Senate Bill 85 change the time limit for oral contracts?

The bill reduces the time limit for filing an action on any other express or implied oral contract from five years down to two years.

What is the new time limit for written contracts under the bill?

The for a contract in writing, signed by the party to be charged, is reduced from 10 years to 5 years.

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 Senate committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
To Judiciary
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Jan 14, 2026SenateCommittee
To Judiciary
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
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.

Connected Entities

Tom Takubo, West Virginia Legislature, Senator Oliverio

PersonTom Takubo“Cosponsor of Senate Bill 85”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Legislative body considering the bill”Map →

PersonSenator Oliverio“Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 85”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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