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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Senate Bill 864 Sets Returned Check Fees, Veteran Business Logotypes, and Solicitations Rules
Last action · February 9, 2026: To JudiciarySponsors: Robbie Morris and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia Senate Bill 864 authorizes the Secretary of State to charge a fee for returned checks or declined payments up to $5 plus bank service charges, establishes discretionary waivers for administrative late fees, and requires the creation of an official veteran-owned business logotype. Additionally, the measure sets strict disclosure mandates and misdemeanor penalties for nongovernmental entities sending misleading annual report solicitations.
Business entities face new penalty structures for returned payments and administrative delays while gaining access to a state-designed veteran business logotype and protections against deceptive solicitation mailings.
- The West Virginia Secretary of State maintains the state's Business Organizations Database and oversees annual reporting and fee collections for corporations and limited liability companies. context
- State law requires various domestic and foreign business entities to file annual reports and pay associated fees by June 30 of each year to maintain active business standing. 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.
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies
Business entities are subject to new bad check fee assessments, potential late fee waivers, and revised compliance standards.
Veteran-owned and Active-duty Member-owned Businesses
Eligible businesses gain access to a newly created official veteran-owned business logotype and application guidelines.
Third-party Solicitation Entities
Nongovernmental entities sending annual report solicitations must comply with mandatory disclosure text or face misdemeanor penalties.
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 fee can the Secretary of State charge if a business payment is declined?
Can administrative late fees be waived for business filings?
What are the disclosure requirements for third-party companies soliciting annual report filings?
What penalties apply to entities that send misleading annual report solicitations?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 9, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 9, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Feb 9, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary then Finance
- Feb 9, 2026SenateIntroducedFiled 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Third-Party Solicitation Penalties
The bill introduces criminal misdemeanor penalties and private right of action civil damages for deceptive annual report mailings sent by non-governmental entities.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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