The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill 700 allows city attorneys and court clerks to file judgment liens for unpaid municipal fines
Last action · February 2, 2026: To JudiciarySponsors: Robbie Morris and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 700 authorizes municipal court clerks and city attorneys to file s against property for unpaid municipal court fines, fees, and penalties after a 90-day delinquency period. The measure also establishes uniform payment plan standards and voids certain older driver's license suspensions related to unpaid fines.
Residents with unpaid municipal court fines or fees face the risk of property s and debt collection actions if payments are delinquent for more than 90 days, while individuals with older license suspensions may qualify for reinstatement upon entering a payment plan or paying past-due amounts.
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.
municipal court defendants
Defendants owing municipal fines or costs face the imposition of late fees, property judgment liens, debt collection referrals, or potential driver's license actions if payments or payment plans are not maintained.
city attorneys
City attorneys are authorized to receive abstracts of judgment and file judgment liens in county commission offices for unpaid municipal court debts.
municipal court clerks
Municipal court clerks are responsible for establishing payment plans, assessing late fees, notifying defendants of delinquencies, and coordinating with city attorneys to file judgment liens or releases.
Division of Motor Vehicles
The DMV must process driver's license reinstatements, waive reinstatement fees when payment plans are established, and suspend licenses upon receiving failure-to-appear notices from municipal courts.
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
Who can file a judgment lien for unpaid municipal court fines under this bill?
How is a monthly payment plan amount calculated?
What happens to driver's license suspensions issued before July 1, 2016, for unpaid fines?
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 2, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Feb 2, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 2, 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
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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