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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia House Bill 5614 Creates the Truth in Giving Act to Require Donation Disclosure by Thrift Operators
Last action · February 16, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsor: Bob Fehrenbacher
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 5614 establishes the Truth in Giving Act in West Virginia, requiring s to disclose whether donated consumer goods benefit non-profit charities or for-profit businesses. The legislation mandates specific signage and documentation for es, s, and retail locations, and authorizes the Secretary of State to investigate violations carrying criminal misdemeanors and civil penalties.
Donors and shoppers gain the legal right to clear disclosures about the profit status of thrift businesses receiving goods, while for-profit s face new mandatory notices and criminal or civil penalties for misleading representations.
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.
Thrift operators
Thrift operators must display specific ownership and profit-status notices on drop boxes, mobile units, and retail locations, or face civil and criminal penalties.
Donors of consumer goods
Donors receive mandatory disclosures regarding whether their donated goods benefit non-profit charitable organizations or for-profit businesses.
Key Facts
- The Truth in Giving Act requires thrift operators that are charities or 501(c)(3) organizations to disclose their name, address, and telephone number to donors and customers.
- For-profit thrift operators must clearly state on drop boxes, mobile units, and retail locations: 'THIS IS NOT A CHARITY. DONATIONS MADE HERE SUPPORT A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS.'
- Notices must be prominently displayed on the front and at least one side of each drop box and at retail payment locations.
- The Secretary of State may investigate thrift operator violations upon their own motion or upon public complaint.
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- First-time willful and knowing violations of disclosure rules are punishable as a misdemeanor with fines between $100 and $500, up to six months in jail, or both.
- Second and subsequent offenses carry fines between $500 and $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
- The Secretary of State, Attorney General, or prosecuting attorneys may bring civil actions in circuit court to enjoin violations.
- Recovered funds from penalties and settlements are split evenly between the state General Revenue Fund and the Secretary of State's service fees and collections account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must for-profit thrift operators display on donation bins?
Who is responsible for investigating violations of the Truth in Giving Act?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 16, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Judiciary
- Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 16, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled 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)
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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