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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Repeals State Laws Governing Adverse Possession
Last action · February 9, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsor: Joe Statler
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 5385 repeals specific sections of the West Virginia Code related to , land recovery entries, unlawful entry summons, and equitable defenses.
Property owners and claimants in West Virginia face a complete elimination of statutory provisions that previously governed claims to land based on continuous use.
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.
Property owners
Legal provisions governing land recovery and adverse possession claims against their property are removed.
Real estate claimants
Statutory mechanisms and defenses previously available for claiming land through adverse possession are eliminated.
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 does House Bill 5385 do?
Which specific code sections are affected by this bill?
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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 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Judiciary
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 9, 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 65)
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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