The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill Grants Agriculture Commissioner Power to Override Local and State Rules Affecting Agritourism
Last action · January 14, 2026: To Government OrganizationSponsor: Patricia Rucker
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 62 authorizes the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture to intervene and state agency or local government rules, ordinances, or policies that negatively affect activities. The measure requires the commissioner to submit an annual report to the Legislature starting June 30, 2027, detailing any instances where this override authority was invoked. Crucially, the commissioner cannot override the State Fire Code or National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code, and must consult with fire marshals to ensure public safety.
operators and local governments face potential shifts in regulatory authority, as state agricultural officials gain the power to set aside local zoning, municipal rules, or agency directives that conflict with agritourism events.
- The Commissioner of Agriculture is an elected statewide constitutional officer in West Virginia heading the Department of Agriculture. 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.
agritourism operators
Agritourism operators experience potential overriding of local and state rules affecting their activities and events.
local governments
Local government ordinances, regulations, and policies relating to agritourism can be superseded by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
state agencies
State agency rules and directives that contravene agritourism needs are subject to override by the commissioner.
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 authority does the bill give to the Commissioner of Agriculture?
Are fire safety regulations exempted from this override authority?
What reporting requirements are placed on the commissioner?
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- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Government Organization then Finance
- Jan 14, 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 55)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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