West Virginia Bill Prohibits Public Release of Political Donor Employers and Street Addresses

Original title: Relating to prohibiting the release of addresses and names of employers of persons who make contributions to political elections

Last action · February 16, 2026: Markup DiscussionSponsors: Linville and 4 others

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5066 prohibits government agencies from making public the street addresses, major business affiliations, and employers of individuals who make political campaign contributions or loans. Under the bill, public disclosure of this protected information is barred on government websites and under requests. It also establishes a $1,000 civil penalty for contributors whose data is unlawfully released and a misdemeanor criminal penalty for officials who knowingly make such disclosures.

Why it matters

Contributors gain privacy for their employment and residential street details on public campaign filings, while state and local agencies face civil fines and criminal misdemeanor charges for unauthorized public release of that records data.

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.

Directly affected

Political campaign contributors

Their street addresses, major business affiliations, and employers are prohibited from being made publicly available by government agencies.

Directly affected

State and local government agencies

They are barred from releasing specified contributor details on websites or via public records requests and face civil penalties for violations.

Key Facts

House Bill 5066 prohibits government agencies from making publicly available the street number and street name in residence and mailing addresses of individuals who contribute or cosign loans for political elections.
The legislation bars public disclosure of an individual's major business affiliation, employer, and business details from campaign financial statements.
Prohibited disclosures apply to government websites and responses to public records requests under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
A contributor whose address, major business affiliation, employer, or business information is unlawfully disclosed can recover a civil penalty of $1,000 from the responsible agency for each report.

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Any state or local officer or employee who knowingly discloses protected contributor information to the public is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, confinement in jail for up to one year, or both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contributor information is protected from public release under HB 5066?

The bill protects the street number and street name of a contributor's or loan provider's residence and mailing address, along with their major business affiliation, employer, and business details.

What happens if a government agency unlawfully releases a contributor's protected information?

The affected contributor can recover a civil penalty of $1,000 from the responsible agency for each report, and the responsible government officer or employee commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and one year in jail.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

7 actions

Feb 16, 2026House
Markup Discussion
Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 12, 2026House
Markup Discussion
Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary

Show 1 earlier action

Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed 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.

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