West VirginiaCourt rules keep designated lawyer assistance records from public release
Court rules can keep designated records about lawyer assistance referrals and services from public disclosure under West Virginia’s public records law.
What it does
Records about the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are not public and are exempt from release under the state public records law when court rules designate them as confidential.
Argument forKeeping designated program records private could help people seek assistance without exposing sensitive information through public records requests.
Argument againstKeeping designated program records private could make it harder for people to learn how referrals and services are handled.
More detail
The law treats covered program records as nonpublic and exempts them from disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act. This covers records, files, and other documents gathered or provided under Supreme Court rules about the program’s procedures, referrals, and services. The records are covered only to the extent court rules designate them as confidential. The law took effect 90 days after passage, on June 12, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 262, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026Major
- Mar 25To Governor 3/25/26To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE-SENATE AMENDED HB. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 684)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 13Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 565)Passed Senate
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading
- Mar 12Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendmentMinor
- Mar 5To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5To JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in SenateMinor
- Mar 4Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 4Passed House (Roll No. 310)Passed House
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 3Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 3Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2Immediate consideration
- Mar 2Do pass
- Feb 26Markup Discussion
- Feb 9To House JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 9Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 9To JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 9Filed for introductionIntroduced
Government & Ethics