West Virginia House Bill HB2320

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Real Estate Commission to promulgate a legislative rule relating to licensing real estate brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons and the conduct of brokerage business

Summary

HB2320 authorizes the West Virginia Real Estate Commission to promulgate a legislative rule governing the licensing of real estate brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons, as well as the conduct of brokerage business. The bill does not itself create a new licensing scheme; rather, it gives legislative approval to an existing rule filed by the Commission and revised to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The rule referenced in the bill was filed in the State Register in August 2024 and refiled in October 2024 after modification. By authorizing the rule, the Legislature would allow the Commission’s standards for real estate licensure and brokerage practice to take effect under state administrative law. The practical effect is to update or continue regulatory oversight of real estate professionals and brokerage operations in West Virginia.

Impact

HB2320 would amend West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to authorize a specific legislative rule of the Real Estate Commission, thereby giving legal force to administrative regulations at 174 CSR 01 concerning licensing and brokerage conduct. The bill affects real estate brokers, associate brokers, salespersons, brokerage firms, and the Commission’s enforcement and rulemaking authority, but it does not directly alter substantive statutory licensing requirements outside the approved rule.

Sentiment

The available record suggests a routine, technical measure rather than a controversial policy debate. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no evidence of strong opposition or support in the materials supplied. The bill appears to have been presented as a standard authorization of a revised agency rule after review by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is not the bill text itself but the underlying administrative rule, which had to be modified to meet objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee before being refiled. Any disagreement would likely center on the scope of licensing standards, brokerage conduct requirements, or the Commission’s regulatory authority over real estate professionals. No specific objections, amendments, or stakeholder concerns are included in the provided record.