West Virginia House Bill HB4278

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/26
• Refer: 1/14/26

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Attorney General to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the prevention of unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the sale of damaged goods or damaged products.

Summary

HB4278 authorizes the Attorney General to promulgate a legislative rule governing the prevention of unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the sale of damaged goods or damaged products. The bill amends West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to approve the existing rule filed under the Attorney General’s authority in §46A-6-103, which addresses consumer protection in the marketplace. The measure also adds a new sunset provision stating that the rule will terminate on August 1, 2036, unless further action is taken. In practical terms, the bill does not create a new regulatory program so much as it continues and formally authorizes an existing consumer-protection rule, while setting a future expiration date for that rule.

Impact

HB4278 affects the state’s legislative rule authorization process by approving the Attorney General’s rule at 142 CSR 06 and incorporating it into the West Virginia Code’s rule authorization framework. The bill supports enforcement of consumer protection standards against deceptive sales practices involving damaged goods or products, and it gives the Attorney General continued authority to regulate this area until the rule’s sunset date in 2036.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears routine and administrative, focused on reauthorizing an existing consumer-protection rule rather than advancing a controversial policy change.

Contention

The only notable policy issue apparent from the text is the inclusion of a sunset provision, which means the rule will expire automatically in 2036 unless renewed. That may matter to stakeholders who favor periodic legislative review of agency rules, as well as to consumer advocates or regulated sellers who want certainty about the rule’s long-term status. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the available record.