SB 796 is a narrow housekeeping bill that repeals West Virginia Code §51-8-5, the statute governing the distribution of West Virginia reports. The enrolled bill does not replace the repealed section with new language or create a new distribution framework; instead, it simply removes the existing statutory provision from the code.
Because the bill is framed as a repeal only, its practical effect is to eliminate the specific state-law requirement or mechanism previously tied to the distribution of West Virginia reports. Any remaining authority or procedures for publishing, distributing, or maintaining those reports would need to come from other statutes, administrative practice, or internal government processes rather than the repealed section itself.
Impact
The bill directly amends the West Virginia Code by deleting §51-8-5, thereby removing the statutory provision on distribution of West Virginia reports. This affects the legal framework for how those reports are handled by state offices, particularly any duties previously assigned to the Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Delegates, or other state entities under that section. No new obligations, penalties, or funding provisions are added.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and received strong support in both chambers. It passed the Senate unanimously, 31-0, and passed the House by a wide margin, 90-2. The lack of committee transcript discussion and the overwhelming vote totals suggest the measure was viewed as a routine technical cleanup rather than a substantive policy change.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention around SB 796. The only notable point is that the bill removes an existing statutory distribution requirement without substituting a new one, which could matter to those concerned about access to official reports or the preservation of publication procedures. However, the vote history indicates that any such concern did not generate significant opposition in either chamber.